The topic of the prelim exam proposal can be based on the student’s thesis research project or other closely related topic. The proposal should follow NIH guidelines for fellowship applications for page limits and formatting. Please do not include sections related to applicant background, training plan, or mentor statements at this stage.

Specific Aims (1 page): State the specific purposes of the research proposal and the hypothesis to be tested. State concisely the goals of the proposed research and summarize the expected outcome(s), including the impact that the results of the proposed research will exert on the research field(s) involved. List succinctly the specific objectives of the research proposed, e.g., to test a stated hypothesis, create a novel design, solve a specific problem, challenge an existing paradigm or clinical practice, address a critical barrier to progress in the field, or develop new technology.

Research Strategy (up to 6 pages): Organize the Research Strategy in the specified order and using the instructions provided below. Start each section with the appropriate section heading: Significance, Innovation, Approach.

A. Significance: Explain the importance of the problem or critical barrier to progress in the field that the proposed project addresses. Explain how the proposed project will improve scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice in one or more broad fields. Describe how the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field will be changed if the proposed aims are achieved.

B. Innovation: Explain how the application differs from current research. Describe any novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation or interventions to be developed or used, and any advantage over existing methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions. Explain any refinements, improvements, or new applications of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions.

C. Approach: Describe the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses to be used to accomplish the specific aims of the project. Optional subsections are:

C1. Preliminary Studies: describe what is already done by someone else, your lab or you (be specific talking about what you have personally done) to provide the feasibility of the experiments to be described in the subsequent subsection;

C2. Experimental Designs and Methods: describe separately for each Specific Aim.
• A short paragraph outlining the rationale why the experiments to be described will address the proposed hypothesis and achieve objectives stated in Specific Aims.

• An overall description of the experiment(s) should be presented in such a way that reviewers can quickly grasp the main idea of the work.

• Details for specific designs, experimental procedures, data collection, expected results, and plans of data interpretation.

• Pitfalls and potential remedies. Describe both minor technical issues and the big picture (what if data indicate that your hypothesis is incorrect).

Milestones: At the end of the Research Strategy section, describe an anticipated timeline for the accomplishment of specific aims and subaims. A table or scheme with time indicated in years will be helpful.

References: Please follow NIH guidelines for referencing including PMID and PMCIDs. Reference pages are not included in page limitation.