R01 Cohort
The R01 Cohort Program is designed to equip faculty members with the essential skills and support needed to successfully secure their first R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Program Overview
Applying for your first R01 grant is incredibly competitive, with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reporting a mere 17.4% national success rate for new investigator R01 proposals in FY2023 (NIAID). To give yourself the best chance, you need to refine your proposal before it reaches an NIH study section.
This new nine-month R01 Cohort program is designed to do just that. It provides faculty members with crucial input and reviews, helping you strengthen your application and increase your odds of funding success.
Developing your NIH R01 proposal will be a collaborative journey, as you team up with senior faculty and peers in a spirit of camaraderie to assess your proposal's competitiveness and master the art of persuasive grantsmanship.
Program Details
This R01 Cohort Program is being developed as part of the University of Louisville's $24 million Clinical and Translational Research Development (CTRD) award, which includes $11.7 million from the NIH, aimed at expanding clinical and translational research initiatives.
Cohort Duration: 9 months (August/September - April/May)
Frequency: Monthly, 2-hour session
Mentees: Approximately 6 per cohort
Format: Virtual, MS Teams
Cost: Participation in the R01 Cohort is offered at no cost.
Eligibility: Participation is limited to faculty members who have not yet been Principal Investigators on R01 grants. Participants should be ready to submit an R01 application within one year, i.e., should already have well-conceptualized specific aims, preliminary data, and possibly foundational funding prior to starting the program.
While we expect most applicants will be early career faculty members, this is not a requirement.
Benefits to R01 Mentees
- Receive input on your research aims ensuring they address significant, innovative, and fundable questions.
- Support identifying crucial resources, potential collaborators, and skills necessary for competitiveness in your respective research field.
- Pair with an SME who will provide specialized insight tailored to your specific field of study.
- Learn what reviewers are looking for when they evaluate an R01 proposal. Know what to expect and be prepared. Anticipate weaknesses/criticisms and deflect with well-prepared justifications.
- Walk away with a competitive, well-reviewed R01 (or equivalent) grant application. Together with your coaches and subject matter experts, you will determine a realistic deadline for your R01 submission.
Participant Expectations
During the nine-month program, mentees are expected to actively participate in monthly small group meetings with senior faculty and peers.
Between these monthly sessions, mentees will complete assignments designed to enhance competitiveness, write and refine sections of their R01 project, and receive continuous feedback throughout the development process.
Mentors & Coaches
The R01 SME Mentor
What is involved in being a Senior Faculty Mentor who serves as a Subject Matter Expert?
SMEs will provide counsel on mentees' research plans and review proposal drafts.
Once accepted into the program, the mentee will approach the SME (any established UofL faculty researcher who would be a good fit with the mentee's research field and needs, and who is available) to ask about his/her willingness to participate in the R01 Cohort program.
*Please note: A mentee’s SME cannot be a co-investigator or consultant on the proposal.
Benefits of becoming an SME:
- Contribute to the mentee’s research design and rationale
- Share your wisdom and insight as an experienced researcher, reviewer, and faculty member
- Contribute to the research mission at UofL
- Receive 2.5% salary FTE
Specifically, the SME will:
- Help the mentee identify collaborators, resources, and skills that the mentee needs in order to be competitive in a precise field of research
- Review all draft sections of the proposal
- Attend group meetings once per month
- Meet with mentee one-on-one, as needed, to develop application
The R01 Coach
What is involved in being an R01 Coach?
Each coach is assigned 2 or 3 mentees. R01 Coaches are process experts and help guide group meetings.
Benefits of becoming a coach:
- Share your wisdom and insight as an experienced researcher, reviewer, and faculty member
- Contribute to the research mission at UofL
- Receive 5% salary FTE
Specifically, the coach will:
- Help identify collaborators, resources, and skills that the mentee needs in order to be competitive
- Work with mentees to establish milestones to reach their application deadline
- Check-in with mentees to ensure progress and milestones are met
- Review all draft sections of monthly proposals
- Attend group meetings once per month
HOW TO APPLY
The UofL Louisville Clinical & Translational Research Center is currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 Cohort. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the cohort is full and require that you upload your NIH formatted biosketch and specific aims.
R01 Links & Resources
Program Support
The R01 Cohort is led by Professional Development Core Co-Directors, Kenneth Palmer and Maxwell Boakye.
Please reach out with questions or to request support.
