Show Me the Money: A Practical Approach to Funding C-L Psychiatry Research

Abstract: This is an interactive 90-minute symposium, sponsored by ACLP’s Research SIG, focused on strategies for obtaining research funding in consultation liaison psychiatry (CLP). Featuring four talks, which follow a researcher’s career trajectory, the symposium will explore common challenges and pitfalls in applying for pilot funding, career development awards, and project grant, as well great tips and tricks for making your funding applications stand out from the crowd. Clinicians and researchers at all stages will find this session helpful, from students and trainees to those in more senior positions.





The symposium will start with an introduction from Katie Sheehan, chair of the ACLP research SIG (10 minutes). The following 60 minutes will be composed of four 15-minute oral presentations from successful researchers across the US (outlined below). The remaining 20 minutes will be allotted to an interactive question and answer session about the practical aspects of getting started in research.





Dr. Zev Nakamura (15 minutes): Obtaining pilot funding as a trainee in CL psychiatry.


Dr. Nakamura will discuss his experience with and successful strategies for securing pilot funding as a trainee in psychiatry/CL psychiatry. He will provide an overview of various grant mechanisms relevant to this career stage, recommendations for writing a strong proposal with minimal prior experience, and ways to leverage awards obtained during training to support future funding.





Dr Jo Ellen Wilson (15 minutes): Research funding for the early career CL psychiatrist.


Dr. Wilson will speak about obtaining early career funding, including variety of funding opportunities available to early-stage career clinician researchers aside from K23 (NIH, VA, foundation, etc.), as well as how to augment this funding with pilot awards. Sharing her personal experience of obtaining research support, she will also discuss how to make the transition to co-Investigator on research awards.





Dr. Joe Bienvenu (15 minutes): Applying for career development awards. Dr. Bienvenu will discuss the NIH career development (K) award mechanism, as well as challenges with timing and preparation. He will address the balance of the applicant needing to show promise, along with demonstrating a need for further training.





Dr. Sherwood Brown (15 minutes): Funding for health-related research projects. Dr. Brown will discuss the NIH R01 grant mechanism. The presentation will focus on expectations, including pilot data, for this type of grant. Strategies for developing a successful grant application will be discussed.