Grant Review for Immunologists Program (GRIP)

The AAI Grant Review for Immunologists Program (GRIP) serves as a referral resource to match early career principal investigators (PIs) (assistant professors or equivalents) with established PIs who have experienced significant success in winning grants to support their research careers. In this way, GRIP offers new PIs guidance in preparing grant proposals as they embark on their independent research careers in immunology.

Program Details

Program: AAI volunteers strive to match early career investigator applicants with PIs outside of their own institutions who have experience in the proposed areas of research. Participation in the program is strictly voluntary and is not intended to supplant internal mentoring programs at applicants' own institutions.

Currently, only R01 and R15 grant proposals are reviewed through the GRIP program. To initiate the process, the early career PI submits a CV and the grant's "Specific Aims" page to the GRIP coordinator (an AAI member who has been appointed by the AAI Council). The GRIP coordinator, with the assistance of a small subcommittee, will match the topic of the proposal with the research experience of an established PI. The GRIP coordinator will also inquire about potential conflicts of interest and will resolve any concerns prior to completing the match. Once the match is complete, the two PIs will communicate either by phone or email to establish an understanding on the proposal, the potential study sections that may review the proposal, and the timeframe for the early career PI to send the proposal to the established PI. Early career PIs may submit new grant proposals or proposals that have been previously reviewed at an NIH study section (including triaged grants). Matches are made as quickly as possible to allow participants to meet impending NIH grant deadlines, but requests should be received no later than eight weeks prior to a grant deadline.

Early career PIs must be aware that their proposals may not be selected for the GRIP program; reasons for this may include a shortage of established PIs or a lack of established PIs with appropriate expertise. The decision of the GRIP coordinator with respect to accepting an early career PI's proposal is final. Early career PIs should also understand that this referral program offers guidance only. Neither AAI nor the established PI is responsible in any way for a proposal's ultimate funding or lack thereof.

Eligibility

Early career PIs (assistant professors or equivalents) must be AAI Regular members in good standing at the time the proposal is submitted. Currently, only R01 and R15 grant proposals are mentored through the GRIP program.

To apply:

Please send your CV and the grant's "Specific Aims" page to infoaai@aai.org (please write "GRIP" in the subject line).

GRIP is sponsored by the AAI Education Committee.