Objective: The purpose of this article is to provide recommendations for writing a successful R13 conference grant proposal for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Methods: The authors reviewed successful NIH conference grant proposal abstracts. They also reflect on their own experience in writing an NIH conference grant proposal and implementing a successful annual conference on research methods in the area of psychological trauma.
Results: The key to a strong proposal is linkage among all of its sections, from the specific aims to the budget. The specific aims should be justified by the need for the conference and articulated in the background and significance section, and the aims, in turn, should drive the content and format of the conference.
Conclusion: Conferences can be an important way to promote NIH scientific goals, by disseminating new findings, facilitating collaborations, and stimulating new lines of research.