RPG Retreats are "very helpful" and "highly recommended" for all investigators

RPG Retreats are "very helpful" and "highly recommended" for all investigators

The MUSC Office of Research Development staged the first two Research Project Grant (or “RPG”) Retreats for new investigators in early December. RPG Retreats are designed to help individual investigators write more competitive research proposals, using the review criteria published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as guiding principles. The purpose is to provide constructive, interactive criticism of research projects that are intended for submission to NIH or another peer-review sponsor within approximately 3 - 6 months.

At each of the two initial retreats, on December 3 and December 10, six young investigators presented their original research plans to a panel of four senior faculty members who are established NIH investigators and seasoned study section reviewers. Overall, the format involved 20-minute presentations followed by 25 minutes of discussion with the reviewers and fellow participants.

At the close of each session, participants completed an evaluation form in addition to making extemporaneous suggestions about what worked well and what could be improved. Two virtually unanimous suggestions were to: (1) require a mentor or senior colleague to attend with the junior investigator in order to help recall, analyze and implement the suggestions as well as serve as a research career advocate administratively, if necessary; and (2) encourage other junior investigators who may be future (or past) presenters to attend in order to listen and learn, as well as make helpful suggestions. The table below contains a summary of the evaluation responses.

The next RPG Retreats on February 4 and April 8, 2006, have plenty of room for observers. If openings for presenters occur, they will be announced by email, as will future dates for retreats, probably starting in July or August. More information about RPG Retreats is available on line at http://research.musc.edu/rpgretreat.html. This page will be updated on an ongoing basis. Any questions or suggestions can be addressed to Peggy Schachte at schachte@musc.edu.

RPG RETREAT EVALUATION—DEC. 3 & DEC. 10, 2005 (n=23)
Presentations		Discussion		# Presenters		# Reviewers		Reviewer Expertise
Too short	2	Too short	0	Too few	0	Too few	3	Too narrow	4
Too long	2	Too long	0	Too many	4	Too many	0	Too broad	0
Okay	19	Okay	23	Okay	19	Okay	20	Okay	19


Overall Length		Breaks		Food Quality		Food Qty/Variety
Too short	0	Too short	0	Poor	0	Not enough	1
Too long	2	Too long	2	Great	16	Too much	0
Okay	20	Okay	20	Okay	7	Okay	22