This video is a short instructional guide in which grant‑writing consultant Sarah Dobson explains five key strategies for writing a compelling aims page as part of an NIH grant application. It serves as an accessible introduction for early‑career researchers seeking clear, high‑level guidance on writing successful NIH grant proposals. It specifies the differences between “aims” and “objectives,” and gives tips on writing for what the reviewer is looking for.
Type of Material:
Reference Material
Recommended Uses:
This video is a useful resouce to anyone working on an NIH grant proposal. Aside from standalone use, it could be integrated as material for:
A Grant‑Writing Workshop Primer: This video could be assigned as pre‑work so participants arrive with a shared framework for structuring an NIH Specific Aims page; the workshop would then focus on application of the strategies or peer revision.
Graduate/Postdoc Professional Development Module: Embed the video in an unit on NIH proposals, paired with NIH guidance and sample aims pages for critique and practice.
New Faculty Research‑Development Workshop: Introduce early‑career faculty to foundational Aims‑page strategies before they begin drafting R‑series applications, giving them a common vocabulary and strategies for success.
Technical Requirements:
Viewed in Brave Browser and Chrome Browser
Identify Major Learning Goals:
Viewers of this video resource will:
Understand five key strategies for writing a more compelling and effective NIH R01 Specific Aims page.
Be able to distinguishbetween overall objectives and specific aims and understand how each functions within the structure of an NIH grant.
Learners will understand how to generate reviewer enthusiasm by applying a problem–gap–hook–solution framing model to their grant proposals.
Learners will improve the chances from their proposal to be funded.
Target Student Population:
Specifically targeted to
Academic Support Services/Faculty Development,
Health Sciences/Healthcare Administration,
Workforce Development/Application Development
Anyone seeking grant funding would benefit.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Familiarity with NIH Research Grant Proposal Process will make this resource more effective
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
Clear and Concise Presentation: The video provides a succinct, easy‑to‑follow explanation of the five key strategies for writing a stronger NIH Specific Aims page, making it accessible for early‑career researchers.
Strong Conceptual Framework: It clearly demonstrates core disciplinary concepts—such as the distinction between overall objectives and specific aims, the function of a four‑section structure, and the value of the problem–gap–hook–solution model—providing learners with a well‑grounded, current, and relevant foundation for NIH grant writing.
Self‑Contained and Immediately Actionable: The resource stands alone without requiring prior assignments; it offers definitions, rationale, and structural guidance that learners can implement directly into a draft Specific Aims page.
Current and relevant: Content addresses contemporary NIH proposal conventions and expected alignment with peer‑review standards.
Focuses on one portion of the grant and offers concise, memorable tips for improving and increasing the chances of receiving funding.
Concerns:
Adding a visual component, such as a written list of the tips, would aid in retention.
Could include an example or model proposal to illustrate the strategies and framework more concretely.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Practical, experience‑based insight: Because the presenter regularly works with early‑career NIH applicants and reviews aims pages, the guidance reflects real‑world reviewer expectations and common pitfalls she sees repeatedly.
Helpful conceptual organization: The five tips and the four‑section structure give learners a simple, memorable framework they can apply immediately to their own drafts
Efficient learning: The short video provides a high amount of practical advice in a brief runtime, making it useful for workshops, PD modules, and autonomous study.
User could use this or the associated videos to improve their proposal and not feel overwhelmed.
Could be used in a grant-writing class, but most likely would be used individually.
Concerns:
It could be helpful to state prerequisite knowledge explicitly - this resource is most useful to grant writers that are already familiar with the general structure of NIH grant proposals.
The video does not seem to be intended for curriculum, rather for the professional. However, it could be used in a grant writing course.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
It is very easy to use
Clear information
ideo includes captions
Includes a transcript to reach viewers in multiple modalities.
Concerns:
The addition of the tips in list form on the screen would be helpful for non-audio learners.
The speaker is very good, but the format is not very engaging.
Creative Commons:
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