How To Write The First Section of Your Specific Aims Page
Last time we talked about nailing down your research idea and an overview of your specific aims page. If you missed it, click here to read that article first.
Now it’s time to go from broad to the specifics of a successful Specific Aims page, and we’re starting with your approach to the introduction section.
There are many ways you can begin planning and writing this section, but instead of starting from scratch, I want to share a framework that has helped hundreds of our clients and students start with a clear plan of action.
The Problem-Gap-Hook-Solution Framework
Your intro is focused on establishing the background of your proposed research for reviewers and explaining why it is important and impactful.
This framework is an adaptation of the Problem-Gap-Hook heuristic for writing academic papers. I’ve adapted it to make it specific to grant writing and I’ve highlighted its connections to specific components of grant applications—namely goals, objectives, and aims.
Identify The Problem
To get started, you want to define a big scientific, clinical, or population-level problem or barrier. This problem goes beyond any one single grant application. It helps contextualize the project you’re proposing.
Describe The Gap
After you’ve identified the problem, you then describe a gap in current knowledge or thinking that’s preventing progress towards solving the problem.
Create The Hook
A powerful hook is essential because it convinces readers that filling the gap matters and is important to do. In other words, your hook will illuminate the possibilities when this gap is filled.
Propose a Solution
Once you identify the gap, the next step is to propose a specific solution that fills the gap and continues to chip away at the broader problem. The solution is the project you’re proposing in this grant application - you have a solution that will allow you to fill the gap in knowledge you’ve identified. (We don’t actually include the solution in the opening section of your aims page but I’m including it here for context so that you can understand the entire framework)
Why the PGHS Framework is so useful on your Specific Aims page
Your job on the Specific Aims page is to present a 30.000 ft view of your proposed project in a way that gets your reviewers excited about reading your full proposal.
One of the easiest and most underrated ways to generate enthusiasm is to present your research idea as clearly and simply as possible. (This, of course, presupposes that you have an exciting research idea)
One of the best ways to present your research idea as clearly and simply as possible is to reinforce key concepts.
And that’s exactly what the problem-gap-hook-solution framework does for you.
In the introductory section of your aims page you want to make sure you include the Problem, Gap, and Hook. The rest of your Aims page covers the Solution. (We’ll get to that in future articles.)
Implementing the Problem
For your introduction, it’s important to get right down to identifying the big problem you’re trying to solve. Context is important, but researchers often overdo it with overly broad or “old news” information that usually points to the topic rather than the scientific problem.
So how do you figure out how much context you need to provide? A key to this is knowing your audience’s familiarity with the topic. If you’re spouting tons of information they’re already aware of instead of using valuable real estate on your one-pager to get right to the heart of the problem, you’re just wasting space—and a big opportunity to impress your reviewers.
Implementing the Gap
Next is to establish the gap, which is essentially saying, “we don’t know enough about X.”
A word of advice: usually there’s a lot the scientific community doesn’t know about the big problem you want to approach, but it's not your job to describe all the things that we don’t know. You have limited space on your Aims page, so your job is to focus on the gap you’re trying to fill.
Implementing the Hook
This one is tricky for many people, but first, let’s talk about what a hook is. It highlights the stakes, the compelling reason for filling the gap in knowledge.
What becomes possible when we fill the gap that isn’t possible now?
How will filling the gap allow the field to move forward?
Why is now the time to fill the gap?
Why might a new approach work now when it didn’t before?
These questions and others are recipes for framing a compelling case for your research that will pique the interest of your reviewers.
Now let’s get to the tricky part of the hook. Researchers often overlook this part of the process because they assume reviewers already know why the research is important and why it needs to happen. Because you are so immersed in the field, it probably makes perfect sense to you why the research needs to be done. But this may not be true for your reviewers.
Don’t be afraid to spell it out for them and to connect the dots between what the gap is and why filling it matters.
Setting the Stage for the Solution
By laying out the big picture problem, you are describing the knowns and unknowns, which sets the stage for the solution you are providing with your proposed research.
The problem, gap, and hook build context, interest, and excitement in the subject and trust in your knowledge of the topic. And it leads to you bringing your case for a solution in the rest of your aims page. (We’ll get to this in future articles)
Setting the stage for the solution is why it’s vital to put so much effort into making this introductory section as clear as possible.
Your R01 Starts With Your Aims Page
I go deep into crafting a Specific Aims page because I want you to understand just how important it is. As the first impression of your R01, your Aims page can make or break your R01.
Taking a controlled and strategic approach to each section of this page will not only give you the confidence to complete your R01 efficiently, but you'll also be setting up your readers for a review process that will have them engaged and excited about your research.
Ready To Get Started Today?
As we continue to discuss the Specific Aims page, you’ll next learn all about implementing your solution logically and practically, so you can provide your readers with a roadmap solution rather than make them confused by what your next steps will be.
If you want to skip the step-by-step, article-by-article approach to learning and get a jump start on completing your Specific Aims page in full, click below to register for The Grant Funding Formula, my self-paced online course that walks you through step-by-step how to write a riveting NIH R01 grant.