Research grant proposals are a critical factor for ensuring funding for one’s research. Availing a grant successfully depends on the research proposal and its presentation style before the agency disbursing the grant.
Public health research is a lucrative option for any medical professional and offers a parallel option besides the more conventional medical academic exercises. Like any field of specialization, public health has certain requirements that should be kept in mind while diversifying into this field.
Here are some key factors for consideration that you must keep in mind while drafting a public health research proposal for grants.
Clarity on the focus area: There is an absolute distinction between generic health-related research and public health-related research. Generic medical research focuses on individual patients and their treatment; public health focuses on the society collectively; maybe some geographical region, some demographic profile, some ethnic community, etc. While much of generic medical research focuses on individual cure, public health discourses are suggestions from scientific experts on protecting a focused community from falling sick.
Thus, medical research in diabetes would focus on medicinal results, the control elements best suited for treating diabetic patients, the best lines of treatments for different demographic profiles, etc. From a public health perspective, the focus should be on the prevalence of diabetes and preventing these people from actually becoming diabetic en-masse. The focus of the scientific paper has to be adjusted accordingly.
Be aware of the policy angle: For a public health research proposal, the focus is not merely on preventive care but also on suggesting policy measures. Thus, the research proposal should not only be limited to identifying the core medical problem; you, as a scientific expert, must also offer a roadmap for a policy level intervention to prevent or contain such an occurrence. For instance, medical research in the COVID-19 crisis is focused on developing a vaccine for the virus; a public health scientific paper should focus on preventing the pandemic via social isolation and better sanitization measures.
Some basic checklist: Before applying for a grant, check the focus area of the agency or the particular grant program. If possible, check the projects that have been successful in getting grants from these agencies and their area of work.
Forming the core team is critical and should have a balance of scientific experts and policy experts. Having a colleague who has worked in public health might help.
As for any grant proposal, your application must have a balance; a robust scientific paper with pragmatic details like budget, definite Workplan, expected timelines, and clearly defined deliverables.