For the Innovation Section, you need to show how your project is new and unique and will add significantly to knowledge and move the field forward. Unless you are applying for an innovative research grant, you should not try to convince the reader that you are proposing a paradigm shift; rather, show your readers how your project addresses critical research opportunities that can move your field forward.
- The goal of the innovation section is show how your project is new and unique, and to highlight the knowledge you can add to the field.
- NIH reviewers use the significance and innovation sections to assess a project’s importance, rather than its probably of success (feasibility).
- Does the application challenge and seek to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions?
- Are the concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions novel to one field of research or novel in a broad sense?
- Is a refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions proposed?
