Absolutely.  Impact on policy, an outcome of much HUMAN population-based research as well, is important to the significance argument.
And this suggests another reason why the empty "wonderful...great" fluff letters are problematic: unless grantors and grantees limit the input from political representatives to those individuals with true expertise or relevant responsibility, we risk having grant awards become even more dependent on political approval and the know-nothing, [science]-skeptics and deniers becoming more powerful.
CH

___________________________________________________
From: Research Administration List [xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org] on behalf of Sears, Heather [xxxxxx@NORTHEASTERN.EDU]
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2017 8:25 AM
To: xxxxxx@lists.healthresearch.org
Subject: Re: [RESADM-L] letter of support from

By and large I agree with this, but I’ll offer an exception to the general rule: we submit a lot of proposals to NOAA where the results of the research could have an impact on legislation and policy around fisheries, environmental management, etc. For these proposals, showing that the research has the backing of political entities who have the ability to create policies that would be influenced by the research is essential. Some NOAA solicitations even specifically recommend it.

Heather

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 26, 2017, at 8:05 AM, Hathaway, Charles <xxxxxx@NYMC.EDU<mailto:xxxxxx@NYMC.EDU>> wrote:

Agreed!
Grants are awarded because proposed ideas are shown to be significant and feasible. Every letter should substantively add to one those arguments.
CH

On Sep 26, 2017 7:50 AM, Michael Spires <xxxxxx@OAKLAND.EDU<mailto:xxxxxx@OAKLAND.EDU>> wrote:
I would have to read the letter to make a definitive decision, but my gut reaction would be "Uh-uh. Nope. No way."

Letters of support, especially from politicians (unless they really are contributing something to the project) are the ultimate in useless fluff. They add nothing to the proposal, and they're likely to annoy the reviewers (to say nothing of the program staff). This is why, for example, NSF has largely done away with them and has even gone so far as to specify the acceptable language for letters of commitment in a lot of their programs - they were seeing far too many "Oh, these people are wonderful, this science is great, you should give them all the money" letters from people who had no real idea about the individuals' record, the quality of the project, or the agency's budget.

As a general rule, I tell my researchers "Let your project speak for itself. If you have to bring in someone from outside, then by all means get a letter from them demonstrating their willingness to participate. But otherwise, leave the letters out."

On Mon, Sep 25, 2017 at 8:45 PM, Donna Berger <xxxxxx@marist.edu<mailto:xxxxxx@marist.edu><mailto:xxxxxx@marist.edu>> wrote:
Hi Everyone,

A member of our Advancement team asked me if I would recommend including a letter of support from a state senator in our NEH application. Apparently, the question came up with a congressional affairs specialist for the NEH and our advancement staff member was told that this was pro forma. Without sharing my personal response, I wondered how you would respond to such an inquiry about including such a letter from a senator who offered to help. Thank you!

Donna

Donna Berger, Ph.D.
Director, Academic Grants
Marist College
Phone: 845-575-3670
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Michael Spires, M.A., M.S., CRA
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Research Office
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xxxxxx@oakland.edu<mailto:xxxxxx@oakland.edu><mailto:xxxxxx@oakland.edu>
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