I, too, agree with Bill. It has been my experience that "if you can't
do it, you can't write it," but not vice versa. A significant number
of the physicians with whom I work are put off by the 'process' of
applying. All are capable in their fields and  have no difficulty
performing the technical/clinical aspects of the project. They know
what they want to do and how to do it (protocol, materials, methods),
but don't do well filling out the forms. Also, none has the time or
inclination to keep current on the regs (hospital or external),
internal budgeting details (fringes, FICA, indirect rate, space
charges), which committee approvals to get and how, etc., that's
where I come in. The investigators ALWAYS have final authority on the
submission. My input gets them off the bench and into the game. But
once they find out how much fun this is, I could be out of a job.
;-)

Bruce Steinert, Ph.D.
Department of Urology
William Beaumont Hospital
3601 West Thirteen Mile Road
Royal Oak, Michigan  48073-6769
(248) 551-2572 (voice)     (248) 551-8107 (FAX)