2.3.1. Study Variables
MRS
The primary outcomes included (1) submission and (2) award for funding of an NIH or other extramural grant application. The potential predicting covariates we considered for these analyses included (1) whether the ESI’s application underwent a mock review session (Yes/no), (2) type of sought mechanism of funding, i.e., R-series research grants, career development (K series) grants and others (Support of Competitive Research (SCORE) and/or National Science Foundation grants), and (3) Cohort effect, as a continious covariate (1, 2, 3, 4) and in separate models, to potentially measure COVID-19 effects (4) Early cohorts (1–2) (Pre-COVID19 era) vs. late cohorts (3–4) (when COVID-19 pandemic peaked). MRS were optional for cohorts 1–2 and became mandatory starting July 2020 starting with cohort 3. The unit of analysis was the ESI’s prepared grant application (whether or not submitted). There were (n = 234) prepared applications, produced by (n = 210) ESIs. Several ESIs had multiple applications, either through different mechanisms or resubmissions (