The aim of the Program Grants scheme is to provide support for teams of high calibre researchers to pursue broad based, multi-disciplinary and collaborative research activities. Teams will be expected to contribute to new knowledge at a leading international level in important areas of health and medical research. The scheme is available for all research approaches relevant to better health - biomedical, clinical, public health or health services research and is typically for 5 years.
Applying for Funding
In 2012, Program Grant applications will be submitted through the Research Grants Management System (RGMS). If they have not already done so, 2012 applicants are advised to gain an RGMS log on and commence their CV and profile.
Prior to submission of an application for Program Grant funding, applicants need to ensure they have:
- read all relevant reference material; and
- contacted their Administering Institution to identify any specific requirements that the Institution might have.
Key dates
The key dates for the Program Grants 2012 application round are as follows
- 5 March 2012 – Round open with the release of the Program Grants Funding Rules and the Advice and Instructions to Applicants.
- 6 June 2012 – Applications close.
- Week commencing 22 October 2012 – Interviews for short-listed applicants.
- January 2014 – Funding for successful applications scheduled to commence.
Documentation to apply for a Program Grant
The documentation to apply for an NHMRC Program Grant is shown below.
- The 2012 Program Grants Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2014:
- The 2012 Program Grants Advice and Instructions to Applicants for funding in 2014 is available here:
-
The Program Grants Application Form will be available through RGMS on 5 March
Program Grants Quanta
Program Grants are awarded on the basis that recent past achievements are the best indicators of future performance. This is why the selection criteria award 60% of available points to each Chief Investigator’s record of research achievement.
The budget for Program Grants is also based on this philosophy. Rather than being based on a detailed budget bid, the budget is focused on awarding a quanta of funding commensurate with the recent record of achievement for each Chief Investigator. This is totalled and awarded as a one-line grant. This provides a flexible funding pool for the team, with the Chief Investigators being responsible for allocation of research resources to the team research program.
The 2010 Program Grants quanta rates are provided below as a retrospective guide to assist applicants considering a submission to the 2012 round. Quanta rates are adjusted annually in line with indexation. The 2011 quanta rates will be published for information in mid-2012.
|
Score Range |
Quanta Level |
2010 Rate |
|---|---|---|
|
36 - 41.9 |
1 |
$274,111 |
|
42 - 47.9 |
2 |
$349,517 |
|
48 - 53.9 |
3 |
$421,866 |
|
54 - 60 |
4 |
$490,139 |
Program Grants Review
Research Committee considered advice from the committee established to review the Program Grants Scheme in November 2010. RC noted the high impact of the Program Grant scheme and considered recommendations for improving the scheme. Outcomes of the review will be made available as information to the research community.
Reference Documents
Criteria for Health and Medical Research of Indigenous Australians
- Criteria for Health and Medical Research of Indigenous Australians (PDF, 20KB)
- Criteria for Health and Medical Research of Indigenous Australians (RTF, 13KB)
Australian Standard Research Classifications & NHMRC Keyword ⁄ Phrases