Content
National Research Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases Grant
Background to the Grants
In May 2005, the Government announced funding of $5 million over three years as one-off seed funding to establish a National Research Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases. This initiative is part of the Government’s $189.5 million Strengthening Cancer Care package with measures aimed at prevention, treatment, research and support for cancer patients and their families.
The NHMRC conducted a consultation process in 2004 which concluded that key aspects of a “virtual institute” model for progressing a national research agenda into asbestos related diseases required:
- Strong organisational and research linkages with leading international research groups to avoid re-inventing the wheel;
- A national collaboration, including support of State Governments, research groups and industry research supporters;
- Hosting by an existing independent research institute to save on investment in new infrastructure, with a Research Director to be located at the institute;
- Collaboration “nodes” to be progressively developed across Australia as the Research Centre matures, to ensure research is systematic.
The virtual Centre will be established through a two staged process. Recipients of grants will be selected through a call for research (Stage One) and then successful grant recipients will form a consortium (Stage Two) that will be a “virtual” entity, hosted by the administrative institution of one of the successful grant recipients. The consortium will be known as the ‘Nation Research Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases’. As a condition of funding, all successful grant recipients offered funding through Stage One will be required to be a member of this consortium.
Applicants for research grants in Stage One will need to demonstrate:
- that the proposed research will involve national collaboration, be innovative and contribute meaningfully to the knowledge base;
- their ability to establish and/or participate in a viable governance structure to enable the coordination of research activity and one that is national in scope;
- existing linkages, or, ability to engage with relevant stakeholders and policy-makers to ensure the translation of research outcomes into policy and practice;
- their ability to participate in a consortium with the successful grant recipients to develop a Centre that is sustainable beyond the 3 year duration of the seed funding, by the production and implementation of a research strategy for the Centre.
[top]
Hosting the National Research Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases
Applicants intending to apply to host the Centre (either in Stage One or Stage Two of this funding process) will need to:
- Develop a viable governance structure that will facilitate communication and collaboration with all other researchers funded under this initiative;
- Demonstrate their capacity to form appropriate linkages with relevant stakeholders and policy-makers to ensure the translation of research outcomes into policy and practice;
- Demonstrate their capacity to develop and implement a research strategy for the Centre to ensure it is sustainable beyond the 3 year duration of the seed funding; and
- Demonstrate that they will meet all requirements for the Centre as described in the Program Framework
» Download: Program Framework (PDF, 138kb)
» Download: Program Framework (RTF, 229kb)
[top]
How to apply for a Research Grant
The NHMRC strongly encourages applications from leading or well-qualified researchers in the field of asbestos related diseases. Up to $5 million over three years will be available for this program. Research proposals of larger scope and longer duration (up to 3 years) are favoured, although proposals of smaller scope and duration are also welcome. However, no proposal should be of such a value that it precludes offering a range of research grants.
Possible priorities for research include the following list which is indicative only:
- Identification of early changes and the associated molecular events, with a view to identifying molecular targets for early intervention;
- Establishment of valid animal models of asbestos-related cancer to test hypotheses;
- Generation of national bank of human tissues and fluids;
- Identification of at-risk individuals and communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders ;
- Establishment of new cohorts for prevention studies;
- Identification of non-asbestos causes or co-factors in the development of mesothelioma, eg. viruses;
- Development of new screening strategies for early identification and intervention;
- Use of dietary⁄pharmacological strategies to prevent asbestos-related cancers;
- Use of vaccination strategies to prevent asbestos-related cancers;
- Molecular profiling (micro-array analysis) of mesothelioma;
- Psychological and social aspects resulting from exposure to asbestos
To apply for an asbestos research grant please follow the steps outlined below:
Please note: the application forms and advice and instuctions were last updated on Monday 6 Feburary 5pm
- Review the Program Framework, in particular the eligibility requirements, use of funds and the intention to establish a National Research Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases
» Download: Program Framework (PDF, 138kb)
» Download: Program Framework (RTF, 229kb) - Review the Advice and Instructions to Applicants, which contains detailed information on how to complete the Full Application Form
» Download: Advice and Instructions to Applicants (PDF, 187kb)
» Download: Advice and Instructions to Applicants (Word, 360kb)
- Complete the Full Application Form
» Download: Full Application Form (Word, 565kb)
- Complete Additional Application Sections 4 - 7 as required ALL attachments completed must be combined with the Full Application Form into a SINGLE PDF file as per instructions at Appendix 1 of the Full Application Form
» Download: Section 4 Chief Investigators B-F (Word, 212kb)
» Download: Section 5 Associate Investigators B-F (Word, 26kb)
» Download: Section 6 International Team Members B-F (Word, 21kb)
» Download: Section 7 Partners B-F (Word, 32kb) - Follow the lodgement instructions on the Full Application Form.
[top]
Revised Closing Date
Closing Date: cob 13 February 2006. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
This is a revised closing date in recognition of inconvenience and delays that may have been caused by the original application form which has now been revised.
If the earlier version of the form has been successfully completed, there is no need to complete the new version since the changes to the form are mainly structural.
[top]
Further information
The NHMRC contact officer for more information is:
Contact officer: Ms Cath Hunter
Email address: cath.hunter@nhmrc.gov.au
Telephone: (02) 6289 9141
[top]
Help
|
|
Linked documents tagged with the PDF icon Note: Attempting to open large PDF files within the browser window may lead to system problems. For more information see Troubleshooting and access of large pdf documents. |