The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) have established a joint program in Australia to advance research into Type 1 diabetes, funded by Special Program Grants for up to five years. Each Special Program Grant awarded will support a critical mass of investigators, working on a problem of importance to people with Type 1 diabetes. Multi-disciplinary team approaches are encouraged. Special Program Grants will also support the training and development of young scientists and clinical investigators. Applications are sought particularly from groups who bring novel approaches from disciplines not traditionally associated with diabetes research. Partnerships with other public and private sector entities are encouraged.
THE SPECIAL PROGRAM GRANTS IN TYPE 1 DIABETES HAS SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT DELAYS. THE PROCESS IS EXPECTED TO BE FINALISED BY SEPTEMBER 2007.
Calls for Expressions of Interest (EoI) for funding in 2007
NHMRC and JDRF International are inviting Expressions of Interest in Special Program Grants in Type 1 Diabetes.
Diabetes has been identified as one of the Australian national health priorities. The general concept of the proposed NHMRC/JDRF partnership is to support research to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes and its complications. Special Program Grants will be offered which will support amalgamations of multidisciplinary research groups to focus on a specific problem related to Type 1 diabetes.
Each Special Program Grant is expected to stimulate meritorious scientific investigations, as well as provide a critical mass of scientists to provide places for training and stimulation of talented young scientists and clinical investigators, with special emphasis on investigators not traditionally associated with diabetes research.
Research Goals
The aim of this partnership program is to support research to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes and its complications. The three key research objectives are:
- Restoration and maintenance of normal blood sugar levels
- Prevention and improved treatment of complications
- Prevention of Type 1 diabetes
Note that clinical human islet transplantation, clinical trials in new-onset Type 1 diabetes, or clinical trials in at-risk populations, are not part of this Special Program in Type 1 diabetes, and will not be supported.
The Round 3 Special Program Grants will focus on identifying areas of research emphasis (e.g. primary and secondary prevention, including genetics, and genomics, preservation and regeneration of islet cell mass; restoration of normal metabolism including stem cell therapy and beta cell development; and prevention and treatment of complications).
Funding
Up to $2.9 million per annum will be allocated to this program over the next five years. It is anticipated that up to five Special Program Grants will be awarded, subject to receipt of sufficiently meritorious applications, relevance to the research objectives and direction of the RFA, and the availability of funds.
Grants supported by this partnership will have a maximum budget of $600,000 per year (including all costs) for up to 5 years. The duration of grants will be as the research requires, but will not exceed five years.
In the event of a large number of meritorious applications, JDRF will consider providing additional funding support.
Peer Review Process
Stage 1 of the peer review process consists of a call for EoIs. EoIs will be assessed by a committee of scientists established for this purpose, the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). Following assessment by the SAC, NHMRC and JDRF will agree on which EoIs should proceed to full application.
Stage 2 will assess full applications. The assessment process for full applications will be similar to that followed for other NHMRC grant programs, will include the use of external assessors and may include an interview with the Chief Investigator A. Based on this assessment, the SAC will make funding recommendations to the NHMRC and JDRF. Research will be supported through the award of an ‘NHMRC/JDRF Special Program Grant’, the administration of which will be undertaken by the NHMRC, in consultation with JDRF.
There will be support for the overall Program for five years. Annual scientific progress reports will be assessed by JDRF and NHMRC. Based on the evaluation of research progress each year, funding may be revised as determined by NHMRC/JDRF. A joint decision will be made on the continuation of each Special Program Grant.
Timetable
Announcement |
26 August 2006 |
Closing date for Expressions of Interest |
4 October 2006 |
Invitation for full applications |
22 December 2006 |
Closing dates for full applications |
28 February 2007 |
Interviews |
April 2007 |
Announcement of awards |
ETA September 2007 |
Commencement of funding |
ETA September 2007 |
Lodging an Expressions of Interest
To lodge an Expressions of Interest
- the Request for Applications (PDF, 87KB)
- Follow the lodgement instructions in the Request for Applications.
Application ID number
Please obtain an application identification number from the Research Administration Officer (RAO) of your Administering Institution. Please insert this as a "header" on each page of your EOI form as this number will be used to track your Expression of Interest.
Late or incomplete Expressions of Interest will not be considered.
Closing date for Expression of Interest: 5.00pm AEST 4 October 2006