Welcome to Tracker, NHMRC’s fortnightly newsletter with the latest information on major activities and funding opportunities.
Have your say on sex, gender, variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation in health and medical research
NHMRC and the Department of Health and Aged Care are developing a joint Statement on Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation in Health and Medical Research. This reflects a joint commitment to health equity and acknowledging that every person in Australia has the right to be included in safe, high-quality research that informs our health care.
We are consulting with stakeholders to seek feedback on the draft statement, developed through initial consultation with sector experts. We are interested in hearing from all stakeholders, including those from research, industry, consumers, health services and philanthropy.
To share your views, please visit the consultation hub.
Submissions close on Friday 15 December 2023.
Image sourced from Canva - gender equity, a person holding a paper chain of human figures in a circle.
Update to NHMRC Complaints Policy
An updated NHMRC Complaints Policy has been released. The key updates include:
• a new section explaining the policy in relation to complaints about peer review
• removing the section on complaints during the rebuttal process, which is no longer used during NHMRC peer review
• clarifying that an application being considered by NHMRC’s Commissioner of Complaints is not considered an ‘active’ application and therefore does not affect an individual’s eligibility to apply to other/future grant rounds
• explaining that the external review process for MRFF complaints is the Commonwealth Ombudsman, and
• streamlining the content to reduce duplication.
The updated Complaints Policy is now available on NHMRC’s website.
NHMRC Open Access Policy – full implementation by 1 January 2024
NHMRC’s Open Access Policy supports making research findings openly available, such that other researchers and the wider community can find, access, read, share and reference research publications arising from NHMRC-funded research.
From Monday 1 January 2024, all NHMRC grant holders must comply fully with the requirements under NHMRC’s Open Access Polic , which include that:
• publications be made available immediately upon publication
• the use of open licensing for publications, which means they can be used and shared widely.
A copy of the Policy and further guidance on how to comply is available on NHMRC’s Open Access Policy page. For further information, please contact the Open Science team.
Australian Research Integrity Committee Annual Report to Sector 2022-23
The Australian Research Integrity Committee (ARIC) has released its Annual Report to the Sector 2022-23.
The report provides information on the reviews undertaken by ARIC in 2022-23, including the types of issues raised and key lessons to promote best practice in managing research integrity concerns.
Partnership Projects 2023 peer review cycle 2 – closing soon
Applications for the Partnership Projects 2023 peer review cycle 2 close on Wednesday 29 November 2023 17:00 AEDT.
We encourage applicants to work closely with their RAOs to ensure they can submit applications on time.
Applicants are reminded that:
• Researchers listed on applications must have a Sapphire account. New account registrations must be submitted at least 72 hours prior to application close.
The Research Help Centre will continue to respond to Sapphire-related enquiries until Wednesday 29 November 2023 13:00 AEDT.
• Only applicants who completed minimum data requirements by the deadline can submit a full application.
• Applications submitted after close of round will not be accepted.
Further information can be found on GrantConnect or contact help@nhmrc.gov.au.
Centres of Research Excellence 2024 – closing soon
Applications for the Centres of Research Excellence 2024 grant opportunity close Wednesday 29 November 2023 17:00 AEDT.
We encourage applicants to work closely with their RAOs well in advance of the due date to ensure they can submit applications on time.
Applicants are reminded that:
• Researchers listed on applications must have a Sapphire account. New account registrations must be submitted at least 72 hours prior to application close.
The Research Help Centre will continue to respond to Sapphire-related enquiries until Wednesday 29 November 2023 13:00 AEDT.
• Only applicants who completed minimum data requirements by the deadline can submit a full application.
• Applications submitted after close of round will not be accepted.
Further information can be found on GrantConnect. or contact help@nhmrc.gov.au.
Privacy Act Guidelines
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) is reviewing the approvals for the guidelines developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) under section 95, 95A and 95AA of the Privacy Act 1988.
Researchers, Australian Government agencies and health service providers must follow these guidelines when handling health information, including genetic information, for health and medical research purposes without the individuals’ consent.
Find out more about the review, including how you can have your say, on the OAIC website: Consultation on health and medical research guidelines.
Medical Research Future Fund – grant opportunities key dates
The following MRFF grant opportunities have a close date approaching:
- 2023 Mental Health Research Grant Opportunity (GO6298)
- Applications close on Wednesday 29 November 2023 at 17:00 AEDT
- 2023 Genomics Health Futures Grant Opportunity (GO6287)
- Applications close on Wednesday 29 November 2023 at 17:00 AEDT
- 2023 Traumatic Brain Injury Grant Opportunity (GO6322)
- Applications close on Wednesday 29 November 2023 at 17:00 AEDT.
Details on how to apply for MRFF grant opportunities and all MRFF close dates are available on GrantConnect. Applicants are reminded that only applicants who completed minimum data by the due date can submit an application. It is also the applicant’s responsibility to ensure they meet all eligibility requirements.
Applicants should ensure:
- their Sapphire account is active or access to Sapphire has been requested,
- their organisation is an approved MRFF Eligible Organisation before the close date, and
- any intended participating institutions are listed in Sapphire or request that a new participating institution be added by emailing help@nhmrc.gov.au, including the institution's website address (URL) and ABN (if applicable).
MRFF grant assessment committee self-nomination
Register your interest to become a member of a MRFF grant assessment committee.
MRFF CEO webinar on Thursday 23 November 2023
‘From research plan to research proposal: addressing MRFF priorities in grant applications’
The Department of Health and Aged Care will host a webinar on Thursday 23 November 2023 at 14:00 AEDT.
CEO Dr Masha Somi will be joined by MRFF expert advisory panel members and grant recipients for a practical workshop about how to address research priorities in grant applications. An opportunity to ask questions will follow.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) in Sapphire
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) will become mandatory in NHMRC Sapphire to improve user account security. This feature is expected to be implemented Thursday 7 December 2023.
MFA meets the Australian security standards and requires a user to enter at least two types of authentications to log in:
1. Sapphire username and password
2. a code from an authentication app such as Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator.
Logging in to your Sapphire account
Users will be asked to provide additional verification via an authentication app when logging in to their Sapphire account. More information on when the MFA feature will be implemented will be communicated prior to deployment and a ‘How to’ guide will become available on the Sapphire Help page.
Please email help@nhmrc.gov.au for assistance if required.