Tracker - 27 February 2023

^{Associate Professor Yvonne Clark from South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI). Image provided by SAHMRI.}

$5 million for Indigenous-led project to improve maternal and child health

A research team led by clinical psychologist Associate Professor Yvonne Clark, a Kokatha/Wirangu woman, will receive almost $5 million in Australian Government funding as announced by Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy on Friday 24 February 2023. 

Associate Professor Clark says she is excited to lead the project, which aims to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing during pregnancy, birth, and the early years. The funding has been allocated through NHMRC’s Targeted Calls for Research scheme.

For more, visit NHMRC’s media release. 

Investigator Grant deadlines approaching

Applications close Wednesday 22 March 2023 17:00 AEDT.

Compliance checks are under way on applications where minimum data was submitted by 22 February 2023. The final number of applications progressing to round close will be published shortly.

Researchers intending to participate in peer review must ensure their Sapphire Profile is up to date, particularly their Fields of Research, Broad Research Area, Keywords and Peer Review Areas. This will assist NHMRC to effectively allocate applications most suitable to researchers’ areas of expertise and balance workloads across reviewers.

Further details about the Investigator Grant scheme are available on GrantConnect and NHMRC’s website.

Please contact the Research Help Centre for further information or assistance.

Human Frontier Science Program (HSFP) – Letter of Intent for Research Grants 2024

HFSP research projects extend the frontiers of knowledge, and support innovative basic research into fundamental biological problems with emphasis placed on novel and interdisciplinary approaches that involve scientific exchanges across national and disciplinary boundaries. 

NHMRC Membership of HFSP enables Australian researchers to apply as a Principal Applicant, working with team members from anywhere in the world. Applicants are expected to develop new lines of research through collaboration. NHMRC is reminding research teams to start outlining ideas, contacting possible research partners and drafting their bold research project.

Applicants must initiate their Letter of Intent to apply for a research grant by 21 March 2023 13:00 EST (22 March 2023 05:00 AEDT) and submit their letter by 30 March 2023 13:00 EST (31 March 2023 05:00 AEDT). The Principal Applicant will be notified by the beginning of July if the team is invited to submit a full proposal. 

For more information, visit HFSP Research Grants.

Forecast opportunity: NHMRC-EU Collaborative Grant Scheme 2023

NHMRC is considering supporting Australian-based researchers for a limited number of Horizon Europe topics. 

The NHMRC-EU Collaborative Research Grant Scheme supports Australian participation in international collaborative research under Horizon Europe, the EU’s key funding program for research and innovation. 

Projects which involve Australian-based researchers and are chosen by the EU for funding in 2023 may be eligible for NHMRC support. 

We encourage Australian researchers to engage now with potential international collaborators.

For more information, visit GrantConnect and Horizon Europe.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Guideline - Public Consultation 

Monash University Centre of Research Excellence in Women’s Health in Reproductive Life (CRE-WHiRL) has released a draft update to the International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of PCOS 2023. 

CRE-WHiRL is calling for public consultation on the draft guideline from today until Thursday 30 March 2023.  

CRE-WHiRL will be seeking NHMRC approval of the guideline under section 14A of the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992.

For more information and to access the draft guideline and associated material, visit PCOS Guideline Public Consultation.

Human Research Ethics Committees annual reporting 

NHMRC-registered Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs) and NHMRC-certified institutions are required to submit annual reports to NHMRC about their activities during the preceding calendar year. The 2022 report form is now available and must be completed by Monday 24 July 2023 17:00 AEST. 

Further details, including how to access the form, have been emailed to registered HRECs and certified institutions. If your institution or HREC Chair has not yet received this email or require any assistance, please contact HREC Admin.
 

MRFF grant opportunities and webinars - key dates

The following Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grant opportunities are now open for applications:   

2023 Early to Mid-Career Researchers (GO6085) 

• Minimum data due Wednesday 24 May 2023 17:00 AEST 
• Applications close Wednesday 21 June 2023 17:00 AEST 

2023 Clinician Researchers Initiative: Applied Research in Health (GO6033) 

• Minimum data due Wednesday 5 July 2023 17:00 AEST 
• Applications close Wednesday 2 August 2023 17:00 AEST 

The following opportunity has upcoming minimum data deadline: 

2022 Mental Health Research (GO5915) 

• Minimum data due Wednesday 1 March 2023 17:00 AEDT 
• Applications close Wednesday 29 March 2023 17:00 AEDT 

The following MRFF grant opportunities are closing for applications:   
 
2022 Assessment of High-Cost Gene Treatments and Digital Health Interventions (GO5815) 

• Applications close Wednesday 1 March 2023 17:00 AEDT 

2022 Indigenous Health Research (GO5832) 

• Applications close Wednesday 1 March 2023 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 minimum data must be completed before the due date to be able to submit an application. 
 
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  
• participating institutions they intend to reference within the application are listed in Sapphire or request that a new participating institution be added by emailing Research Help Centre (please include the institution’s website address / URL in the request).  

Upcoming Webinars 

The Department of Health and Aged Care’s Health and Medical Research Office is hosting two MRFF webinars and Q&A sessions in March 2023. 
 
The MRFF Webinar

• Wednesday 15 March 2023 14:00 – 15:00 AEDT 

Topics: How applications to MRFF grant opportunities are assessed, the recently refreshed assessment criteria and the other key elements in MRFF grant applications. Hosted by Dr Masha Somi, CEO of the Health and Medical Research Office.   

Register for the webinar. Watch previous MRFF webinars and videos. 
 
MRFF Research Administration Officers (RAO) Webinar

• Thursday 30 March 2023 14:00 – 15:00 AEDT  

Topics: consumer involvement and the MRFF; recent changes to the MRFF assessment criteria; the MRFF monitoring, learning and evaluation strategy; and assessment of MRFF impact. Hosted by staff from the Health and Medical Research Office. 

Register for the RAO webinar. Watch the previous RAO webinar. 

MRFF application eligibility criteria and compliance checking 

Applications must review and address all eligibility and assessment criteria as set out in the opportunity’s guidelines, including limits on the number of times a person can be named as a CI on applications submitted for a grant opportunity. 
 
For applications submitted for the 2022 Indigenous Health Research grant opportunity, eligibility may relate to whether Chief Investigators are of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent (refer to section 3.1 of the grant guidelines). All MRFF applicants are advised to ensure the relevant information is completed in their Sapphire Profile prior to submission. 

MRFF Grant Assessment Committee self-nomination 

Researchers, consumers, clinicians and health practitioners, as well as those in industry, policy or who manage health services are invited to express their interest in assisting with the assessment of MRFF applications as a member of a grant assessment committee. Register your interest through the online portal.

Key NHMRC grant program dates

Please see the Funding schemes and calendar page.

Tracker

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