Tracker – 3 July 2023

MRFF/MREA consultation submissions closing soon

As previously reported, the Department of Health and Aged Care and NHMRC are undertaking national consultation on improving alignment and coordination between the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and the NHMRC Medical Research Endowment Account (MREA).

To ensure a diverse range of voices inform this consultation, we invite all stakeholders to make a written submission by Friday 14 July 23:59 AEST.

To learn more, watch the recording of the webinar held on 6 June 2023 or visit the consultation hub.

NHMRC Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Report Card

NHMRC is committed to investing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research to build and strengthen capacity and capability of Indigenous researchers.

In 2022, 208 active grants were funded with about $67 million – or 8% of the Medical Research Endowment Account (MREA) for health and medical research – going towards research to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

169 researchers of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent were on active grants funded by NHMRC, with 72 in the lead role.

Read the Report Card this NAIDOC Week.

Apply now for Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants

Applications are now open for the 2023 Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies scheme.

Key dates:

• Minimum data is due Wednesday 26 July 2023 17:00 AEST
• Applications close Wednesday 23 August 2023 17:00 AEST

The following resources are available on GrantConnect:

• Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants 2023 Guidelines
• Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants 2023 Peer Review Guidelines.

Research Help Centre and Sapphire requests

Applicants should ensure:

• Their Sapphire account is active or access to Sapphire has been requested, 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 institutions website address (URL) and ABN (if applicable).

Please email help@nhmrc.gov.au for further information or assistance.

Updated Sapphire module and acquittals release

The Sapphire module which supports application and grant management has received a necessary software platform upgrade which features a new interface and new functionalities (including updated acquittals functionality).

What’s new for researchers and Research Administration Officers (RAOs):

• Sapphire module: new user interface, ability to configure tables, bulk approval feature, enhanced document upload feature, in-system tour, enabling enhanced security.
• Acquittals release: updated validation and error reporting on upload, greater visibility of submitted financial reports, interface improvements.

Training resources

See the ‘What’s new for Researchers’ and ‘What’s new for RAOs’ documents on the Sapphire Help page (‘General’>’What is new in Sapphire?’). These provide side-by-side screenshots of the new and previous version of the Sapphire module. More training resources will soon become available on the Sapphire Help page.

Please email help@nhmrc.gov.au for further information or assistance.

2023 Partnership Projects: upcoming dates

There are key dates coming up for both the first and second Peer Review Cycles (PRC) for 2023 Partnerships Projects.

For PRC1

• The due date for NHMRC-approved Administering Institutions to submit partner waiver requests for applications is Wednesday 12 July 2023 17:00 AEST.
• Minimum data is due by Wednesday 26 July 2023 17:00 AEST. Only applicants who have completed minimum data by the due date can submit a full application.
• Applications close on Wednesday 9 August 2023 17:00 AEST.

For PRC2

• Applications open on Thursday 27 July 2023.

Please email help@nhmrc.gov.au for further information or assistance.

Invitation for public submissions: Hypertension in Pregnancy Guidelines

The Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (SOMANZ) has released new guideline recommendations for public consultation from Monday 3 July 2023 to Friday 11 August 2023.

SOMANZ 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 please visit the SOMANZ website.

To make a submission, download the template and once completed, email your response to guidelines@somanz.org.

Medical Research Future Fund opportunities open

The following Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Grant Opportunities have opened for applications:

2023 Traumatic Brain Injury (GO6322)

• Minimum Data due Wednesday 1 November 2023 17:00 AEDT 
• Applications close Wednesday 29 November 2023 17:00 AEDT

2023 Indigenous Health Research (GO6328)

• Minimum Data due Wednesday 7 February 2024 17:00 AEDT
• Applications close Wednesday 6 March 2024 at 17:00 AEDT

The following MRFF Grant Opportunities have minimum data deadlines approaching:

2023 Primary Health Care Research (GO6034)

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

2023 Clinician Researchers: Applied Research in Health (GO6033)

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

The following MRFF grant opportunities have revised key dates. Please refer to GrantConnect for addenda and further information:

Clinical Trials Activity International Clinical Trials Collaboration round 23.1 (GO6114)

• Minimum data due Wednesday 28 June 2023 at 17:00 AEST
• Applications close Wednesday 26 July 2023 at 17:00 AEST

2023 Cardiovascular Health (GO6226)

• Minimum Data due Wednesday 18 October 2023 at 17:00 AEDT
• Applications close Wednesday 15 November 2023 at 17:00 AEDT

2023 Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care (GO6225)

• Minimum Data due Wednesday 18 October 2023 at 17:00 AEDT
• Applications close Wednesday 15 November 2023 at 17:00 AEDT

2023 Stem Cell Therapies (GO6227)

• Minimum Data due Wednesday 18 October 2023 at 17:00 AEDT
• Applications close Wednesday 15 November 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 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, including limits on the number of times a person can be named as a Chief Investigator on applications submitted to a grant opportunity.

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 an MRFF grant assessment committee.

Key NHMRC grant program dates

Please see Funding schemes and calendar.

Tracker

See previous editions of Tracker.

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