Research Branch Bulletin

Susan G. Komen for the Cure has extended the Postdoctoral Fellowship (PDF) and Post Baccalaureate Training in Disparities Research (PBT-DR) pre-application deadline. Pre-applications are now due no later than October 15, 2009 (external), 8:00 pm eastern time.

Postdoctoral Fellowships seek to attract pre-faculty scientists into breast cancer by providing up to $60,000 annually for up to 3 years. Fellows develop skills and expertise in one of three research tracks: basic, translational and clinical research leading to reductions in breast cancer incidence and/or mortality.

Post-Baccalaureate Training in Disparities Research (PBT-DR) awards provide an opportunity for individuals early in their education, particularly those from populations affected by disparities in breast cancer outcomes, and encourages them to seek careers focused on understanding and eliminating these disparities. This award provides individual support of $45,000 annually for 3 years for up to three trainees.

The Harmonisation of Multi-centre Ethical Review (HoMER) Project is seeking expressions of interest from researchers to participate in pilot exercises starting in November 2009. The exercises are aimed at multi-centre health and medical research conducted in multiple jurisdictions. The Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC), which would normally review the research project individually, will be engaged in a cooperative analysis and discussion of the review process. The use of both prospective and retrospective research projects will be considered. The pilots will assist with the development of the national approach for single ethical review of multi-centre research. For more information please contact the HoMER project group on homer@nhmrc.gov.au or phone (02) 6217 9213.

For further information, please visit:
http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/health_ethics/homer/index.htm

The NHMRC has undertaken a review of the NHMRC-European Union (EU) Collaborative Research Grants scheme.  The scheme helps Australian researchers participate in projects with international researchers under the European Commission’s (EC) Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).  

The revised NHMRC-EU scheme Funding Policy, approved by Research Committee in May this year, and the revised application form, are now available on the updated webpage of the NHMRC website located at: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/grants/types/granttype/strategic/austeu.htm.  

Information about the recently published FP7 calls is available on the EC website at:
http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/home_en.html.

The NHMRC allocates funds to the University of Adelaide to be distributed and reported to NHMRC. Teams may seek funds to purchase equipment to be used in health and medical research, as supported by the NHMRC and other competitive grant support.

The NHMRC has clearly defined objectives for awarding Equipment Grant funding, which are:

• The need for Institutions to be strategic in the purchase of larger items of equipment that will benefit health and medical research in Australia;
• Institutions are encouraged to support equipment that will be used collaboratively; and
• Where possible, Australian-made equipment should be purchased.

Full applications to be submitted to Research Branch by the internal closing date of COB Tuesday, 3 Nov 2009. Original & five copies of the application delivered to Research Branch, Level 7, 115 Grenfell Street with a signed application coversheet. For more information, please visit:
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/rb/nhmrc/equipmentgrants.html

AIATSIS is a national funding body for research in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies. The Research Grants Program supports research into areas such as:

• history (including family and community history)
• politics, law, and public policy
• health (social, cultural and environmental aspects) and biological sciences
• education and cultural transmission
• Indigenous knowledge systems
• linguistics
• social anthropology
• archaeology and
• the arts

Within these categories, AIATSIS places special emphasis on applications dealing with:

• relations with Government
• knowledge about and caring for Country
• Indigenous knowledge systems

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/research/grants/grants.html

The Industry Call for project proposals seeking funding in 2010/11 is open.

All projects funded through HAL must provide benefit to the horticulture industry. Projects that address advertised priorities are more likely to be successful in gaining funding. The Industry Call is for industry-specific proposals involving levies and/or voluntary contributions (VCs).  Proposals are reviewed by the relevant Industry Advisory Committee (IAC) and a recommendation on funding made to HAL.  Proposals must align with the industry strategic plan and annual investment priorities. All HAL investment must align with the Australian Government’s Rural Research and Development Priorities.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.horticulture.com.au/applying_for_funding/funding.asp

In seeking to achieve its aims, The Australia & Pacific Science Foundation (APSF) provides support, on a competitive basis, for the following activities:

• The top priority is to encourage high quality research by scientists in Australian national or state institutions, and similar institutions in other countries of the South West Pacific.
• Occasional support may also be given to such activities as training, publications or conferences.

Typically the APSF provides project grants up to A$15,000 per year for up to three years. Grants are awarded to institutions within Australia or other countries of the South West Pacific region for activities within those countries or within the region.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://apscience.org.au/guidelines.html

The ACACA program funds delegation visits to China with an agricultural, fishing or forestry focus. The program enhances cooperation in activities related to agriculture, fishing and forestry by helping to develop trading relationships and facilitating the exchange of technical information between Australia and China.

Every 18 months, ACACA funds six four-person delegations to each country. For Australian visits to China, the Ministry of Agriculture (or State Forestry Administration) provides an interpreter for the duration of the visit.

For Australian citizens, ACACA offers a special opportunity to visit locations within China and to make business contacts that might otherwise not be possible. To enhance the value of the program for Australia, delegates are required to share key lessons and contacts from their visit with their broader industry.

The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture provides the same opportunity for stakeholders in China to visit Australia to establish business contacts. The current program focuses on projects that demonstrate commercial potential and provide clear flow-on benefits to the delegation’s broader industry. Farmers, agri-businesses, industry groups, rural and regional associations and educational and research and academic institutions, statutory authorities and state governments are invited to apply to have a delegation funded by the program. The applicant’s organisation must be Australian-based and all delegation members must be Australian citizens.

In the 2010-11 ACACA round, all delegation visits to China must occur between 1 July 2010 and 31 December 2011.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.daff.gov.au/market-access-trade/iac/acaca#info

The Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS) National Taxonomy Research Grant Program provides grants for taxonomic research. Grants are awarded for research projects where the primary aim is to undertake taxonomic research on the Australian biota or to develop products that aid in the dissemination of taxonomic information. The program also supports projects that build Australian taxonomic capacity. All research grants awarded in the 2010/2011 grants round will be of three years duration.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/funding-and-research/research-grants/index.html

Nominations for the College of Experts in 2010 are now open. An information kit and nomination form are now available at:
http://www.arc.gov.au/about_arc/expert.htm

Nominations endorsed by the relevant Head of School are due in Research Branch by Friday, 23 October 2009. If you have any questions, please email ARC-CoENominations@arc.gov.au or phone 02 6287 6739.

The Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP) has released the “Concept Awards” Program Announcement and is open for submissions. This funding opportunity information may interest bio-life, basic, bio-engineering, epidemiology, behavioral, and social scientists considering innovative concepts in breast cancer research at the University.

The Concept Award supports the exploration of a highly innovative new concept or untested theory that addresses an important problem relevant to breast cancer.  The Concept Award is not intended to support a logical progression of an already established research project but, instead, supports high-risk studies that have the potential to reveal entirely new avenues for investigation.  Preliminary data is not allowed.  Reviewers will be blinded to the identity of the PI and PI’s institution.

A maximum of $75,000 for direct costs over a 12 month maximum performance period, plus indirect costs as appropriate, is offered.  The CDMRP expects to allot approximately $10M of the $150M FY09 BCRP appropriation to fund approximately 85-90 Concept Award proposals, depending on the quality and number of proposals received.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/pdf/09bcrpreftable2.pdf and http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/bcrp.htm

The National Rosacea Society is currently accepting proposals for research grants to be awarded in 2010.

The Society awards grants of $10,000 to $25,000 or higher in special cases for research on rosacea. Because the etiology of rosacea is unknown, high priority is given to research in such areas as the pathogenesis, progression, mechanism of action, cell biology and potential genetic factors of this conspicuous and often life-disruptive condition. Studies may also be funded in such areas as epidemiology, predisposition, quality of life and associations with environmental and lifestyle factors. Product development studies (e.g., drug or device testing), which are more appropriately funded by commercial sources, will not be considered. Funds are available to researchers worldwide.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.rosacea.org/grants/index.php

Research proposals must demonstrate clear relevance to meningitis and septicaemia and have potential for prevention of these diseases or other clinical or public health benefit. Priority is given to research that produces results in immediate problem areas, including prevention of all forms of meningitis and associated infections, improving treatment and outlook for patients, and improving the speed and accuracy of diagnosis.

Meningitis Research Foundation seeks to fund research that is most likely to defeat meningitis and septicaemia. Research grants may be held in any country but must meet UK standards of research ethics, scientific integrity and animal welfare, and research institutions must be able to accept the charity's Terms and Conditions of Grant Aid including the policy on protection of intellectual property rights described therein.

Majority of grants awarded are in the region of 70,000 - 100,000 English pounds per year for up to three years, with a number of small grants of up to 30,000 English pounds.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.meningitis.org/grants

The purpose of these grants is to enable cancer investigators from any country to carry out bilateral research projects abroad which exploit complementary materials or skills, including advanced training in experimental methods or special techniques.

Candidates should possess appropriate scientific or medical qualifications and a minimum of two years postdoctoral experience, demonstrate active engagement in cancer research and have recent publications in the international peer-reviewed literature.

About 14-16 grants are available with an average value for 3 months of US$10,000 are made annually. For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.uicc.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15958&Itemid=302

AICR awards grants to support fundamental or translational research into the causes, mechanisms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancer. AICR do not support clinical research. AICR will consider applications that include some clinical research in a project which is mostly basic or translational.

Before submitting applications that include clinical research, potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact AICR for advice.
AICR accepts applications from non-profit research institutions anywhere in the world. Projects are for a maximum of three years and can include funding for research staff (post doctoral and/or PhD students), consumables, essential items of equipment and travel.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.aicr.org.uk/ApplyingforResearchGrants.stm

NARSAD's Young Investigator Award Program provides support for the most promising young scientists conducting neurobiological research. One and two year awards up to $30,000 per year are provided to enable promising investigators to either extend research fellowship training or begin careers as independent research faculty. Basic and/or clinical investigators are supported, but research must be relevant to serious psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, or child and adolescent psychiatric disorders.

Please note that the Young Investigator Award review calendar has been restructured and NARSAD will begin accepting applications on December 1, 2009. Any updated information regarding this award will be posted on their website at:
http://www.narsad.org/?q=node/105/grants-and-prizes 

The International Collaborative Research Grant (ICRG) supports international research collaborations between two or more qualified scholars, where the principal investigators bring different and complementary perspectives, knowledge, and/or skills to the project. Supplemental funds are also available to provide essential training for academic research participants in ICRG-funded projects (co-applicants, students, as well as other professional colleagues). By encouraging international collaborations, the grant contributes to the development of an international anthropology that values and incorporates different national perspectives and resources. By providing training funds, the grant helps to build capacity in countries were anthropology may be under-resourced.

The grants are for a maximum of $30,000 for the research project. Proposals which include the optional training element can have an increased funding request up to a maximum of $35,000, of which no more than $10,000 can be for essential training purposes. Under special circumstances grants can be renewed to support longer-term research projects. Principal Investigators must hold a doctorate or equivalent in anthropology or a related discipline.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.wennergren.org/programs/programs_show.htm?doc_id=368683&attrib_id=13233

Project fellowship grants are offered to artists or a significant creative and/or developmental project that will benefit their artistic development.

Applications for a larger scale project with different stages or components should demonstrate the link between the project stages or components. They are each worth $20,000. Up to three project fellowships may be awarded in 2009. Applications from artists from all areas of music are invited.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/grants/grants/project_fellowships_-_music

Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships provide support for emerging scholars to complete work on projects related to the Getty Research Institute's annual theme. The theme for 2010-11 is The Display of Art. Recipients are in residence at the Getty Research Institute, where they pursue research to complete their dissertations or to expand them for publication. Fellows make use of the Getty collections, join in a weekly meeting devoted to the annual theme, and participate in the intellectual life of the Getty Research Institute.

Applications are welcome from scholars of all nationalities. Predoctoral fellowship applicants must have advanced to candidacy by the time of the fellowship start date and expect to complete their dissertations during the fellowship period. Predoctoral fellows who receive their doctorate while in residence automatically become postdoctoral fellows. Postdoctoral fellowship applicants must not have received their degree earlier than 2004.

Predoctoral Fellows are in residence from September 2010 to June 2011 and receive a stipend of $25,000. Postdoctoral Fellows are in residence from September 2010 to June 2011 and receive a stipend of $30,000. For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.getty.edu/foundation/funding/residential/getty_pre_postdoctoral_fellowships.html

Postdoctoral fellowships provide two years of funding to support ambitious, synthetic research on any aspect of evolutionary biology and relevant disciplines. Annual stipends will be $39,000 with $5,000 in research expenses, plus medical and dental coverage. Proposals can include any type of synthetic project, but fellows should plan on mainly working on-site, to add to our intellectual community.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.nescent.org/science/postdoctoral.php

Grains Industry Senior Fellowships are available to senior R&D personnel seeking to enhance their experience and potential to contribute to the work of the GRDC at an institution in Australia or overseas. Support will be for up to twelve (12) months. The main criteria used in selecting successful applicants include:

• Experience and ability of the applicant as demonstrated through a detailed resume
• Extent of likely benefit to the Australian grains industry
• Scientific credibility of the proposed host organisation(s) and collaborator(s)
• Evidence that the proposed collaborators are agreeable to the training program
• Level of financial support from other sources
• Scope of proposed delivery and communication plan

The candidate must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident and support will generally be up to a maximum of $50,000.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.grdc.com.au/director/apply/Training%20Awards/Grains%20Industry%20Senior%20Fellowships%20(SF)

The Lady Mollie Askin Ballet Travelling Scholarship provides support for ballet artists to help them further their cultural education.  It is awarded every 2 years for study, maintenance and travel either in Australia or overseas.

The scholarship was established "for the furtherance of culture and the advancement of education in Australia and elsewhere to be awarded to Australian citizens who shall be adjudged of outstanding ability and promise in Ballet."

The Trustee is pleased to offer three scholarships of $20,000 each for the Lady Mollie Askin Ballet Travelling Scholarship 2010 to be paid in two instalments of $10,000 over two years. For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.trust.com.au/philanthropy/awards/lady_mollie_askin/

The Sir Robert Askin Operatic Travelling Scholarship provides support for male opera singers to help them further their cultural education. It is awarded every 2 years for study, maintenance and travel either in Australia or overseas. The scholarship was established "for the furtherance of culture and the advancement of education in Australia and elsewhere to be awarded to male Australian citizens who shall be adjudged of outstanding ability and promise as a male Operatic Singer".

The Trustee is pleased to offer three scholarships of $20,000 each for the Sir Robert Askin Operatic Travelling Scholarship 2010 to be paid in two instalments of $10,000 over two years.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.trust.com.au/philanthropy/awards/sir_robert_askin/

The Patrick White Playwrights’ Award is a joint initiative of Sydney Theatre Company and The Sydney Morning Herald.

Launched in 2000 in memory of Patrick White, the Award celebrates the importance of the playwright to Australian theatre culture and fosters the development of uniquely Australian theatrical voices. A jury of leading Australian theatre practitioners and a representative of STC will award a cash prize of $20,000 for a full-length unproduced play of any genre written by an Australian playwright 20 years of age or over.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/about/Patrick-White-Playwrights-Award

The Sophie Prize is an international award (US $100,000), for environment and sustainable development, awarded annually. The Sophie Prize is established to inspire people working towards a sustainable future.

Voluntary organisations, independent research institutions and individual’s worldwide, with knowledge or interest in environment and/or sustainable development or other closely related topics, can nominate candidates for the Sophie Prize. The Sophie Prize is awarded to one or several persons, or an organisation, which has created awareness of alternatives to modern-day development and/or initiated such alternatives in a pioneering or particularly inventive manner.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.sophieprize.org/Nomination_Guidelines/index.html

The Harvey Prize is awarded annually in a variety of disciplines within the categories of Science & Technology and Human Health. The Harvey Prize has
also been awarded for Contribution to Peace in the Middle East.

Harvey Prize winners are selected by a council of world-renowned scientists and experts in each field through a rigorous selection process. The Harvey Prize
Council, comprised of the president of the Technion, one vice-president, dean of the graduate school, two representatives of both the Israel National Academy of Science and the Technion Senate, receives all nominations. Two awards of $US 75,000 each are made annually. The prize winners receive their awards at the Technion.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.admin.technion.ac.il/harvey/

ECMS

The Access to Major Research Facilities Program (AMRFP) supports access by Australian researchers from industry, private and public research organisations and universities to major international research facilities that are not available in Australia or to attend overseas strategic planning meetings to secure access to a major research facility.

This program primarily supports travel where time has been granted on an overseas major facility following peer review. Collaboration visits will not be supported unless time has already been granted at an eligible facility. Two six-month funding rounds are held each year.

For further details and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.ansto.gov.au/research/user_access/amrfp

The objectives of the fund is to support projects that will lead to the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their important wetland habitats in Asia through partnership with, and which will bring socio-economic benefits to the local community at the site.

Cathay Pacific placed an initial donation of HK$500,000 (approx. US$65,000) into the Fund and further donations are actively being sought from other sources to increase the amount in the Fund so that a greater number of worthwhile projects can be supported in future. At present, the maximum amount that can be applied for each project shall not exceed US$4,000.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.wwf.org.hk/eng/maipo/awcf/info.php

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is now accepting grant proposals for Round 4 of Grand Challenges Explorations, a US$100 million initiative to encourage unconventional global health solutions. Anyone can apply, regardless of education or experience level.

Topics for Round 4 are:

● create new technologies for contraception
● create new ways to induce and measure mucosal immunity
● create low-cost diagnostics for priority global health conditions
● create new ways to protect against infectious disease

Initial grants will be $100,000 each, and projects showing promise will have the opportunity to receive additional funding of $1 million or more. For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.grandchallenges.org/Explorations/Pages/ApplicationInstructions.aspx