Research Branch Bulletin

On Thursday, 5 November, 2009, the Heart Foundation Research Program is coming to South Australia to host an exciting day of information and expertise for all cardiovascular health researchers.

‘What makes a successful grant application?’
Be a part of the Heart Foundation Research Master Class featuring a presentation and interactive Q&A session with our guest speakers and panel members:

• Professor Garry Jennings on Program Grants
• Professor Robyn McDermott on Project Grants and Fellowships
• Assoc Professor Jamie Vandenberg on Project Grants
• Dr Christine Latif on Heart Foundation funding applications

Venue: Stamford Plaza Hotel, North Terrace, 2pm-4.30pm.  For more information on this master class or to reserve a place, please contact Jude Barrow in the Heart Foundation's Adelaide office on (08) 8224 2888 or jude.barrow@heartfoundation.org.au.  Book early, as places are limited.

Cardiovascular Health Research Network launch
Join the Heart Foundation and Cardiology Clinical Network to launch the Cardiovascular Health Research Network and announce the first two recipients of the South Australian Cardiovascular Disease Research Program (SACVDRP) Fellowships.  This promises to be an entertaining and informative evening with a very special guest, the Minister for Science and Information Economy Hon Michael O’Brien MP, in attendance.

NHF Research Program Information Session
There will be an opportunity to spend time with the Heart Foundation’s Research Program Director, Dr Christine Latif as she presents an information session on the Heart Foundation’s Research Award Program for 2010.
For more information on the information session, or the Heart Foundation Research Program, please contact the Heart Foundation research office on (03) 9321 1581 or email research@heartfoundation.org.au

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.

National Computational Infrastructure, the successor to the successful National Facility Program of APAC (Australian Partnership for Advanced Computing), provides Australian researchers with access to world-class high-end computing services.

The role of NCI is to provide merit and priority access to internationally significant capability computing resources.  The NCI program provides for:

• merit based access which, in keeping with NCRIS principles, provides for researchers in publicly funded research institutions to apply for resources on the National Facility and Specialised Facilities.
  
• partner and affiliate access, in which partner organisations can buy, at full operating cost, a share of resources on the National Facility (and possibly Specialised Facilities), while affiliates can acquire a fixed level of resources for the year in which they invest.

The Merit Allocation Scheme calls for applications twice yearly in October (the major round) for the following year, and in May (the minor round) for new projects which cannot wait until the main round at the end of the year. ‘Start-up Grants' are available immediately to enable researchers to assess the usefulness of the National Facility for their research, and to assist in framing proposals to the Scheme.

For further information, please see the Call for Applications brochure or visit:
http://nci.org.au/access/?searchterm=merit%20allocation

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

Australian Respiratory Council is seeking to award several one-year research grants of approximately $50,000 each in 2010.

Grants will be for projects which address research in tuberculosis, respiratory diseases due to other infections, or respiratory diseases related to tobacco use.  Within these categories, projects examining community issues or the health of disadvantaged groups are particularly encouraged.  The proposals can relate to clinical research, public health research or basic scientific research.

Australian Respiratory Council Harry Windsor Research Grants will be made for projects which were submitted to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) in 2009 and which have been assessed as fundable by the NHMRC but have missed the cut-off mark for funding in 2010.  They are awarded in open competition on the basis of merit following detailed assessment by Australian Respiratory Council’s Research Committee.

Australian Respiratory Council Harry Windsor Research Grants are tenable for one year and open to researchers across Australia.  Projects funded under this scheme must be conducted during the year of the award. In order to apply for a grant, the Chief Investigator of a project is required to send the Application ID Number and the Original Title of their grant application submitted to NHMRC in 2009 to research@thearc.org.au.  Please cc your email to raohealth@adelaide.edu.au.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.thearc.org.au/research.htm

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

Note: Please note that these grants are open for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers.

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

Research Branch Contact: Dr.Don McMaster (#33347)

An environmental organisation, the Norman Wettenhall Foundation’s objective is to support projects that enhance or maintain the vitality and diversity of the Australian natural living environment. The objectives of the grants are:

• to build capacity in local communities to effect long-term beneficial change in the natural environment
• to support and encourage research, monitoring and knowledge sharing relating to all aspects of Australia's natural environment

Please note that pre-approval must be obtained before submitting a full application.

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

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

Applications are now open for Round 1 of the Australian Space Research Program. 

Potential applicants should read the program guidelines and frequently asked questions (available at http://www.innovation.gov.au/Industry/Space/Pages/AustralianSpaceResearchProgram-Applyingforagrant.aspx) before deciding to submit an application in Round 1 of the program. 

Applicants must submit their application on the Australian Space Research Program application form. A project budget and curriculum vitae (CVs) of key people should be included as attachments to the application form.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.innovation.gov.au/Industry/Space/Pages/AustralianSpaceResearchProgram-Applyingforagrant.aspx

Relevant Research Branch contact: Dr Tim Anson (#35175)

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 "Era of Hope Scholar Awards" and "Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards" Program Announcements and is open for submissions. The following funding opportunity information may interest newer faculty and postdoctoral researchers in bio-life, basic, bio-engineering, epidemiology, behavioral, and social scientists considering innovative research in breast cancer research.

1. Era of Hope Scholar Awards: The Era of Hope Scholar Award supports individuals who have high potential for innovation in breast cancer research early in their careers. Nominees for this award should be exceptionally talented, early-career scientists who have demonstrated that they are the "best and brightest" in their field(s) through extraordinary creativity, vision, and productivity. They also should exhibit strong potential for leadership in the breast cancer research community and be able to articulate a vision for the eradication of breast cancer. Experience in breast cancer research is not required; however, the application should focus on breast cancer research, and the PI must commit at least 50% of his/her full-time professional effort during the award period to breast cancer research. Principal Investigators (PIs) must be independent, non-mentored investigators within 6 years of their last mentored position. A maximum of $2,500,000 for direct costs over a 5 year maximum performance period, plus indirect costs as appropriate, is offered. The quick reference synopsis table for the BCRP Era of Hope Award is located at: http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/pdf/09bcrpreftable2.pdf.

2. Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards: Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards support exceptionally talented recent medical or other doctoral graduates in their pursuit of innovative, high-impact breast cancer research during their postdoctoral training and allows them to obtain the necessary experience for an independent career at the forefront of breast cancer research. The postdoctoral trainee is considered the Principal Investigator (PI) and, as such, should write the project narrative with appropriate direction from the mentor. A maximum of $300,000 ($100,000 per year) for direct costs over a 3 year maximum performance period, plus indirect costs as appropriate, is offered. The quick reference synopsis table for the BCRP Postdoctoral Fellowship Award is located at: http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/pdf/09bcrpreftable2.pdf. For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/bcrp.htm

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 Harvard Australian Studies Committee encourages applications for grants of up to US$40,000 to support academic conferences / symposia organised jointly by Australian scholars and Harvard faculty. The committee will consider support for conferences involving approx 20-40 participants drawn from Australian academic institutions, Harvard University, and elsewhere, meeting for a day or more to present and discuss current research. Proposals should identify the Australian institution(s) that will co-sponsor the planned conference. The committee will consider applications for funding to cover 50% of the estimated costs of the conference. Conferences may be held at Harvard University or at a co-sponsoring Australian institution. Proposals are not limited by academic field, but are expected to focus on issues of critical importance to current research involving both Australian and Harvard scholars.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~harvaus/index.cgi?page=conference

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

Morris Animal Foundation aims to promote and protect animal health and welfare and advancing veterinary medicine. (MAF) is testing a new system and schedule for grant application. This is in response to our new strategic plan that calls for funding work that increases and improves research outcomes, provides MAF-funded investigators with their awards more quickly, trains future veterinary scientists, and funds research with high relevance and high likelihood for maximum benefit to animals. This system is being tested with the ultimate goal of helping more animals, faster.

Full project proposals will be considered by established investigators and post-PhD applicants (First Award). For further information and application instructions, please visit: http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/professionals/scientists/

Multidisciplinary

The Government of Canada's Understanding Canada program aims to have a positive influence on the promotion of Canada's interests in the world. The objective of the program is to develop a greater knowledge and understanding of Canada, its values and its culture among scholars and other influential groups abroad. The program is intended for foreign academics to conduct research or develop courses on Canada and to facilitate international research linkages between Canada and abroad.

1. Faculty Research Program (FRP)
Assists individual academics in higher education institutions to undertake short term research in and about Canada and to increase knowledge and understanding of Canada through publication abroad of pertinent articles in the scholarly press.

2. Faculty Enrichment Program (FEP)
Increases knowledge and understanding of Canada abroad by assisting academics in higher education institutions to develop and teach courses about Canada in their own discipline, as part of their regular teaching workload.

3. Doctoral Student Research Award (DSRA)
Assists full-time PhD students enrolled in higher education institutions abroad, whose dissertations are related in substantial part to Canada, to undertake part of their doctoral research in Canada.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/australia-australie/academic_relations_academiques/grants-bourses.aspx

Multidisciplinary

Funds are available to support international joint activities involving British scholars in collaboration with Commonwealth partners. Applications must be for projects involving genuine collaborative work between a defined group of scholars in one, or possibly two, other Commonwealth countries. Priority will be given to applications involving the initiation of a new programme where there is an expectation of continued collaboration, or a defined outcome such as planned joint publications.

Approximately ten awards are available, each for a total value of up to £5,000, for projects involving joint research between an ACU member institution in the UK and an ACU member institution in another Commonwealth country.  Projects must fall under the Social Sciences and/ or Humanities fields. 

Note: University of Adelaide is a member of the ACU (Association of Commonwealth Universities)

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.acu.ac.uk/member_services/fellowships_mobility/british_academy_acu_grants_for_international_collaboration

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 mission of the Australian Podiatry Education and Research Foundation (APERF) is to support and facilitate research into foot and related problems. As such, the Foundation offers financial support for projects that are focussed on the causes, assessment, diagnosis, management and outcomes of foot and related problems. Further to this, the Foundation supports research into professional issues associated with podiatry and the provision of quality podiatric care.

The APERF Grant is open to all people involved in foot and related research. However, weighting will be given to applications whose team includes podiatric representation, particularly as the primary applicant.

Grants between $2,000 and $4,000 for novice researchers and $2,000 and $8,000 for experienced researchers will be available for projects.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.apodc.com.au/apodc/aperf.htm#1

Dissertation Fieldwork Grants are awarded to aid doctoral or thesis research. The program contributes to the Foundation's overall mission to support basic research in anthropology and to ensure that the discipline continues to be a source of vibrant and significant work that furthers our understanding of humanity's cultural and biological origins, development, and variation. There is no preference for any methodology, research location, or subfield. The Foundation particularly welcomes proposals that employ a comparative perspective, can generate innovative approaches or ideas, and/or integrate two or more subfields.

Dissertation Fieldwork Grants provide a maximum of US $15,000 and the Osmundsen Initiative supplement provides up to an additional $5,000 for a maximum grant of US $20,000. Students must be enrolled in a doctoral program (or equivalent, if applying from outside the United States) at the time of application. Students of all nationalities are eligible to apply. For further information and application instructions, please visit: http://www.wennergren.org/programs/programs_show.htm?doc_id=367834&attrib_id=13234

Post-Ph.D. Research Grants are awarded to individuals holding a Ph.D. or equivalent degree to support individual research projects. The program contributes to the Foundation's overall mission to support basic research in anthropology and to ensure that the discipline continues to be a source of vibrant and significant work that furthers our understanding of humanity's cultural and biological origins, development, and variation.

Post-Ph.D. Research Grants provide a maximum of US $20,000 and the Osmundsen Initiative supplement provides up to an additional $5,000 for a maximum grant of US $25,000. Grants are for research expenses. Under special circumstances grants can be renewed to support longer-term research projects. Applicants can apply regardless of institutional affiliation, country of residence, or nationality.

For further information and application instructions, please visit: http://www.wennergren.org/programs/programs_show.htm?doc_id=368389&attrib_id=13234

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

Linkage - Projects aims to foster alliances between higher education institutions and external organisations. A specific objective of this programme is to provide opportunities for Postdoctoral and Postgraduate researchers to pursue high quality research collaboration with external organisations.

Proposals: Completed proposals, with certification proforma & coversheet, are due in Research Branch under a 'three tiered' deadline based on the checking level desired:

• Full Review: by Wednesday, 28 October 2009.
• 'Error Check':After 28 October and by Friday 6 November 2009.
• Submission only - No Review:after 6 November 2009.

Please provide one valid and complete RMS pdf of your application together with the UA application coversheet and ARC certification proforma.

Contact: arcgrants@adelaide.edu.au

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