Wishlist
University of the Sunshine Coast/Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service
Collaborative Research Grant
Guidelines and Advice to Applicants
Table of Contents
Table of Contents i
1. Background 1
2. Overview of Wishlist USC/SCHHS Collaborative Research Grants 1
2.1 Objectives 1
2.2 Scope of Grant Scheme 1
2.3 Eligibility 2
2.4 Management of the Wishlist USC/SCHHS Collaborative Research Grant Scheme 2
3. Completing the Application Form 2
3.1 Applicant Details 2
3.2 Project Overview 3
3.3 Project Details 4
3.4 Significance and Contribution 4
Applicants should also consider the significance of the collaboration between researchers. 4
3.5 Investigator Track Record 4
3.6 Budget and Justification 5
3.7 Certification 6
4. Process for Submission 6
5. Conditions of Submission 6
5.1 Documentation Required for Submission 6
5.2 Incomplete, False or Misleading Applications 6
5.3 Withdrawal of Applications 7
5.4 Exclusion of Applications 7
5.5 Responsible Conduct of Research 7
5.6 Costs Borne by Applicant 7
6. Review and Selection Process 7
6.1 Assessment Criteria 7
6.2 Assessment Process 8
6.3 Feedback on Applications 9
6.4 Conflict of Interest 9
7. Administration of Grants 9
7.1 Agreement 9
7.2 Payments 9
7.3 Privacy and Confidentiality 10
8. Obligations and Reporting 10
8.1 Ethical Considerations 10
8.2 Change of Circumstances 10
8.3 Reporting on Grants 11
8.4 Publication and Presentation 12
9. Termination of Funding 12
10. Further Information 12
11. Example Application 14
i
1. Background
Wishlist is the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service’s (SCHHS) Hospital Foundation. Its mission is to encourage the development of a world-class public health care system for the benefit of Sunshine Coast residents.
As part of their mission, Wishlist recognises the need to support and encourage research activity that contributes to improved health care and knowledge. This is in line with the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service Research Strategic Plan (2013-2016).
The University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) has collaborated with Wishlist to establish this funding scheme to complement the existing Wishlist Research Grants Scheme. This program will encourage local collaboration between USC and SCHHS researchers and clinicians, and will direct future health research development.
This document provides important information about the Wishlist USC/SCHHS Research Grant scheme; and the application and review process. This document is intended to be a comprehensive guide to ensure all applicants understand the requirements for submitting a complete application and maintaining a successful grant.
This Guideline will be supported by a Conditions of Award, signed by the successful researcher. Where inconsistencies occur between this document and any Conditions of Award entered into, the terms of the conditions document will prevail.
2. Overview of Wishlist USC/SCHHS Collaborative Research Grants
2.1 Objectives
The objectives of the Wishlist USC/SCHHS Collaborative Research Grants are to:
· Enhance health outcomes by financially supporting research;
· Support experienced researchers to become active leaders in research in their field;
· Support collaboration between researchers with USC and SCHHS;
· Encourage early career researchers in developing a research career;
· Promote a positive research culture that translates into improvements in health care; and
· Promote innovative health care through identifying and implementing evidence-based practices and developing an ongoing culture of learning.
2.2 Scope of Grant Scheme
Applications for funding should fall within the scope of the Wishlist USC/SCHHS Collaborative Research Grants scheme. Projects should address at least one of the following:
· Be directly relevant to clinical practice and health care outcomes for patients in this Health Service;
· Promote evidence-based workforce practices through improvements in procedures and workforce knowledge;
· Address areas of significant disease burden relevant to the health of the broader National or International community; or
· Facilitate collaborative partnerships between government, non-government and research sectors in Queensland.
This grant scheme is not intended to support clinical audits or quality improvement activities as these types of projects are considered core business for the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service.
This scheme will provide two $20,000 grants per year, for two years.
2.3 Eligibility
2.3.1 Principal Investigator
To be eligible to apply the Principal Investigator must be an experienced researcher, employed at the University of the Sunshine Coast and must meet at least three (3) of the following criteria:
[ ] More than five (5) years post the award of a research higher degree (e.g. PhD);
[ ] Significant experience in applying for ethical approval, developing and managing protocols, and managing budgets and research staff;
[ ] Obtained significant levels of research funding as a Principal/Chief Investigator on minor or local grant schemes (e.g. Wishlist; funding through professional associations);
[ ] Obtained some research funding as a Principal/Chief Investigator on a major National or International grant scheme (e.g. Office of Health and Medical Research; National Health and Medical Research Council; US National Institutes of Health); and/or
[ ] Actively published the outcomes of previous research in peer reviewed journals, including being the primary author on publications.
2.3.2 Co-Investigators
In order to enhance research collaboration between the two organisations all applications must include at least one member of staff from SCHHS; and to build research capacity, all applications require the inclusion of an Early Career Researcher. An Early Career Researcher will have been awarded a PhD within five years. The SCHHS staff member and Early Career Researcher may be the same Co-Investigator.
The grants are open to all researchers whose proposal meets the scope of the grant scheme and eligibility criteria; and who submit a complete application in accordance with this Guideline.
2.4 Management of the Wishlist USC/SCHHS Collaborative Research Grant Scheme
The Wishlist USC/SCHHS Collaborative Research Grant Scheme will be administered by USC and managed by the Wishlist USC/SCHHS Collaborative Research Grant Scheme Committee (Scheme Committee). Under this arrangement, the Scheme Committee is responsible for overseeing the application and review process; providing recommendations relating to potentially successful applications; and managing reporting requirements. The Scheme Committee will comprise of USC Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation); Chair, SCHHS Research Committee and the Wishlist Chief Executive Officer, and the group will retain all rights and responsibilities associated with the final funding decision. Management of agreements and payments for successful grants will be coordinated by the USC Office of Research.
3. Completing the Application Form
This section of the Guidelines provides applicants with instructions for completing the Wishlist USC/SCHHS Collaborative Research Grant Application Form. Applicants should follow these instructions carefully. Failure to do so may result in your application being returned or not considered. An example application has been provided in Section 11 of this Guideline.
3.1 Applicant Details
3.1.1 Principal Investigator
The Principal Investigator is the person who will have primary responsibility for the management, reporting, and oversight of the research project. Generally this person will have the majority of intellectual input into the research and is likely to be considered as the primary or senior author on publications. This person must be a current USC employee. This person should also meet the eligibility criteria of the grant category (refer to Section 2.3.1 of this Guideline).
Only one Principal Investigator should be nominated in the application form. A track record and CV is required for the Principal Investigator (refer to Section 3.5 of this Guideline).
3.1.2 Co-Investigator
A Co-Investigator is a person who will support the Principal Investigator in the completion of the research. Generally this person will have some intellectual input into the research and may be considered as a co-author on publications. Applications must include at least one Queensland Health employee within SCHHS as a Co-Investigator and at least one Early Career Researcher. Where applicable, the SCHHS employee and Early Career Researcher may be the same Co-Investigator.
The Co-Investigator fields should be repeated as many times as required. A track record is required for each Co-Investigator (refer to Section 3.5 of this Guideline).
3.2 Project Overview
3.2.1 Project Title
The project title will be used to identify the application at all times during the assessment process and should accurately describe the nature of the project.
3.2.2 Brief Project Outline
Provide a brief description of the aims and expected outcomes of the research. Avoid the use of highly technical terms or abbreviations. The project outline should be kept to a maximum of 200 words.
3.2.3 SCHHS Facilities and Departments
Indicate the SCHHS supporting departments that will be required to facilitate the completion of the research, if applicable. For example, projects that require access to information held in patients’ medical records should indicate Health Information Management Services.
3.2.4 Fields of Research
Indicate up to two health areas that are the focus of the research using the Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC) Fields of Research (FOR): http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/6BB427AB9696C225CA2574180004463E. Enter the 6-digit FOR code and the FOR name.
3.2.5 Potential Impact of the Research
Indicate the potential impact of the research by selecting the option that best describes the scope of the project (select one (1) only).
· Local Impact and Significance – Projects of this nature should have a direct impact on patient care, treatment or health care practices (including workforce practices) in the SCHHS. These projects are expected to directly translate into improved patient care through changes in local policy, procedures or services.
· National or International Impact and Significance – Projects of this nature should have broader application to disease burden in the National or International community. These projects are less likely to have a direct impact on patient care in this Health Service due to the research techniques and methods employed; or the nature of the research collaborations with external organisations.
3.2.7 Additional Funding
If you are intending to submit (or have submitted) this research project to another funding body, indicate the name of the grant scheme, the amount requested and whether the funding has been awarded. Where sufficient funding has already been awarded through another funding scheme for the same project, Wishlist reserves the right to withdraw your application or award.
3.3 Project Details
The Project Details section of the application form provides space for you to justify your research, explain your methods, and describe the significance of your project.
This section of the application form must not exceed a maximum of 4 pages.
3.3.1 Scientific Background and Rationale
Indicate whether you (or the library) have undertaken a literature review of relevant databases in developing your research project.
Describe the background to the project including scientific aspects of the field and any other relevant information. Highlight gaps in the knowledge that have led to the development of this research proposal. Reference scientific literature where appropriate in text and include the full citation in the References (Section 3.3.4).
3.3.2 Aims and Hypotheses
Describe the specific aims of the project, including a clear statement of the hypothesis to be tested (where appropriate).
3.3.3 Research Methods
Outline the research plan in detail, including as appropriate:
· A description of the participants, for example age ranges, health conditions, justification of sample size;
· A description of how research participants will be identified and recruited;
· Detailed explanation of the data to be collected and how this will be collected;
· Any techniques, interventions, treatments or technologies appropriate to the study; and
· Statistical methods and techniques.
3.3.4 References
Provide a list of relevant supporting research that has been referenced in the scientific background/rationale and research methods.
3.4 Significance and Contribution
Applicants are required to demonstrate significance with the project and potential outcomes. This section of the Application Form must not exceed a maximum of 1 page.
Applicants should consider the potential outcomes and/or contribution to health care. For example:
· Describe how the results will impact on service delivery or health care in this Health Service.
· Describe how you will ensure the results will be translated into changes in policy, procedures or practice.
· Describe how the results will improve the problems or address the issues identified in the application.
· Describe the planned outcomes of the research and the potential national/international significance of the results.
Applicants should also consider the significance of the collaboration between researchers.
3.5 Investigator Contribution and Track Record
A statement of track record is required for the Principal Investigator and each Co-Investigator named in the application. A maximum of 1 page per track record is allowed.
3.5.1 Principal Investigator Track Record
The name of the Principal Investigator should be inserted into the top line of the record form where indicated.
The track record should:
· Highlight previous education, training and employment that is relevant to the current project and supports the Principal Investigator’s application for funding;
· Describe previous research experience including roles and responsibilities relevant to the current application;
· Discuss how the investigator will contribute to the proposed research project;
· Where appropriate, indicate up to five (5) publications or presentations relevant to the current grant; and
· Where appropriate, include up to five (5) recent research projects on which the Principal Investigator was named as an investigator. Identify the projects as: funded (e.g. grants); sponsored (e.g. clinical trials); or unfunded projects (e.g. supported internally by department).
The track record of the Principal Investigator must demonstrate the Principal Investigator’s ability to meet the criteria for the grant category (refer to Section 2.3.1).
3.5.2 Co-Investigator Track Record
The name of the Co-Investigator should be inserted into the top line of the record form where indicated. Repeat the Co-Investigator track record as necessary. Indicate which Co-Investigator is the SCHHS employee and Early Career Researcher.
The track record should:
· Highlight previous education, training and employment that is relevant to the current project and supports the inclusion of the Co-Investigator on the application;
· Describe previous research experience including roles and responsibilities relevant to the current application;
· Discuss how the investigator will contribute to the proposed research project;
· Where appropriate, indicate up to five (5) publications or presentations relevant to the current application; and
· Where appropriate, include up to five (5) recent research projects on which the Co-Investigator was named as an investigator. Identify the projects as: funded (e.g. grants); sponsored (e.g. clinical trials); or unfunded projects (e.g. supported internally by department).
3.5.3 Investigator CVs
Applications should include a copy of the Principal Investigator’s CV only. The Principal Investigator’s CV must be able to demonstrate the applicant’s ability to meet the criteria of the grant category (refer to Section 2.3.1), including information on grants awarded and publications.