Gold Coast Health Gold Coast Hospital Foundation

Research Grants Scheme 2017

Guidelines


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Table of Contents

1.About the Research Grants Scheme

1.1.Vision

1.2.Mission

1.3.Purpose

1.4.Administration

2.Funding Categories

3.Eligibility Criteria

3.1.General Criteria

3.2.Specific Criteria

3.3.Large Project Grants

3.4.Small Project Grants

4.How to Apply for Funding

4.1.Small and Large Project Grants

5.Assessment Process

6.Funding Restrictions and Process

6.1.Administration of Funds

7.Reporting Requirements

7.1Acknowledgement of funding bodies

8.Engagement

9.Ethical Conduct of Research

10.Contact and Enquiries

11.Research Grants Scheme Submission Flow Chart

12.Appendices

12.1.Appendix 1 - Assessment Guidelines

Research Grant Scheme_Guidelines_Version FINAL_Dated 8 June 2017

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  1. About the Research Grants Scheme

1.1.Vision

Enable research that can improve the health of the Gold Coast Community and the delivery of health care services.

1.2.Mission

To facilitate innovative, collaborative and responsive health care research that benefits the Gold Coast community and optimises our system of health care.

1.3.Purpose

The Research Grant Scheme represents a partnership between the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service (GCHHS) and the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation (GCHF), the purpose of which is to facilitate:

  • High quality health related research
  • A strong research culture within Gold Coast Health facilities
  • The development of new diagnostics, preventative measures, treatments, interventions and medical technologies and their translation into clinical practice
  • The engagement of Gold Coast’s health care professionals in research, providing support for experienced researchers and a pathway for novice researchers
  • The building of meaningful collaborations between Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service researchers and external partners
  • Fund research that has the potential of wide dissemination across the Gold Coast, Australia and internationally.

1.4.Administration

The Research Grants Scheme is administered through the Office for Research Governance and Development (ORGD) within the GCHHS and in partnership with the GCHF.

  1. Funding Categories

The Research Grant Scheme funds Large and Small Project Grants as defined below.

Category / Definition / Funding
Large Project Grant / Original and highly innovative research projects from all fields of clinical research, public health and health service research. / Up to $100,000 over 2 years
Small Project Grant / Original research from all fields of clinical research, public health and health service research. / Up to$20,000 over 2 years
  1. Eligibility Criteria
  2. General Criteria
  • The proposed research must not be currently funded by any organisation listed on the Australian Competitive Grants Register.
  • At least one Principal Investigator (PI) must hold a continuing appointment at GCHHS (permanent appointment, or be temporarily employed at GCHHS for at least the duration of the project should it be funded). This includes applicants with a conjoint appointment with a university.
  • The proposed project must be undertaken primarily at GCHHS site(s).
  • PIs with previously funded GCHHS projects must provide a one page progress/final report for any such project funded since January 2015. Failure to provide these reports may result in an application being deemed ineligible.
  • Interdepartmental collaboration as well as external collaboration with academic partners is encouraged. The term ‘collaboration’ is defined as the process by which all members of a research team are jointly involved in making decisions and participating in a variety of aspects of the research process.

3.2.Specific Criteria

The following definitions apply in relation to the specific criteria.

Category / Definition
Experienced researcher / An experienced researcher must have a record of leading multiple research projects that have resulted in publications in journals indexed by the Science Citation Index (Thomson and Reuters) or the Web of Science Core Collection
5 years’ experience as an active researcher
A postgraduate qualification in research
Novice researcher / A Novice researcher should have the ability to conduct research but lack experience in applying for and conducting research and will not have been named as a recipient of previous competitive research grant funds
Nominated mentor / A record of leading multiple research projects that have resulted in publications in journals indexed by the Science Citation Index (Thomson and Reuters) or the Web of Science Core Collection
5 years’ experience as an active researcher
A postgraduate qualification in research

3.3.Large Project Grants

  • At least two PIs on the project must be experienced researchers.
  • Capacity building is encouraged by including a novice researcher as an Associate Investigator (AI) on a Large Project grant. If novice researchers are included, they should be supported by a nominated mentor listed on the grant.
  • Higher Degree Research (HDR) students who are employees of GCHHS may be included as an AI.

3.4.Small Project Grants

  • Novice researchers (including HDR students who are employees of GCHHS) are eligible to apply as a PI but must have a nominated mentor listed on the grant for the duration of the project.
  1. How to Apply for Funding
  2. Small and Large Project Grants
  • Applications for Project Grants (Smallor Large) must be completed using the SmartyGrants Administration System. All members of the Research Team including the Head of Department for the PI must sign the Certification form prior to the deadline.
  • A Help Guide is available and explains the essential steps to completing and submitting your application.
  • Applications close 28/08/2017 at 3pm.
  1. Assessment Process
  • Grants will be awarded on the basis of the merit of the proposed activity in light of funds available and other proposed grants.
  • The research grant administrators will review applications for completeness and adherence to funding rules. Applications that are incomplete or do not conform to the funding rules will not be considered further.
  • Eligible applications for Small or Large Project Grants will be subjected to a rigorous peer review. Applications will be independently reviewed by two reviewers from the Grants Reviewers Pool. Reviewers must meet the following criteria:

oA record of leading multiple research projects that have resulted in publications in journals indexed by the Science Citation Index (Thomson and Reuters) or the Web of Science Core Collection

oAt least five years’ experience as an active researcher

oA postgraduate qualification in research

oDoes not have a conflict of interest in the work proposed. Conflict of Interest is defined as follows:

-The reviewer has an interest in a grant, publication or cooperative agreement application directly related to the submitted research proposal

-The reviewer is a current or previous supervisor or co-supervisor of the applicant or student(s) within the research team.

  • Reviewers will assess applications according to the Research Grant Application Assessment Framework (Appendix 1).The Research Grants Committee will determine which projects receive funding based on the outcomes of the peer review process and the alignment of the project with the GCHHS and GCHF strategic objectives (see strategic objectives at Gold Coast Health and Gold Coast Hospital Foundation )
  • Feedback will be provided to candidates who are unsuccessful.
  1. Funding Restrictions and Process

Funding may be used for the following:

  • Direct costs incurred in the conduct of the project including salaries for supporting research staff
  • Salary on-costs (covering payroll tax, workers’ compensation insurance, employers’ contribution to superannuation and long service leave) must be detailed
  • Consumables not usually part of standard practice
  • Fees associated with the use of facilities that are required for the project to be delivered, e.g. PC4 facilities
  • Costs associated with open access publication directly related to the project being funded; the publication must meet the criteria for GCHHS Open Access Publication Guidelines
  • Costs associated with conference registration (within Australia only) for a researcher who has an abstract accepted as a poster or presentation related to this grant.

Funding may not be used for the following:

  • Salary for researchers to work outside Australia. The grant will not support the work of an overseas researcher at an overseas institution
  • Equipment and facilities that could be reasonably expected to be provided by the hospital
  • Personal salary support for an applicant’s PhD studies
  • Administrative costs (overheads), including university levies and indirect costs associated with administrative support and/or
  • Conference travel and/or accommodation expenses not directly required to undertake the project.

6.1.Administration of Funds

  • Funds will be administered through the GCHHS.
  • For all grants, a funds transfer schedule will be initiated dependent upon the requirements of the study and based upon agreed project milestones. Funds will be transferred to a research cost centre established for the applicant. The applicant is responsible for the proper administration and expenditure of the grant and for ensuring that all reports required by the Grants Committee are made in the correct form and on time;
  • Future grant applications may not be supported if the funding and reporting requirements are not met. This includes meeting time-dependent milestones to ensure completion of the project’s objectives.
  • In the event of a period of absence of more than 30 working days (parental leave, sabbatical, long service leave, interstate and overseas travel), applicants will need to write to the Chair of the Research Grants Committee requesting a pause in, or extension of funding (Project Grants only).
  • Any funding not expended within the relevant grant period must be returned to the Research Grants Scheme unless a request for an extension has been made in writing and approved by the Chair of the Research Grants Committee.
  1. Reporting Requirements
  • Progress reports are due every six months for Large and Small Project Grants, or at other times as deemed necessary. Final reports are due by the date stipulated in the Funding Agreement.
  • Failure to provide reports in a timely manner will jeopardise future funding.
  • Separate financial reports detailing actual expenses, as well as an explanation for any over/under spent funds must be provided on request to the Research Grants Committee. The financial report must be signed by the appropriate financial officer.

7.1Acknowledgement of funding bodies

  • The Research Grants Scheme, in particular the GCHHS and the GCHF, must be acknowledged on all publications, presentations, workshop materials and media reports that result from the research being undertaken.
  1. Engagement
  • The Research Grants Committee supports and encourages public engagement. The Committee expects all grant recipients to work directly with the GCHF to develop a profile of their research work on an annual basis. This information will be used to publicise outcomes achieved through the Research Grants Scheme and be communicated to the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation’s stakeholders to help raise further funds for the Foundation.
  1. Ethical Conduct of Research
  • All research must comply with the National Statement for the Ethical Conduct of Human Research 2007 (updated 2014) and the Good Clinical Practice guidelines for Human Research Ethics in Australia.
  • All research projectsmust be approved by the GCHHS Human Research Ethics Committee. The approval letter must be sent to the Chair of the Research Grants Committee within two months of the approved funding date. If not received within two months, a written extension request to the Chair of the Research Grants Committee will be required outlining reasons for not meeting this timeframe.
  • Award payments will not be processed if the ethics and governance (Site Specific Assessment) approval letters are not received by the Research Grants Committee.
  1. Contact and Enquiries

Office for Research Governance and Development

Email:

Phone:(07) 568 70237

  1. Research Grants Scheme Submission Flow Chart


  1. Appendices
  2. Appendix 1 - Assessment Guidelines

Research Grants Scheme

Application Assessment Framework

Staff of the Research Grants Scheme will review applications for completeness and adherence to funding rules. Applications that are incomplete or do not conform to the funding guidelines will not be considered further. Eligible applications will then be reviewed in accordance with the Research Grants Committee.

Applications are subject to a rigorous review process involving independent review by at least two suitably qualified researchers. The following criteria will be used to assess and rank research grant proposals. When preparing grant applications, researchers should ensure their applications address these criteria.

Criteria / % of Score
Scientific Quality / 40
Significance, Originality, and Clinical Impact / 20
Track Records of Investigators Relative to Opportunity and Research Infrastructure / 20
Strength of the Collaboration / 20

Scientific Quality

Applicants should clearly define and justify the following in relation to the scientific quality of the project, as evidenced by a proposal that:

  • has clearly stated aims and hypotheses (if appropriate)
  • has study objectives that align with the strategic objectives of the funding organisations (see strategic objectives at Gold Coast Health and Gold Coast Hospital Foundation )
  • provides a comprehensive and cohesive background/literature review that includes what the problem is and what the gap in the literature is
  • has a clear research plan that has considered:

-study design (including rationale and feasibility for using this design)

-sample (including sample size/power estimate, as appropriate)

-study setting

-data collection (including data sources, variables of interest, process of data collection)

-data analysis strategy

-staff required (investigators and other personnel) to complete the study including their expertise

-resources (e.g. equipment) required that are not available as part of standard practice

-outlines ethical considerations (consider participants, staff and organisation)

-has a clear timeline that identifies key milestones

-has a considered and comprehensive budget that is feasible and aligns with the proposed research.

Significance, Originality, and Clinical Impact

Applicants should clearly define and justify the following in relation to the significance and originality of the project:

  • How the proposed research addresses a significant health issue relevant to the population serviced by Gold Coast Health
  • How the proposed research will improve scientific knowledge, technical capability or capacity, or change clinical practice
  • What is innovative about the proposed research

Applicants should clearly define how the outcomes of the study will translate to a measurable impact on the health issue in question. For example:

  • How new knowledge generated by the project will be disseminated to relevant stakeholders such as clinicians, patients, community groups, policy makers and other researchers
  • How new knowledge generated by the project or novel practices or procedures validated by the research will be translated into evidence based clinical practice.
  • How the researchers are placed to influence policy and practice change.

Track Records of Investigators Relative to Opportunity and Research Infrastructure

Track record is assessed relative to opportunity, taking into consideration career stage and career disruptions, and based on relevance to the proposed research. The research team is assessed in terms of their demonstrated ability to conduct research similar to that proposed. As such, applicants should clearly describe:

  • how the track record of investigators is relevant to the field of proposed research
  • the career stages of the research team members and any relevant career disruptions
  • the experience and capabilities of the PIs to lead the proposed research
  • the relevant qualifications, training, research experience, and technical, scientific, and management skills of the research team
  • For large project grants only, evidence of capacity building within the team
  • the research environment in which the team will be undertaking the research.

Strength of the Partnership / Collaboration

Collaboration with external organisations and researchers is an integral requirement of projects funded through this Grants Scheme. Applications should clearly:

  • identify the collaborative organisation and collaborating researchers
  • describe the roles of collaborators in the research project
  • summarise the mutual benefits afforded by the collaboration
  • describe any cash or in-kind commitment by the collaborators
  • provide evidence of previous effective research collaboration.

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