Opportunities for HRC Funding 2015

Investment Processes

HRC Overview

Mission: Benefiting NZ through health research

• Established as a Crown Entity by the Health Research Council Act (1990)

• Responsible to Minister of Health• Funding mainly from Vote Science & Innovation through MBIE

HRC SecretariatDr Robin Olds, Chief Executive•Rachel Brown, Group Manager, Māori Health Research•Dr Vernon Choy, Group Manager, Investment Processes•Melanie Duncan, Group Administrator, Investment Processes•Dr Deming Gong, Project Manager, Public Health Research•Stacey Pene, Project Manager, Biomedical/Clinical Research

•Dr Tania Pocock, Group Manager, Research Policy, Strategy & Evaluation•Dr Nuhisifa Seve-Williams, Project Manager, Pacific Health Research• Vivien Lovell, Group Manager, Business SystemsFinance & Corporate Services, Ethics, Communications, Research Partnerships

Research Investment Streams

Research Policy, Strategy & EvaluationDr Tania Pocock

Research Investment Streams

Health and Wellbeing in

NZUnderstanding

health and preventing

illness & injury

Improving Outcomes in

Acute & Chronic

Conditions in NZ

Rangahau Hauora MāoriBuilding Māori knowledge &

capability to address

Māori health issues

Research for NZ Health Delivery

Immediate impact on health policy, clinical-decision-making &/or

service delivery

Applied

Basic

End-users involved

Investment SignalsPurpose

Scope (what’s in & what’s out)

Goals

Priorities (only HW and IOACC)

Research characteristics (RNZHD)

Examples• Research areas in scope• Research better aligned with other RIS• FAQ

HRC & National Science Challenges• Investment signals & general guidelines

updated to include National Science Challenges (NSC)– HRC “encourages research that can contribute to a NSC, as well

as research on other health priorities, provided it is in scope for one of our investment signals”

• HRC funding will complement the challenges– Research will not be excluded because not in NSC scope– Research will not be prioritised because in NSC scope– Applications assessed on own merits using existing HRC criteria

• Read general guidelines & investment signals for further detail

HRC & National Science Challenges• HRC will ensure NSCs get maximum value

from HRC-funded research– From 2015, successful applicants in scope for

NSC will be encouraged to engage with NSC leads

– HRC will monitor and report outcomes for HRC-funded research in scope for each NSC

– HRC will identify opportunities for HRC-funded research to contribute to high-level outcomes sought by NSCs

Selection of RIS• All applications – Apply to one RIS– Where research will have greatest impact on Goals and priorities

• Programmes– Can span RIS, but must state primary RIS– Not in HD

• HRC will not reallocate applications

• 2015 SACs may penalise proposals in wrong RIS– Max score of 1 for ‘Impact’ criterion if ‘out of scope’

• Read Investment Signals

Avoid Falling into Wrong RIS

2015 Budget and Contract Types

2015 Funding Round BudgetContract Type $M #

Programme 30 6

Project 46 45

Emerging Researcher First Grant

2 14

Feasibility Study 1.5 13Explorer Grant 0.6 4

Programme• Objectives– Support the long-term development of a health field– Fund research with strategic, long-term vision

• Budget– $5M, 5 years

• Assessed by Science Assessing Committee (SAC) and Programme Assessing Committee (PAC)

Programme• Not available for Health Delivery RIS • Permission may be given for a Programme

bid from a team not meeting the PRG criteria– consultation with HRC before registration– specific research domains; e.g. a clinical trial

• 29 active programmes

Requirements for Programme Director

• PRG Director with ≤1 year remaining; or• PRG director in the last 5 years; or• First NI on ≥2 PRJ grants from HRC or equivalents

begun in the last 4 years; or• First NI on 1 HRC project begun in the last 2

years, leading ≥ 2 First NI on PRJ grants from HRC or equivalents in the last 4 years;

• ≥ 0.2 FTE to this PRG; and• Employed by a NZ organisation and residing in NZ

Application & Assessment Process for Programmes

Open15 Aug 2014

SAC

Outcome

June 2015

External review

Rebuttal 24 Feb-5 March

2015

End 15 Oct 2014

Work to Research Office due dates!

PAC

GAC Board

Project• Two stage application: EOI and full• Objective: Support individuals/teams to

address well-defined research questions

• Budget: ≤$1.2 M, generally for 3 years– for shorter contracts, at average $0.4 M pa– FR2014: Average budget = $1.0 M

• No limit to the number of EOIs

Application & Assessment Process for Projects

EOI open16 June

2014SAC

SAC

Outcome June

2015

Full Application

19 Nov 2014

External review

Rebuttal24 Feb-5 Mar

2015

EOI end16 July 2014

EOI results:

6 Oct 2014

Work to Research Office due dates!

GAC

HRC Board

Emerging Researcher First Grant Application: 15 August – 26 September 2014•Budget: ≤$150,000 working expenses, ≤3 years

– Excludes support for a postgraduate degree

•Eligibility of PI (New): – No more than 6 years from attaining a postgraduate degree (but career breaks

permissible0– Without a contract for research expenses of ≥$100,000 (by the time of assessing

committee meeting)

•Suitability of PI (New):– Evidence of establishing an independent research career– Extent to which the proposal represents an independent research stream– Ability to take overall responsibility – Plan for developing an independent research programme

•FR2014 results: 14/43 applications (32.6%)

Feasibility Study Application: 15 August – 26 September

2014

•Objective: Support small studies that test feasibility issues affecting a planned, larger study•Budget: ≤$150,000, 12 months•Eligibility: Public health or clinical research•FR2014: 13/31 funded (41.9%)

Processes for Emerging Researcher First Grant/Feasibility Study

SAC

(ERFG/F

S)

Rebuttal (ERFG)

13-23 Feb 2015

External review (ERFG)

Open 15 Aug 2014

End 26 Sept

2014

Outcome May 2015

Work to Research Office due dates!

Board

Explorer GrantApplication: 1 – 31 October 2014

•Objective: provide seed support for transformative, innovative ideas at an early stage•Budget: <$150,000 working expenses, < 24 months•Eligibility: host support, RIS•FR2014: 4/24 funded (16.7%)

Application & Assessment Process for Explorer Grant

Triage of proposal

Eligibility review

Open 1 Oct 2014

End 31 Oct 2014

Outcome May 2015

Board

Eligible proposal

assigned

Random order of fundable proposal

Applying for Research Funding

New Online Submission System, HRC Gateway

• All NIs must have an account on HRC Gateway• To get an account, click on ‘Sign up for HRC

Gateway’

After Sign Up• Update your profile information• Create applications to any open HRC

funding round• Access applications that list you as a NI– You will be emailed when your name is added to a new

application

• Follow the progress of your applications• See your to do list

Submitting Your Project EOI Application

Changes in EOI Application Process for 2015 Annual Funding Round

• Submission of applications via HRC Gateway

• Section 1 completed online• No separate registration closing date• Sections 2-5 of GA215S/RHM215S

uploaded as pdf• File names generated by HRC Gateway

Project EOI Forms (GA215S, RHM215S)• Section 1: General Information (Type of

Research) • completed online via HRC Gateway

• Section 2: Proposed Research

• Section 3: CV

• Section 4: Lay Summary

• Section 5: Research Classifications

EOI Form: GA215S Section 2 Proposed Research

• HW, IOACC, HD RIS 3 pages limit + 1 page for references

• Rationale for Research• Design & Methods• Research Impact • Responsiveness to Māori • Expertise & Track Record

Project Full Applications• Written feedback to EOI applicants • Full applications by invitation only At full application stage:• Research must be substantially similar to that

proposed in EOI• Adjustments to lay summary allowed (based

on EOI feedback)• NIs can be substituted, HRC must be informed

Research Contract Obligations

HRC Funding and Ethical Approval

• Required for release of funding• Cannot be extended from one contract to

another• Should be specifically linked to HRC

contract number• More information www.hrc.govt.nz• Lana Lon, Project Manager Ethics– llon@hrc.govt.nz

Research Contract Obligations

• Final reports from past 5 years required at full application

• Media/News items (Suzy Botica: sbotica@hrc.govt.nz)

On-line Reporting Process - Data• Use top menu bar to update outputs for your

profile

• Select research contract• Enter info: milestones, progress etc

• Select outputs in main menu specific to contract

Online Reporting Process - Submission

Completed: NI click to finish report

Forwarded: NI forward report to RO (PDF generated)

Signed off: RO sign off report & submit to the HRC

Final Reports & Future Impact

– HRC retains final payments until satisfactory report received

– Compliance could influence future funding success

– Includes discoveries & achievements, workforce development & knowledge transfer

– Help identify newsworthy findings & demonstrate the benefits of funding health research & continued investment

– All outputs specific to contract – reported to Ministry

Career Development Awards

Career Development Awards• Clinical Practitioner Research Fellowship

(CPRF)• Sir Charles Hercus Health Research Fellowship• Clinical Research Training Fellowship (CRTF)• Foxley Fellowship• Girdlers’ New Zealand HRC Fellowship

• Māori Health Research Career Development Awards• Pacific Health Research Career Development Awards

Clinical Practitioner Research Fellowship Application: 5 June – 2 July 2014

•Objective– Strengthen health care practice and health services– Support translation of research into clinical practice

•Budget– $50K/year expenses, < 5 years

•Eligibility– Citizens/residents been engaged in clinical practice for

10-20 years, leadership, 0.3-0.5 FTE– FR2014: 1/2 funded (50%)

Sir Charles Hercus Health Research Fellowship

Application: 5 June – 2 July 2014•Objective: – Intended to build future capability to conduct world-class

research– Support research stars whose scientific fields have the potential

to contribute to health/economic goals for government’s investment

•Budget: ≤ $0.5M, ≤ 4 years •Eligibility: Citizens/residents, 4-8 years post-PhD, 0.5-1.0 FTE•FR2014: 3/10 funded (30%)

Clinical Research Training FellowshipApplication: 5 June – 2 July 2014

•Objectives:– support health professionals to undertake a PhD or

equivalent– provide a training that will combine academic research with

course clinical experience •Budget: ≤$250,000 (pro rata if <3 years)•Eligibility: Citizens/residents, medical/dental graduates, psychologists and nurses •FR2014: 8/22 funded (36.4%)

Foxley FellowshipApplication: 5 June – 2 July 2014

•Objectives– enable health professionals to undertake a sabbatical in NZ– enhance links between HRC-funded research and health care

delivery and/or health policy

•Budget: Salary + <$20,000 research costs, 1-2 years•Eligibility: > 0.2 FTE, health professionals with > 5 years experience

Not to be used to fund a degree

Girdlers’ New Zealand HRC Fellowship

•Objective– provide advanced research experience – bring benefit to the health sciences in NZ

•Budget: ~£45,000 pa (salary + other costs, travel), 2 years•Eligibility: citizen, PhD or equivalent, < 5 years experience

APPLICATION see website

•Full information available from HRC– Including contact with previous recipients– Clerk of Girdlers’ Company– Advice on potential research groups willing to host Fellow– Also see www.gtc.ox.ac.uk

Changes for 2015

• Feedback for Hercus and Clinical Practitioner Fellowships

• Emerging Researcher First Grant (Eligibility, Assessment)

Details all updated inCDA Peer Review Manual /Peer Review Manual and Guidelines

Tips for Successful Grant Writing• Read application guidelines, investment signals and

assessment criteria (PRM)• Ensure you have assembled a good team with appropriate

FTE, skills and collaborations (e.g. biostatistician, health economist, etc.)

• Begin writing your application well in advance of deadlines• Make your objectives clear, realistic and achievable• Include design and power calculation details at EOI

stage• Highlight any preliminary data or experience with

research-specific techniques• Include an appropriate budget and timeline

Tips for Successful Grant Writing• Ensure to link your study outcomes with RIS goals• Demonstrate appropriate responsiveness to Māori • Demonstrate engagement with stakeholders and

end-users• Clearly identify the roles of NZ NIs within

multinational studies• SACs include a range of expertise, so write for a

more general scientific audience• Incorporate EOI feedback into full applications• Check spelling, structure and grammar, and allow

time for review, peer review and rewriting

Any queries?• Contact your Research Office• Peer Review Manual/CDA Peer Review

Manual 2014• Guidelines

www.hrc.govt.nzinfo@hrc.govt.nz

Email: firstinitialsurname@hrc.govt.nzLevel 3, ProCare Building, 110 Stanley Street, Auckland