DEMENTIA GRANTS PROGRAM ROUND 1: NEW AND EARLY CAREER RESEARCH PROJECT GRANTS

Transcription

1 DEMENTIA GRANTS PROGRAM ROUND 1: NEW AND EARLY CAREER RESEARCH PROJECT GRANTS INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS 2017

2 CONTENTS BEFORE YOU BEGIN... 3 Round 1 Key Dates... 3 INTRODUCTION... 3 ROUND 1: NEW AND EARLY CAREER RESEARCH PROJECT GRANTS OVERVIEW.. 4 CONSUMER INVOLVEMENT... 5 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA... 6 Eligibility for multiple awards... 6 Eligibility of previous AADRF award recipients... 7 Resubmission of previous applications... 7 Ethics approvals and informed consent... 7 Acknowledgement of support... 7 Notification of additional funding... 7 APPLICATION PROCEDURE... 8 Online application form... 8 Supporting documents and required attachments... 9 ASSESSMENT PROCESS Eligibility check Initial Screening of applications External review (if required) Final review and ranking by members of the Scientific Panel Notification of successful and unsuccessful applicants Announcement of awards Feedback to unsuccessful applicants NEW AND EARLY CAREER RESEARCH PROJECT GRANTS Project Grant Assessment Criteria Project Grants Available in Round 1, The Hazel Hawke Research Grant in Dementia Care AADRF-Vic Project Grants FURTHER INFORMATION Dementia Grants Program Round 1 Information for Applicants 2

3 BEFORE YOU BEGIN This document contains important information for applicants regarding the application procedure and eligibility conditions for the Alzheimer s Australia Dementia Research Foundation 2016 Dementia Grants Program Round 1: New and Early Career Research Project Grants. Applicants should read all of the information included in this document and liaise with their host Institution s Research Office before contacting the Foundation with any queries regarding the application process or eligibility conditions. Round 1 Key Dates Applications Open: Tuesday 21 st March 2017 (9.00 am AEDT) Applications Close: Monday 8 th May 2017 (5.00 pm AEST) LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED Outcomes Announced: December 2017 Funding Commences: January March 2018 INTRODUCTION Alzheimer s Australia Dementia Research Foundation (AADRF) is the research arm of Alzheimer s Australia. The Foundation provides funding to support new and emerging dementia researchers, it works with consumers to ensure that research reflects their concerns, and it promotes understanding and awareness of dementia research among the community. The Foundation is entirely funded by donations and support from members of the public and Australian businesses, and is managed by Alzheimer s Australia National Office in Canberra. AADRF also advertises, assesses and administers grants on behalf of Alzheimer s Australia Dementia Research Foundation Victoria (AADRF-Vic), a separately incorporated research foundation owned by Alzheimer s Australia Vic. The information in this booklet is designed to help those intending to apply for funding in the first round of the 2017 Dementia Grants Program. Applicants should read this document thoroughly in order to understand the conditions and application procedure. In most cases the answer to frequently asked questions can be found in this document. Further information about the Foundation including previous grant rounds and outcomes can be found at: Dementia Grants Program Round 1 Information for Applicants 3

4 ROUND 1: NEW AND EARLY CAREER RESEARCH PROJECT GRANTS OVERVIEW The 2017 Dementia Grants Program is spilt into two funding rounds: Round 1) New and early career research project grants Round 2) PhD Scholarships Further information about the grants provided in Round 2 will be released at a later date. The total value of the 2017 Dementia Grants Program is approximately $1 million. Up to 13 project grants* are on offer in Round 1. Information about these grants presented are in the table below: Round 1 Grant Type Number Available Funding New and Early Career Research Project Grants Total Amount Details 1. AADRF Project Grants The A&L Project Grant 6 $50,000 $300,000 New and early career researchers 2. Hazel Hawke Research Grant in Dementia Care 1 $50,000 $50,000 New and early career researchers in dementia care 3. AADRF-Vic Project Grants* Cecilia Margaret Hudson Dementia Research Grant Jeffrey Wiener Grant Faustyna Wiener Memorial Grant AADRF-Vic Project Grant(s) 4 1 $50,000 $100,000 $300,000 New and early career researchers in dementia in clinical or psychosocial areas * AADRF-Vic is offering 6 x $50,000 grants or 1 x $100,000 grant plus 4 x $50,000 grants in Dementia Grants Program Round 1 Information for Applicants 4

5 CONSUMER INVOLVEMENT Alzheimer s Australia is a consumer organisation, and although researchers funded by the AADRF are not required to engage with or involve consumers in their work, they are strongly encouraged to do so. Even for researchers working in basic biomedical science, there are mutual and sometimes mutually surprising benefits that can be gained by talking to and working closely with consumers. Points to consider Will the outcome of your research directly or indirectly help to improve the lives of people living with dementia and/or their families or carers? If so how? Remember that the AADRF is funded by donations from members of the public for the purposes of research into treatments, cure and care of dementia. If your proposed project does not have the potential to help our progression towards these objectives ask yourself: is it worth applying? Are you using appropriate language and terminology? For example, many people with dementia prefer not to be referred to directly or indirectly as a dementia sufferer. A guide to dementia-friendly language is available at If your project will recruit people with dementia and/or their carers, are the requirements for participation going to be practical, relevant and appropriate? It may be helpful to arrange to talk to consumers to ask them directly (through your local Alzheimer s Australia organisation if necessary) before you finalise your application. If your project involves people with less common forms of dementia, are you going to be able to recruit the numbers required for the study? Did you consult with any consumers about your research proposal? Is it something that consumers consider is useful, or did they suggest other ideas that you could consider? Have you thought about inviting one or more consumers to be more actively involved in your project (in an advisory capacity or assisting with recruitment or dissemination of findings through their networks)? If consumers are involved in the project, what arrangements do you have in place to ensure that they will not be out of pocket? (i.e., travel and parking reimbursed, or a perdiem if required.) Will participants be informed about the outcomes of the research in a timely manner? Volunteering to participate in a research project requires significant commitment and most people want to hear about the outcomes of the research. They may want to stay informed during the course of the project too. How will you communicate your findings beyond the academic community to inform consumers and the broader public? 2017 Dementia Grants Program Round 1 Information for Applicants 5

6 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA The conditions outlined below are the general eligibility criteria for all categories of awards in Round 1 it is important to read the specific eligibility criteria for each award prior to making an application as the conditions can vary for each award. To be eligible for the grants in this funding round: 1. Unless otherwise specified, the Chief Investigator (i.e., the person making the application for funding) must be a New Investigator. For the purposes of this program, a New Investigator is defined as: a. A researcher who has not been a principal or chief investigator (CIA or CIB) on a successful competitive research grant worth more than $50,000 (not including salary-related grants such as scholarships or fellowships). A researcher is not considered a New Investigator if they have received scholarship or fellowship that also includes a project grant component of more than $50,000. b. A postgraduate research student or a researcher with an academic position at or below Level C seniority (i.e., below the level of Associate Professor or equivalent). c. A researcher who holds a PhD or equivalent (DPhil or M.D. by research), or is submitting a PhD prior to the proposed commencement date of the project. d. A researcher who has been awarded their PhD within eight years of the application closing date, unless exceptional circumstances apply. Exceptional circumstances are defined for this purpose as factors that are generally outside an applicant s control. They may include an episode of extended illness, parental leave or other personal matters, but do not include matters arising from normal vocational or research related activities, such as an applicant s choice to pursue activities or seek employment outside of research. 2. The Chief Investigator must be a citizen or permanent resident of Australia, or a New Zealand citizen living in Australia. All applicants, including Australian citizens, must provide evidence to support this criterion. 3. The research must be conducted in Australia. 4. The research must be approved by an authorised ethics committee, if applicable. If ethics approval is unavailable at the time of application, it should be noted that funding agreements with successful applicants will not be finalised until ethics approval has been obtained. Eligibility for multiple awards Applicants are welcome to submit more than one application for the same or different type of award. However, successful applicants can only hold one award from any given Dementia Grants Program Round Dementia Grants Program Round 1 Information for Applicants 6

7 Eligibility of previous AADRF award recipients Previous recipients are able to apply to the Dementia Grants Program, as long as they meet all relevant eligibility criteria. Resubmission of previous applications Applicants are welcome to resubmit previously unsuccessful applications, which will be assessed on their merits alongside all other applications. It should be noted however that the AADRF Dementia Grants Program is becoming increasingly competitive, and applications that have been unsuccessful in previous years are very unlikely to progress to the final stages of assessment in subsequent years, unless substantial improvements have been made with respect to the assessment criteria. Ethics approvals and informed consent All successful projects involving human or animal participants must have approval from an authorised human or animal research ethics committee before funding agreements can be finalised. When planning research involving people with dementia, applicants should make sure that they are familiar with the principles of and requirements for informed consent with people who may lack cognitive and/or legal capacity to provide written informed consent themselves. Acknowledgement of support Successful applicants must acknowledge the support of AADRF in all publications, presentations, summary findings and media announcements relating to the research, provide progress reports on the research and be prepared to assist the AADRF, if required, by speaking at Alzheimer s Australia functions, attending specified conferences, hosting laboratory visits, or being featured in media articles/releases. Notification of additional funding Applicants must notify the AADRF if they receive funding from another source for a project that is the subject of a grant application to the AADRF Dementia Grants Program Round 1 Information for Applicants 7

8 APPLICATION PROCEDURE Applicants are required to submit their application and all supporting documentation via an online application portal. Online application form Applications must be submitted online via an application portal available through the AADRF website ( The portal will close at the advertised closing date, after which applicants will not be able to upload or modify any part of their application. An application form must be completed for each distinct research proposal. Applicants who wish to apply for an AADRF-Vic Project Grant, where the application would benefit from a larger grant, are encouraged to offer separate proposals (on separate application forms) for both $50,000 and $100,000. Applications for all other project grant categories are to be made on the same application form. The application form includes a number of required fields. To ensure that all relevant information is entered, each page of the application form needs to be completed in full before moving onto the next. A template may be downloaded from the AADRF website at to work on the application offline and to view each section of the application form. If you intend on submitting multiple applications, please complete and submit one application first before moving onto your next application. If applicants experience technical errors when uploading an application, contact foundation@alzheimers.org.au. Late applications, and applications sent by mail or will not be accepted Dementia Grants Program Round 1 Information for Applicants 8

9 Supporting documents and required attachments As well as completing the online application form, applicants must upload the following supporting documents (in PDF format) on the application portal. Applications that do not include the required documentation for the type of grant being applied for will be considered ineligible and may not be assessed. Please note that attachments cannot not be amended or added to the application after the application closing date. 1. Evidence of Australian citizenship or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency (required of all applicants) A scanned copy of a birth certificate, passport, visa documentation or official documentation from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Statutory Declarations, Medicare cards, Australian driver s licences or other documents will not be accepted as proof of permanent residency of citizenship. 2. Statement explaining exemption from the New Investigator criteria due to exceptional circumstances (if applicable) Applicants who wish to be exempted from the 'New Investigator' eight year criteria due to exceptional circumstances must upload a statement and/or documentation explaining why. 3. Official record of PhD or equivalent higher degree A scanned copy of an academic transcript or degree showing PhD or equivalent higher degree. Applicants who are currently completing a doctorate degree at the time of application must provide proof of submission to the Foundation as soon as this becomes available. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that confirmation of thesis approval is provided before funding can commence. 4. Academic CV (maximum 10 pages) Include publications, grants (funding body, amount and investigator status), awards, conference presentations and service to the academic community. 5. Detailed Research Proposal A research proposal not exceeding 7 pages with a minimum font size of 12 and standard margins. Any additional pages will not be assessed. Explanatory appendices are not permissible. The research proposal should include the following sections: a. Aims: List specific aims and potential significance of the project. Clearly state the research question and hypothesis to be tested, as well as rationale and objectives. b. Background: Summarise previous work in this field which provides the basis for the proposed research project. c. Research Methodology: Include a clear description of methods and design, including the following, if applicable: participant recruitment strategy; inclusion/exclusion criteria; study design; intervention or manipulation; outcome measures; statistical analysis plan and rationale; safety and risk considerations; drug regimens; and special equipment or measures. d. Budget and timeline: Provide a high-level budget and project timeline, noting the amount of funding available from the AADRF and required timeframe. Identify any other confirmed funding for the project. Applicants offering separate proposals for the $50,000 and $100,000 AADRF-Vic Project Grant must ensure that each budget is tightly linked to their research plan and timeline. As the AADRF is listed on the 2017 Dementia Grants Program Round 1 Information for Applicants 9

10 Australian Competitive Grants Register, infrastructure costs or levies do not need to be included in the budget. e. Key references: Please include a list of up to 20 key references cited in the proposal. 6. Ethics Approval (if available) Evidence of approval of the proposed project by an authorised Human Research Ethics Committee, if available. If not available at time of application, funding agreements (for successful applicants) will be conditional upon ethics approval. 7. Endorsement Form(s) signed by: The Chief Investigator (i.e. the applicant) Each Associate Investigator named on the application form (if any; up to three permitted for project grants), confirming their contribution to the project as described in the research proposal. The Head of Administering Institution (or nominee) in which the research will take place. An endorsement form template is available at: Dementia Grants Program Round 1 Information for Applicants 10

11 ASSESSMENT PROCESS All applications to the AADRF Dementia Grants Program undergo a rigorous peer-review process overseen by members of the AADRF s Scientific Panel. (visit The assessment process for all grant types involves the following stages: 1. Eligibility check AADRF staff will check all applications after the application closing date to ensure compliance with eligibility criteria and conditions of award. Applicants may be contacted by AADRF staff to confirm details (for example, if required documentation has not been included). However, it is the applicant s responsibility to ensure that they meet all eligibility criteria and conditions of the award prior to submitting an application, and that documentation supporting their eligibility is included as required with the application. This includes proof of Australian citizenship or permanent residency for both Australian applicants and applicants from other countries. AADRF reserves the right to rule out of contention any application that does not include proof of eligibility without further assessment. Please note that applicants must inform the AADRF if their eligibility against the stated criteria changes in any way during the assessment process. Funding will not commence until all relevant requirements, including eligibility, have been met. 2. Initial Screening of applications AADRF staff and members of the Scientific Panel will screen all eligible applications to identify those which are highly unlikely to receive an award due to weakness in one or more of the assessment criteria, or due to feasibility or other issues. Applications that are ranked in the bottom half of applications for a particular type of award by at least two members of the Scientific Panel are removed from the application process. 3. External review (if required) Applications will be assessed by the Scientific Panel; expert external reviewers may be approached for selected comment and/or rating against the assessment criteria if required. Applicants are invited to nominate external reviewers if desired on the application form, but the decision on external reviewers is made by the Scientific Panel. 4. Final review and ranking by members of the Scientific Panel Members of the Scientific Panel will consider and rank all remaining applications for each category of award in light of the feedback received from external reviewers. Awards are allocated to applicants in order of ranking within each category, and according to their eligibility for particular awards. Consideration is also made to supporting approximately equal numbers of applicants in biomedical and psychosocial research fields, where possible. Applicants who are considered fundable but are not allocated one of the available awards are placed on a reserve list, and may be offered an award in the event that higher-ranked applicants turn awards down Dementia Grants Program Round 1 Information for Applicants 11

12 The final decision on awards is made by the AADRF Board on the basis of recommendations made by the Scientific Panel. Please be advised that all decisions are final, and there is no mechanism for appeal. Notification of successful and unsuccessful applicants Successful applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by by December Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by shortly after the decision is made. This may be earlier or later in the year, depending on the stage of assessment at which the decision is made. In order to facilitate notification, applicants must ensure that their contact details are filled in correctly on the application form. The number of applications received in recent years and success rates may be viewed at Announcement of awards An official announcement of the 2017 award winners will be made on the AADRF website in December This announcement will detail each winning applicant s name, Institution, project title and summary of the proposal. Award winners will be expected to assist the Foundation, if required, by being featured in media articles/releases and public announcements related to an award from the Foundation. Feedback to unsuccessful applicants Unsuccessful applicants will be provided with general feedback that covers the strengths and weaknesses of all applications to the program. Individual feedback may be available on request. Feedback is provided for the purpose of helping unsuccessful applicants improve the quality of subsequent applications to the AADRF or other funding bodies. No correspondence regarding the accuracy or merits of feedback will be entered into Dementia Grants Program Round 1 Information for Applicants 12

13 NEW AND EARLY CAREER RESEARCH PROJECT GRANTS Project grants are intended to help new investigators establish their careers as independent dementia researchers by supporting small, time-limited research projects, or pilot projects. The project grants are valued at $50,000 (exclusive of GST) for a period of 12 months. This year, AADRF-Vic is offering one project grant to the value of $100,000 (exclusive of GST) for a period of 12 to 24 months. Applicants are encouraged to offer separate proposals for both $50,000 and $100,000; applicants that only apply for the $100,000 project grant may risk limiting their chance of success. Only one grant (either $50,000 or $100,000) will be awarded to a successful applicant. Project grants can be used to fund stand-alone research projects or projects that are attached to larger research programs. In such cases, however, there must be clear demarcation between the activities and the outcomes of the funded project and the larger project. The Foundation is happy to support pilot projects if an application is made for pilot study funding then this should be clearly stated and explained in the application. Examples of the types of research projects funded in the past can be found on the Foundation s website: Project Grant Assessment Criteria The following assessment criteria will be used for rating applications: 1. Scientific Merit and Quality (~50%) The significance and value of the proposed research is considered, along with the clarity of the hypotheses or research objectives, and the suitability of the research methodology and research plan. The general scientific relevance should be evident in the project proposal, and the research methodology should be sound and clearly presented. 2. Track record and independence of the applicant (~30%) This criterion considers whether the applicant s previous research experience demonstrates that they are capable of successfully undertaking the proposed research and publishing the outcomes. Track record (research training, publications, awards and other relevant experience) will be assessed relative to opportunity, and must be documented in the application form and supporting CV. 3. Innovation/Originality (~20%) This criterion considers the novelty and originality of the proposed project, and the extent to which it is built on previous research findings. The Scientific Panel will also consider the feasibility of proposed projects. Projects must be feasible and realistic within the available timeframe and budget in order to proceed in the assessment process. Project proposals should outline a clear research plan, and include consideration of potential project risks and mitigation strategies. The capabilities of the research team and availability of time and necessary infrastructure will also be considered Dementia Grants Program Round 1 Information for Applicants 13

14 Project Grants Available in Round 1, 2017 Up to 13 project grants are available, each valued at $50,000 for 12 months. One $100,000 AADRF-Vic Project Grant may also be available, for funding for 12 to 24 months. Project Grant Category AADRF Project Grants (6 available) Focus and Specific Eligibility Criteria For research in any area of dementia, including but not limited to; diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and care. General eligibility criteria apply to this category. The Hazel Hawke Research Grant in Dementia Care (1 available) AADRF-Vic Project Grants (6 x $50,000 grants or 1 x $100,000 grant plus 4 x $50,000 grants available) Cecilia Margaret Hudson Dementia Research Grant Jeffrey Wiener Grant Faustyna Wiener Memorial Grant AADRF-Vic Project Grant(s) For research focused on improving the care of people with dementia. General eligibility criteria apply to this category. For clinical or psychosocial research projects only (no bench or animal studies), with a preference for projects based in Victoria or with benefits applicable to Victoria, and addressing one or more of the following priority areas: 1) less common forms of dementia; 2) assistive technologies; 3) supporting carers and families; 4) timely detection and management of medical comorbidities in hospitals and residential aged care; 5) translational research; 6) care systems and resourcing in residential care. General eligibility criteria apply to this category. Applicants can indicate which categories of project grants they would like to be considered for in the application form. Eligibility for the different categories of project grant will be determined by the AADRF. The application form includes a question on priority areas being addressed, if relevant, for those who would like to be considered for a Hazel Hawke Research Grant in Dementia Care or an AADRF-Vic Project Grant ($50,000 and/or $100,000). The Hazel Hawke Research Grant in Dementia Care One $50,000 grant has been made available through funding from the Hazel Hawke Alzheimer s Research and Care Fund. The Hazel Hawke Research Grant in Dementia Care is awarded for research aimed at improving the quality of dementia care across Australia. AADRF-Vic Project Grants Six $50,000 grants or one $100,000 grant plus four $50,000 grants are available through funding that is managed and administered by the AADRF on behalf of AADRF-Vic, a separately incorporated body owned by Alzheimer s Australia Vic. The grant applications use the same application form, and are subject to the same review process as other project grant applications, but final decisions are made by the AADRF-Vic Board. Applicants are encouraged to offer separate proposals for both $50,000 and $100,000 where the application would benefit from a larger grant and to explain how the additional funding will benefit the project Dementia Grants Program Round 1 Information for Applicants 14

15 AADRF-Vic grants are open to Australian-based dementia research, but priority will be given to projects based in Victoria, or with potential benefits especially relevant to Victorians living with dementia. AADRF-Vic Project Grants will be awarded in clinical or psychosocial research areas only. Lab-based biological and/or non-clinical research, including animal studies, will not be considered. Priority will be given to funding research that is likely to directly benefit people with dementia, their families and carers, especially, but not exclusively, in the six priority areas listed below. The highest three-ranked projects will be awarded the Cecilia Margaret Hudson Dementia Research Grant; the Jeffrey Wiener Grant and the Faustyna Wiener Memorial Grant. Please also note that AADRF-Vic will not consider projects that significantly overlap with existing in-house projects of Alzheimer s Australia Vic, or projects that do not align with the mission of Alzheimer s Australia Vic. 1. The less common forms of dementia, i.e. non-alzheimer s dementias including frontotemporal dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies. Applications for projects addressing the unmet needs of people living with these conditions and their families are invited. 2. Assistive technologies that can help improve the quality of life of people with dementia and their families i.e. research about what is needed and what works to inform future service provision planning. 3. Supporting families and carers i.e. research that addresses how carers can be better supported, including those living in rural and remote areas, or how carers and families can better engage with the person with dementia will receive priority for funding. 4. Timely detection and management of medical comorbidities in hospitals and residential aged care i.e. research addressing models of care describing what hospitals need to do to provide optimal care for people with dementia. 5. Translational research i.e. moving evidence into practice. 6. Care systems and resourcing in residential care i.e. research into clinical care practices, pain management, workforce skills and training, specific care systems. Successful applicants must acknowledge the support of AADRF-Vic in all publications, presentations, summary findings and media announcements relating to the research; provide progress reports on the research; and be prepared to assist AADRF-Vic, if required, by speaking at an Alzheimer s Australia function, attending specified conferences, hosting laboratory visits, or being featured in media articles/releases for AADRF-Vic. FURTHER INFORMATION For any enquiries please foundation@alzheimers.org.au or call (02) Dementia Grants Program Round 1 Information for Applicants 15