NHMRC PROGRAM GRANTS ADVICE AND INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS. For funding commencing in 2015

Transcription

1 NHMRC PROGRAM GRANTS ADVICE AND INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS For funding commencing in 2015 Applications open on 6 March 2013 and close at 17:00 hrs (AEST) on 5 June Late applications will not be accepted This document must be read in conjunction with the NHMRC Funding Rules incorporating the Program Grants scheme for funding commencing in Applicants should read all instructions and other accompanying documentation, and consult with their own Research Administration Office or technical team before contacting the Research Help Centre (RHC) (help@nhmrc.gov.au). The RHC can help with: specific information regarding funding schemes; filling out application forms; and difficulties with logging into and using the Research Grants Management System (RGMS) All enquiries should be directed to: Research Help Centre Ph: help@nhmrc.gov.au 1

2 Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW SIGNIFICANT CHANGES STARTING A NEW APPLICATION PART A APPLICATION DETAILS PART A HOME A-RT: RESEARCH TEAM AND COMMITMENT A-NF: INTENDED NHMRC FUNDING REQUESTS A-OF: INTENDED OTHER FUNDING REQUESTS A-A2: ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER RESEARCH A-IACC: INSTITUTION - ACCESS A-IACT: INSTITUTION ACTUAL A-NHP: NATIONAL HEALTH PRIORITIES A-NRP: NATIONAL RESEARCH PRIORITIES (NRP) A-RC: RESEARCH CLASSIFICATION A SEO: SOCIO-ECONOMIC OBJECTIVES (SEO) A BOD: BURDEN OF DISEASE A CD: COMMUNITY DETAILS A-EG: ETHICS - GENERAL PART B APPLICATION DETAILS B PGRA: PROGRAM GRANTS RESEARCH AREA B-PR: PROPOSED RESEARCH B CP: PARTICIPATION B CG1: COLLABORATIVE GAIN PART B CG2: COLLABORATIVE GAIN PART B RA: RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS B PPRC: PUBLICATIONS, PAPERS, REPORTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS B NPA: NOMINATION OF POSSIBLE ASSESSORS B NA: NON ASSESSOR APPLICATION CERTIFICATION RAO CERTIFICATION PROFILE AND CV REQUIREMENTS FOR PROGRAM GRANTS IMPORTANT CHANGE TO PROFILE/CV SECTION PROFILE SECTION PRO-PD: PERSONAL DETAILS PRO-A: ADDRESS PRO-FR: FIELDS OF RESEARCH PRO-RE: RESEARCH INTERESTS CV SECTION CV-QAP: QUALIFICATIONS, AWARDS AND PRIZES CV-EH: EMPLOYMENT HISTORY CV-A: APPOINTMENTS CV-CD: CAREER DISRUPTION

3 6.11 CV-PM: PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS CV-CP: CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION CV-CE: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION CV-P: PATENTS CV-TPP: TRANSLATION INTO POLICY/PRACTICE CV-JR: EDITORIAL RESPONSIBILITIES CV-RF: NHMRC RESEARCH FUNDING CV-ORF: OTHER RESEARCH FUNDING CV-PUB: PUBLICATIONS CV-W: WORKLOAD

4 1. INTRODUCTION This document should be read in conjunction with the NHMRC Funding Rules incorporating the Program Grants scheme for Funding Commencing in 2015, which provides important information on the objectives and underlying principles of Program Grants (referred to herein as the Funding Rules). NHMRC s Research Grants Management System (RGMS) must be used to access/enter your Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Profile, and submit a Program Grant Application. Applicants who are not yet registered on RGMS can do so via the New to RGMS link on the RGMS login page ( or obtain assistance by contacting Research Help Centre at help@nhmrc.gov.au or on For assistance using and navigating RGMS, you may: 1. use the RGMS training tutorials which can be accessed via the links provided on the RGMS home page at or 2. view the FAQs on the NHMRC website at The NHMRC Funding Rules incorporating the Program Grants scheme for funding commencing in 2015 can be found at Overview The purpose of this document is to provide advice to applicants and Administering Institutions Research Offices for the completion and submission of applications for NHMRC Program Grants funding commencing in A complete Program Grant application must consist of the following: 1. Completion of Parts A and B of the application form; 2. The relevant information in your RGMS Profile and CV; and 3. The uploaded PDF Document containing your Research Strategy. It is essential that your Profile and CV are kept up to date. Relevant information from your Profile and CV will be imported into snapshots of your grant applications. Details of components of the Profile/CV that will be imported into each type of application are provided in the Profile/CV Required Information by Scheme document located in the overview section, under site links in RGMS. Additionally, NHMRC uses information from the Profile to contact you and to guide the assigning of applications for review. Although it is not necessary to complete all information requested in the Profile/CV, applicants should complete the minimum requirements as outlined in Profile/CV Required Information by Scheme. Advice on completing the Profile/CV components of RGMS is available in section 6 of this document. 4

5 Referencing Publications Each publication entered into your RGMS: CV in the CV-Pub: Publications page will be given an identification number beginning with P. This can be used to assist applicants in referring to their publications. Applicants should use this number when referring to specific publications in their application, particularly in text boxes where characters are limited. Please DO NOT use the sequence number found on the application s snapshot reports as this may change upon the addition of new publications and/or publication uploads. Responsible Conduct of Research Applicants are reminded that research funded by NHMRC must comply with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2007), which can be found at: Applicants must not directly contact Grant Review Panel (GRP) members in relation to their application, or the peer review process. If applicants do so, panel members must inform NHMRC, and NHMRC may exclude the application from further consideration. Similarly, GRP members must not contact applicants. All applicants are to direct any queries to their Administering Institution s RAO in the first instance. RGMS Application The Detail tab of the RGMS application is divided into two parts, PART A (common for all funding schemes) and Part B (scheme specific). The sections included within these parts are as follows: Part A Part A Home A-RT: Research Team and Commitment A-NF: Intended NHMRC Funding Requests A-OF: Intended Other Funding Requests A-A2: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research A-IAcc: Institution Access A-IAct: Institutions Actual A-NHP: National Health Priorities A-NRP: National Research Priorities A-RC: Research Classification A-SEO: Socio Economic Objectives A-BoD: Burden of Disease A-CD: Community Details A-EG: Ethics General A-EH Ethics Human A-EA Ethics - Animal Part B Program Grants Part B Home B-PGRA: Program Grants Research Area B-PR: Proposed Research B-CP: Participation B-CG1: Collaborative Gain Part 1 B-CG2: Collaborative Gain Part 2 B-RA: Research Achievements B-PPRC: Publications, Papers, Reports & Contribution B-NPA: Nomination of Possible Assessors B-NA: Non Assessor 1.2 Significant Changes No significant changes have been made to this year s application process. 5

6 Important Note 1. Regarding Assessment Criteria and Category Descriptors: While completing your application, it is important to keep in mind the criteria against which applications will be assessed. Detailed descriptions of the three criteria can be found in Part 2, Section 7.1 of the Funding Rules. 2. Protected Forms Microsoft Word templates for Program Grant applications have been provided for your convenience. You may use these templates to fill out your application offline and then copy and paste the finalised draft text from the form into RGMS and click save. The templates can be found in the RGMS Library, and at: Note: These templates are provided as an aid only. They cannot be completed and ed to NHMRC. All applications must be submitted through RGMS. Applicants choosing to use the available templates should note the discrepancy between Microsoft Word character counter and the character counting within RGMS. To aid you in conforming to RGMS character limits, the following URL has been provided as a guide Starting a New Application For step by step instructions on how to start a new Program Grant application, please log into RGMS and navigate to the RGMS Library. To begin a new application, select the Applications page from the main menu and click the New button found at the bottom of the page. All fields marked are required to be completed. It is essential that these fields are completed in order for your application to proceed to peer review. Initiative The Initiative to select for Program Grants is _Program. Round The round to select for 2013 Program Grants is 2013_Program Grant_funding_commencing_2015 Application Identification Number (RGMS ID) Each application will have its own unique Application Identification Number (Application ID), which is generated by RGMS. Please use this ID number (e.g. APP########) to identify your application in any correspondence when referring to your application. RAO Edit Access If you wish to allow your RAO to have edit rights to your application, you should select Yes in the RAO Edit Access field and save. The NHMRC provides this functionality to support researchers and RAOs in managing the application process. The NHMRC does not accept any responsibility for errors or omissions arising from the use of the RAO edit function and strongly recommends that the RAO, CIA and Administering Institution discuss the management of RAO edit access before selecting this function. 6

7 2. PART A APPLICATION DETAILS Part A of the RGMS application is generic to all NHMRC funding schemes. 2.1 Part A Home You are required to complete a number of fields in each of the pages of Part A (e.g. A-RT, A-NF etc.), including fields on the Part A Home page. Administering Institution While there may be instances where a Program Grant will be carried out in more than one location, there can be only one Administering Institution for each grant. You must ensure that the institution you intend to choose as your Administering Institution is the correct institution for your application. If in doubt contact the Research Administration Officer at your proposed Administering Institution to confirm its status as an NHMRC Administering Institution and ensure it has the facilities to administer your application. Note: Any enquiries regarding the administration of NHMRC grants should be directed firstly to your RAO, then by to postaward.management@nhmrc.gov.au. Note: For further information, please refer to Part 1, Section 13 of the Funding Rules. Scientific Application Title The scientific title will be used to identify the application at all times during the assessment process and should accurately describe the nature of the project. (You have a maximum of 250 characters including spaces and line breaks to provide this information.) Simplified Application Title (Simple Title) The simplified application title is usually used in media releases and the annual publication of successful awards. It should be easily understood by the general public while still conveying the general nature of the project. (You have a maximum of 250 characters including spaces and line breaks to provide this information.) Media Summary Describe the project in terms suitable for release to the media. Avoid the use of highly technical terms. Be brief and describe the overall aims of the research and expected outcomes in a manner the general public will understand. This information will be made available, if requested, to members of the public, journalists, etc. It may also be used for the purposes of reporting on grants to Parliament. Note that this information plays an important part in relaying research outcomes to the public and, as such, should be written in a manner appropriate for the intended audience. (You have a maximum of 500 characters including spaces and line breaks to provide this information.) Synopsis The synopsis should accurately, and briefly, summarise the research proposal as provided in the Proposed Research PDF. The synopsis is extracted into the Summary Snapshot, which is used to assign applications to Grant Review Panels and assessors. (You have a maximum of 2000 characters including spaces and line breaks to provide this information.) 7

8 Do you Consent to this Application and Associated Reports being referred to other Funding Agencies, including your own Institution, for consideration? If you choose YES to this question you will be giving NHMRC permission to provide certain information, on request, to other funding agencies seeking information from NHMRC about high ranking but unfunded applications in areas of research that they may wish to fund. If you choose NO that information will not be released. This permission is essential because of the confidential nature of the grant application. 2.2 A-RT: RESEARCH TEAM and COMMITMENT In this section you are able to add or remove team members, assign them to a role and identify proposed workloads. To nominate a team member select New. Role Types Use the drop down box to select from the role types that are described below, then search for the person you wish to add under this role. Once you have selected the type, click save. The Chief Investigator A then selects the team member from the searchable list labelled Person. Note: If the person is not yet identified, enter TBA If the person you wish to add is not listed, they need to register for an RGMS account. To obtain an account they should go to the RGMS login page ( and click on the 'New User Request' link. If they require assistance they can call the Research Help Centre on Chief Investigator (CI) Chief Investigator A (CIA) is responsible for completion and lodgement of the application. Other CIs are to read the application and must agree to its contents before it is submitted. A maximum of 10 CIs (CIA to CIJ) may be entered into your RGMS application. Note: CIB CIJ are required to have an RGMS account in order to access their application. 2. Associate Investigator (AI) The Associate Investigator category should be used to enter details of Additional Personnel in Program Grant Applications. An AI is an investigator who provides intellectual input into the research and whose participation warrants inclusion of their name on publications. AIs named on the application will be advised by the Chief Investigator. However no consent is required from them before the application can be submitted. AIs do not have access to the application in RGMS. The contribution of AIs is to be entered within the attached Proposed Research PDF File. Please see Part B PR: Proposed Research for more information. 3. Professional Research Person (PRP) (This role is not applicable to Program Grants) 4. Technical Support Staff (This role is not applicable to Program Grants) 8

9 Qualifications & Skills In this section, please provide specific qualifications or skills required for this research project. (You have a maximum of 2000 characters including spaces and line breaks to provide this information.) Proposed Workload Will this researcher be based in Australia for the duration of the project? Unless otherwise specified, Chief Investigator A (CIA) must be based in Australia. Researchers based overseas are eligible to apply as Chief Investigator B and below (CIB-CIJ). For further information refer to the Funding Rules. Dates of anticipated domestic and/or international absences during the grant period No entry is required against this item. Percentage NHMRC Research Time Indicate the amount of your NHMRC research time you would spend on this application if it were to be successful (This Application %) and the amount of your research time spent on other NHMRC grants (Other Applications %) in an average working week. You may also provide a brief description detailing the proposed amount of time you would spend on this application if it were to be successful. (You have a maximum of 1000 characters including spaces and line breaks to answer this question.) 2.3 A-NF: INTENDED NHMRC FUNDING REQUESTS For each CI team member, provide details of any NHMRC funding they have requested (or planned to request) which has not yet been approved. Failure to disclose full information may result in the application being removed from any further consideration by NHMRC. If the team member does not appear in the list, click New, select a team member then click Save to provide NHMRC Funding details. You may create multiple entries for an individual team member. 2.4 A-OF: INTENDED OTHER FUNDING REQUESTS For each CI team member, provide details of any planned or actual requests for funding from sources other than NHMRC that have not yet been approved. Failure to disclose full information may result in the application being removed from any further consideration by NHMRC. If the team member does not appear in the list, Click New, select a team member then click Save to provide Other Funding Request details. You may create multiple entries for an individual team member. 2.5 A-A2: ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER RESEARCH As part of its commitment to advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research, NHMRC has established certain requirements and processes which are designed to ensure that research into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health is not only of the highest scientific merit but that it is beneficial and acceptable to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NHMRC has committed to a target of at least five percent of its total research funding being allocated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research. Your responses to the questions set out below enable NHMRC to accurately monitor its performance relative to that target. 9

10 The questions enable applicants to identify research that is specifically motivated by a desire to investigate Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health issues. They are also designed to enable NHMRC to identify those research proposals that will require assessment of the proposed research benefits and acceptability to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. Research proposals that specifically relate to the health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples must address The Criteria for Health and Medical Research of Indigenous Australians (The Indigenous Criteria) as part of their application. The statement addressing The Indigenous Criteria is integral to the peer review process (refer to Part 2, Section 8.4 of the Funding Rules). Applicants submitting proposals for research involving Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples must refer to the following guidelines: I. Criteria for Health and Medical Research of Indigenous Australians available at: II. Values and Ethics Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research available at: III. The NHMRC Road Map II: A strategic framework for improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through research available at: Does this research proposal include Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health research and/or capacity building? (This question also enables applicants to identify specific components of their proposal that relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.) If you have answered YES to this question: a) You are asked to identify how much of the overall research funding is budgeted for that component, and to describe what proportion of the research effort and/or capacity building activity will be directed to this component. You should only select YES if you can demonstrate that at least 20% of your research effort and/or capacity building relates to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health. b) Subject to expert advice, your application will be assessed against The Indigenous Criteria. In preparing your application you must address all six elements of The Indigenous Criteria, which are: Community Engagement Benefit Sustainability and Transferability Building Capacity Priority Significance. (You have a maximum of 2000 characters including spaces and line breaks to provide information for each element.) 2.6 A-IAcc: INSTITUTION - Access Chief Investigator(s) Answer YES to this question if any of the CIs on this application are currently receiving, or applying for, support from an Institution or Centre that receives research funding directly or indirectly from the Australian Government for the same health and medical research as that proposed in the application. 10

11 Provide reasons why NHMRC should accept this grant application. Explain why this proposal is not funded, or is not expected to be funded, through current Australian Government research initiatives. Failure to address this requirement can result in your application being excluded from further consideration. (You have a maximum of 1000 characters including spaces and line breaks to provide this justification) 2.7 A-IAct: INSTITUTION Actual In some cases the Institution that will administer your application may differ from the Institution in which you will actually conduct the proposed research. For example, many universities administer research, which will be conducted in an affiliated teaching hospital. a. To add an actual institution, click on the New button. b. Click on the Browse button and select the actual institution from the pick list (if the actual institution does not appear in the list please the institution name to help@nhmrc.gov.au). c. Then enter the department at which the research will be conducted within that actual institution. d. If the research will be conducted at more than one institution, enter the percentage allocated to each actual institution and department to reflect the sharing of the research effort among the institutions that you have listed. The percentages entered must total 100%. Complete this page for each institution if there is more than one. (You have a maximum of 100 characters including spaces and line breaks to answer this question.) 2.8 A-NHP: NATIONAL HEALTH PRIORITIES Select the relevant National Health Priority area(s) and enter a percentage for each to describe that portion of the research relevant to the selected priority sub-group. The total percentage should not exceed 100%, but may be less. 2.9 A-NRP: NATIONAL RESEARCH PRIORITIES (NRP) Select the relevant National Research Priority (NRP) area(s) and enter a percentage in each table to describe that portion of the research relevant to the selected priority sub-group. The total percentage should not exceed 100%, but may be less. Detailed descriptions of the NRPs are available via the following web link: Note: The NRPs are contained within the portfolio factsheet PDF document Note: While the application is not required to address a NRP area, information regarding which priority area(s) this research proposal may address will assist NHMRC to capture appropriate data for reporting purposes A-RC: RESEARCH CLASSIFICATION The Research Area, Fields of Research and Keywords will be used in the peer review process to assist with the selection of appropriate expert peer reviewers for your application. It may also be used for analyses of NHMRC s Funding Profile. From the drop down boxes on this page you must make the selections that best describe your research proposal against each of the following fields: Guide to Peer-Review Areas Choose at least one selection from the list. Broad Research Area. 11

12 Fields of Research (FoR) The selected FoR is the primary source of information for allocation of your application for assessment. Fields of Research Subcategory. When completing this section, you should refer to the Australian Standard Research Classifications and NHMRC Research Keywords and Phrases. This information is available at: From the following browse boxes you must select a minimum of five and a maximum of ten research keywords or key phrases: Research Keywords/Phrases Selections should describe the research more specifically Additional information that best describes research interests Please describe in more detail your research interests or areas of expertise. This could include areas of student supervision and areas in which you have published. (You have a maximum of 200 characters including spaces and lines breaks to provide this information.) 2.11 A SEO: SOCIO-ECONOMIC OBJECTIVES (SEO) From the drop down lists provided, select a minimum of one (1) and a maximum of three (3) SEO by category then subcategory. The SEO of research allows it to be classified in line with your perceived purpose in undertaking the particular study. This is different to the nature of the research i.e. researcher fields. NHMRC acknowledges that any particular piece of research may be relevant to and have more than one purpose. You will be required to allocate the percentage of research applicable to any specific objective. The percentages entered must not exceed 100% A BoD: BURDEN OF DISEASE Use the Browse button to select a Burden of Disease that best describes the area of research of the application. You can select up to three Burden of Disease types and you must allocate a percentage of time against each. The percentage total must not exceed 100% A CD: COMMUNITY DETAILS Consumer and Community Participation Does this research involve consumer and/or community participation? If you answer Yes to this question you must then: a) Describe how you will ensure that research participants will have access to their own results, and how you will be accountable to participants for the overall results of the research. (You have a maximum of 1000 characters including spaces and line breaks to provide this information) b) Describe how you will ensure that consumers will be involved in the research, and how you will communicate the results of the research to participants and the community. (You have a maximum of 1000 characters including spaces and line breaks to provide this information) The Consumers Health Forum of Australia Inc (CHF) and the NHMRC worked in partnership with consumers and researchers to develop the Statement on Consumer and Community Participation in 12

13 Health and Medical Research. The Statement on Participation was developed in recognition of the contribution that consumers can make to research, as well as their right to participate in research. Applicants should refer to the CHF and the NHMRC Statement on Consumer and Community Participation in Health and Medical Research available via the following web link: A-EG: ETHICS - General (Note: by selecting YES to either the Human or Animal questions on this page, another page will be displayed in the left hand menu with additional questions after saving this page). Part 1, Section 10 of the Funding Rules provides important information regarding requirements for ethics and other approvals and should be read prior to completing this section. Clinical Details Will this research involve direct interaction between investigators and a patient or subject? If you answer YES this information may be used to identify research that involves clinical research. Is this an application to conduct a clinical trial? If you answer YES this information will be used to identify projects that involve a clinical trial. A clinical trial should be considered as the evaluation of any health care intervention (including prevention, early detection, treatment, health service, pharmaceutical, behavioural change) in a human population with disease or at risk of disease. The clinical trial will usually involve the comparison of a new treatment or intervention against a standard care/management assessing the impact of each on health outcomes or intermediate endpoints, using a controlled design. A trial could also involve early phase 1 or phase 2 trials without a control group. A-EH: Ethics - Human Does this research proposal require submission to a human research ethics committee? If you answer YES another subpage (A-EH: Ethics-human) will appear: 1. Does this program involve the use of personal information obtained from a Commonwealth Department or Agency (including former repatriation hospitals)? If you answer YES in this section, enter the name of the Commonwealth Agency or Department involved. (You have a maximum of 50 characters including spaces and line breaks to provide this information.) 2. Does this program involve the administration to humans of drugs, chemical agents or vaccines? If you answer YES to this question provide detailed information on these drugs, chemical agents or vaccines to humans including the alternative or complimentary medicines. (You have a maximum of 50 character including spaces and line breaks to provide this information.) 13

14 3. Do any activities in this research proposal require a licence under the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002? If answering YES, researchers in this area are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with the requirements of both the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 (RIHE Act) and the Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction Act 2002 (PHCR Act). The RIHE Act and the PHCR Act were passed by Parliament in December 2002 and amended in December These Acts establish a strong regulatory framework to prohibit certain unacceptable practices including human cloning for reproduction, and to regulate activities that involve the use of certain human embryos created by assisted reproductive technology (ART) or by other means. Further information regarding research using human embryos can be found from the NHMRC website at: or by ing embryo.research@nhmrc.gov.au 4. Research using humans If the research involves humans, will it require equal numbers of males and females? You must provide a brief explanation of the sample size and ratio of males to females in the study. (You have a maximum of 2000 characters including spaces and line breaks to provide this information.) 5. Ethical Implications of Experiments on Humans For research involving humans, give a brief statement of the ethical issues that arise from such research, and an explanation of how these issues will be addressed. (You have a maximum of 2000 characters including spaces and line breaks to provide this information.) Note that it is not sufficient to state that the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans ( the National Statement ) will be observed. The research plan must include sufficient detail to enable the project to be fully assessed in respect of ethical issues by an independent human research ethics committee. A-EA: Ethics Animal Does this research proposal require submission to an institution s Animal Ethics Committee responsible for animal research? If you answer YES another sub-page (A-EA: Ethics-animal) will appear 1. Approval by an Animal Ethics Committee Identify the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee to which the application has been or will be referred. (You have a maximum of 200 characters including spaces and line breaks to answer this question.) 2. Ethical Implications of the Project Experiments on Animals Give a brief statement justifying the use of animals in the experiments related to the application. The statement should address the general principles of replacement, reduction and refinement. (You have a maximum of 2000 characters including spaces and line breaks to answer this question.) 14

15 Note that it is not sufficient to state that The Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes will be observed. The Research Strategy must include sufficient detail to enable the project to be fully assessed in respect of ethical issues by an independent Animal Ethics Committee. 3. Animal Usage From the drop down box select the animal species and strain to be used in the project. Ethics Other This information is designed to help institutional Animal Ethics Committees and the GRP to assess your application, and to provide statistical information to NHMRC on the use of animals in medical research. Genetic Modification of Organisms Answer YES to this question if the project will involve organisms being genetically manipulated as defined under the Gene Technology Act 2000 and may require the proposed work to be assessed by an Institutional Biosafety Committee or approved by the Gene Technology Regulator before commencement. Use of Carcinogenic or Highly Toxic Chemicals Answer YES to this question if the project will involve the use of carcinogenic or highly toxic chemicals. Research Involving Stem Cells Will this research involve the use of human stem cells? If you answer YES to this question select from the pick list if these human stem cells are Adult, Embryonic or both. Will this research involve the use of animal stem cells? If you answer YES to this question select from the pick list if these animal stem cells are Adult, Embryonic or both. 15

16 3. PART B APPLICATION DETAILS Part B of the application is specific to the Program Grants Scheme. This part of the application differs to that for other NHMRC schemes. 3.1 B PGRA: PROGRAM GRANTS RESEARCH AREA It is anticipated that applications will be assessed by one of two Program Grants Review Panels (PGRPs). PGRP A Applied will assess applications addressing Public Health, Health Services Research and Clinical Research. PGRP B Biomedical will assess applications addressing biomedical research. The answer to the question below will assist the NHMRC in directing your application to one of these panels for assessment. Final panel allocation is at the NHRMC s discretion. You must select the type of Program for which you are submitting this application, either: PGRP A Applied Research; or PGRP B Biomedical Research. 3.2 B-PR: PROPOSED RESEARCH This section is where you attach/upload your Proposed Research PDF attachment. Creating the PDF File The PDF file MUST NOT exceed 2Mb in size. Applicants and RAOs are advised to retain a copy of the PDF file they submit. PDF Formatting requirements You should note the following requirements when preparing and submitting your Research Strategy PDF: Component Header Margins Font Diagrams, Graphics and Images Labelling Graphs and Images Requirements Must include the Application ID in large type (at least 14 point) in the top right corner. The type of attachment e.g. Research Strategy and Page Number (at least 12 point) in the top left corner. Note: The Scientific Title is optional All margins must be at least 2cm. Must be Times New Roman and at least 12 point. Colour diagrams, graphics and images may be included in the Research Strategy. However, you should keep in mind that the electronic file may be printed and photocopied in black and white for distribution to the reviewing panel and there may be some loss of definition and colour in the images. Labelling of axes of graphs and labelling of parts of images may be in a reduced font. However, the description and/or legends of all graphs and images must comply with the guidelines set out under this section. 16

17 Tables Tabulated information containing text is not considered to be an image or diagram. Text within tables must comply with the guidelines set out under this section. Line Spacing Line spacing must be set to single. Character Spacing Character spacing must be set to normal, with a scale of 100%. You must name the PDF file following the format of: [App ID]_[CIA surname].pdf (e.g. APP#######_Smith.pdf ). Do not include spaces in the file name. You should not convert scanned documents into PDF. Any documents to be attached should be converted from their original electronic form. All attachments should be added to the Research Strategy PDF, which is to be submitted as a single document. You should not include links to websites containing additional information in your application other than for references to published peer review journal articles that are only available online. Applications that do not comply with the above guidelines could be deemed ineligible and excluded from further consideration. For further information refer to Part 1, Section 3.5 of the Funding Rules. There are four components to provide in this PDF file to your Program Grant application: 1. The proposed Research Strategy (maximum of 10 pages) 2. Additional Personnel Contribution (maximum of 100 words for each AP) 3. References (in addition to the 10 pages) 4. Budget (maximum of 1 page) The following is a brief description of these components. 1. Research Strategy (maximum of 10 pages) This section is for applicants to outline the broad strategies and approaches to be pursued in their program of research over the duration of the grant. It should contain information that will allow peer review panels to judge the relevance and/or significance of the proposed work, and the competitiveness and innovativeness of the strategy, ideas and approaches. Detailed experimental plans of individual projects are not required. Applicants are advised to consult the Funding Rules and assessment criteria when determining what information should be included in the Research Strategy. This section should show how the team will fulfil the expectations of the scheme as stated in the Funding Rules. 2. Additional Personnel (AP) Contribution For each Additional Personnel named in PART A A-RT: Research Team and Commitment of this application, a maximum of 100 words is permitted to outline their contribution. 3. References (in addition to the 10 pages for the Research Strategy) A list of all references cited in the application must be provided in standard journal format within the Research Strategy PDF. 17

18 4. Budget This section should outline proposed arrangements for how grant funds and other resources will be shared, deployed, and redeployed if necessary. A summary of the time commitment for each CI should be included, as should their participation in the proposed Research Strategy where relevant. 3.3 B CP: PARTICIPATION Provide a brief summary of the participation of each Chief Investigator in the broad research strategy proposed in this application. The aim of this section is to expand on the role identified in the section PART A Research Team and Commitment (You have a maximum of 1000 free text characters to provide this information) 3.4 B CG1: COLLABORATIVE GAIN PART 1 Teams are required to outline past and/or proposed collaborative arrangements within the applicant team, and address the means whereby the collaborators will ensure the cohesive running of the program. When completing these sections, particular attention should be paid to the Assessment Criteria specified in the Funding Rules, particularly Assessment Criterion 3 Collaborative Gain. Integration and Synergy of the Research Teams and Program 1.1 Describe the integration of the research teams and the program as a whole. (You have a maximum of 2000 free text characters to provide this information) 1.2 Describe productivity gains, including synergies and objectives that would not be possible with separate projects. (You have a maximum of 2000 free text characters to provide this information) Resource Management 2.1 Describe how teams and resources will be managed, including previous strategies and new collaborative arrangements. If the applicants have had the opportunity to collaborate before and have not yet done so, an explanation should be provided here as to why this has not occurred and why it is occurring now. (You have a maximum of 2000 free text characters to provide this information) 2.2 Describe performance measures and/or milestones, and how grant funds and other resources will be shared, deployed, and redeployed if required. (You have a maximum of 2000 free text characters to provide this information) 3.5 B CG2: COLLABORATIVE GAIN PART 2 Teams are required to outline past and/or proposed collaborative arrangements within the applicant team, and address the means whereby the collaborators will ensure the cohesive running of the program during its tenure. When completing these sections, particular attention should be paid to the Assessment Criteria specified in the Funding Rules particularly Assessment Criterion 3 Collaborative Gain. Team Skills 1.1 Describe the team's skills that will be present within the Program. (You have a maximum of 2000 free text characters to provide this information) 18

19 Training, Career Development and Mentoring 2.1 Briefly describe the track records of the CI's in the provision of research training, career development and mentoring within the broader research team and future opportunities for this to be provided in the Program proposal. (You have a maximum of 2000 free text characters to provide this information) 2.2 Describe the training and mentoring strategies that will be adopted in the Program. (You have a maximum of 2000 free text characters to provide this information) Intellectual Exchange 3.1 Describe how intellectual exchange will be facilitated, within and beyond the Program. (You have a maximum of 2000 free text characters to provide this information) The purpose of the following sections (B-RA and B-PPRC) is to highlight each CI s high-impact achievements, including those that are relevant to the research proposal. This is intended to allow you to draw out particular contributions listed in your RGMS CV and Profile, and to guide assessors through the teams contributions in order of importance. B-PPRC provides a limited space to enter a high-level description of your most significant contributions. B-RA allows you to expand on relevant and significant achievements through a statement of impact. Please note that these sections are not intended to replace the entry of your achievements into your CV and Profile. 3.6 B RA: RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS Each CI can submit a maximum of six pages each addressing Research Achievement, consisting of a maximum of four pages on Statement of impact and outcomes arising from prior research achievements and a maximum of two pages of Professional Biography. The applicant should provide a single PDF document which combines the six pages for each CI. Please refer to section 3.2 for the formatting requirements for this document. Statement of impact and outcomes arising from prior research achievements (Maximum of 4 pages per CI) Please describe recent and significant impacts and outcomes arising from your research achievements. This may include, without being limited to: Impact and contribution within your field (not just your discipline); Influence on clinical and/or health care practice and/or policy; Comparison with international researchers in your field and recognition from peers; and Any other achievements that are relevant to your application. If applicable, please describe any patents, commercialisation and/or industry involvement you have had. When listing patents you should provide the current status of any non-granted patent. Professional Biography (Maximum of 2 pages per CI) This section provides you with an opportunity to interpret and present your achievements in a descriptive manner, particularly in relation to your field, highlighting your main achievements. 19

20 3.7 B PPRC: PUBLICATIONS, PAPERS, REPORTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS Provide comments on the most relevant and/or significant publication, papers and reports (including technical) that relate to this application. Field 1 Significant Publications, Papers, Reports and other contributions. In the space provided, comment on your most significant publications, papers, reports and other contributions in the last five years or equivalent full time research. The reason for including these should be outlined. (You have a maximum 2000 characters including spaces and line breaks to answer this question.) Field 2 Other Significant Publications, Papers, Reports and other contributions. In the space provided, comment on your most significant publications, papers, reports and other contributions over the course of your career. The reason for including these should be outlined. (You have a maximum 2000 characters including spaces and line breaks to answer this question.) NHMRC no longer uses the impact factor of journals as a part of its assessment processes. Therefore, the impact factor of each publication should not be included. Further explanation of the NHMRC s decision to cease using impact factors of journals can be found at: Retracted Publications If a publication relevant to an application is retracted after the application has been submitted, applicants must advise NHMRC of the retraction at the earliest opportunity by (help@nhmrc.gov.au) or when submitting their response to assessor reports, with an appropriate explanation regarding the retraction. Applicants are required to send this information to NHMRC through their RAO office. If an application is largely dependent on the results of a retracted publication, applicants should also consider withdrawing the application. If, under these circumstances, applicants choose not to withdraw the application, they should make their reasons clear in their response to assessor reports. Where the publication forms part of the applicant's Record of Research and Translation Achievement, that information must be immediately recorded in their Profile and CV in RGMS. 3.8 B NPA: NOMINATION OF POSSIBLE ASSESSORS In this section you can nominate up to two national and two international assessors who you consider appropriate to provide an assessment of the research proposal. Note that nominated assessors should not have a conflict of interest with the application. It is important to keep in mind the NHMRC s guidelines on Managing Conflicts of Interest (CoI) when nominating potential assessors. The guidelines can be found in the RGMS Library. You should consider sharing these guidelines with nominated assessors, to ensure that they are familiar with the types of situations where they may be judged to be in conflict with your application. Nominated assessors who are conflicted with the application will not be approached for an assessment. Applicants are not required to nominate a possible assessor but this can assist NHMRC in the process of finding suitable assessors. Please review the suitability of your potential assessors, including in relation to the potential CoI, before nomination. You should provide the following information for each nominated assessor: 20

21 Name Expertise Contact details ( , Phone, Fax) The NHMRC may use one of your nominated assessors if possible and if they do not have a CoI with the application. For example, previous and current collaborations, working within the same department or close personal relationship with a potential assessor are likely to be deemed as high conflicts. Details of your nominated assessors will be advised, in confidence, only to persons directly involved in the selection of the assessors of your application. Issues raised by external assessors may be discussed with the applicant at interview. The identity of the external assessors, who agree to assist the NHMRC on the basis of confidentiality, will not be disclosed to the applicant. 3.9 B NA: NON ASSESSOR In this section you are asked to nominate an individual who is NOT to be approached to assess the application. Only one individual may be nominated. NHMRC will use this information to manage potential CoIs to help in the process of selecting potential assessors. The following information is required: Name Institution Provide the above information of the requested non-assessor against the following criteria: Conflict of Interest (the person is a collaborator, supervisor, relative, and/or similar), Personal concerns which lead you to believe that the assessor would be incapable of giving a fair assessment due to unreasonable bias. Details of your requested non-assessor will be advised, in confidence, only to persons directly involved in the selection of the assessors of your application Justification Provide a justification of your request to nominate a non-assessor against the following criteria: 1. Conflict of Interest - you may nominate a person here that you believe may have a conflict of interest that may affect their ability to be impartial (e.g. confidential private sector matters). 2. Personal Concerns that lead you to believe that the assessor would be incapable of giving a fair assessment because of unreasonable bias. (Maximum of 1000 free text characters) 21

22 4. APPLICATION CERTIFICATION NOTE: IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CIA TO ENSURE THAT THE APPLICATION IS COMPLETE AND CORRECT BEFORE CERTIFIACTION. YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE REVIEWED AS PROVIDED AFTER THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS IS APPROVED. This process has been simplified with the removal of the two step process. For clarification on the process of certification, see the Application Process Flowchart in the RGMS library. Only the CIA will need to certify the application. The CIA must gain written agreement from each CI to be named on the application and for the final application to be certified. The CIA must gain written agreement from each AI to be named on the application. The CIA should provide the RAO with evidence that the application is complete and all CIs have agreed to it (i.e. through written evidence such as ). Once the application has been certified it will be locked and no further edits will be permitted. Please refer to Part 1, Section 9 of the Funding Rules for more information. 5. RAO CERTIFICATION The RAO is required to complete the RAO Certification screen of the electronic application before the application is lodged. By answering Yes to the questions, the RAO is verifying that the questions have been completed, the necessary approvals have been obtained and that the RAO holds the approval documents. 6. PROFILE AND CV REQUIREMENTS FOR PROGRAM GRANTS When completing your application, please ensure that all required sections of your Profile and CV have been entered in and updated appropriately. This MUST be done for all CIs on the application. You can update your Profile and CV at any time, even while completing a grant application. However, please note that when the application is certified by CIA, the final snapshot (which includes the relevant extracted information from the Profile and CV of each CI) is made and the application locked down (thus, any subsequent changes a CI makes to their Profile and CV do not appear in the application). You can check which specific sections of the Profile and CV need to be completed and compare it to other NHMRC schemes using the document Profile and CV Requirement for 2013 Schemes accessible on the RGMS overview page under site links. Note: The Profile/CV is SEPARATE to your grant application. While there may be some overlap of certain information, it is your responsibility to ensure that information specific to your application that may be captured in the Profile/CV is provided in the relevant parts of the application itself. 22