The Research Council of Norway Special Adviser Henrietta Blankson, PhD. Bern 18.6.14
The Research Council of Norway (RCN) The national picture Funding instruments in RCN Review process Some excamples of funded trials
The roles of the Research Council Adviser to the government Research funding Support basic research Implement national thematic priorities Support private R&D Networking and dissemination Internationalization
The Research Council of Norway Division for Science Division for Energy, Resources and the Environment Director General Staff Division for Society and Health Division for Innovation Division for Administra*ve Affairs
Funding received from the ministries (2014) Foreign Affairs Health and Care Services Environment Agriculture and Food 362 329 371 478 Misc. Administration 269 1830 Education and Research Research and education measures Petroleum and energy 779 1908 1312 Education and Research Cross-sectoral measures Trade and Industry Total NOK 8048 mill. administration incl.
The Research Council canalises nearly 30 % of public funding of Norwegian R&D Ministry of Education and Research Universities Public funding The Research Council (total NOK 8048 mill. 2014) Other ministries i.e. University Hospitals Institutes Industry
Reported expenditure on R&D in the field of Medicine and Health 2011 financing source and performing sector KD 1,4 mrd. kr - core fund 1,3 mrd. kr Higher Education Sector 2,3 mrd. kr HOD 3,1 mrd. kr - core fund to hospitals 1,7 mrd. kr - earmarked for R&D 0,6 mrd. kr Other Min. a.o.. 0,1 mrd. kr RCN 0,7 mrd. kr Private socities/gifts 0,4 mrd. kr Other (industry/internat.) 0,3 mrd. kr University Hospitals 2,3 mrd. kr Other hospitals 0,5 mrd. kr Institute sector 0,8 mrd. kr
4 Regional Health Authori1es 8
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Evaluation of biology, medicine and health research in Norway Comprehensive evaluation in 2011 Follow-up committee in 2013 Enhance support functions for clinical research Coordinate national funding of multicentre studies More job categories at hospitals where research is defined as a main task Draw up a national strategy for clinical research Strengthen medical student research programmes
Health research in RCN: the main programmes/ activities Thematically defined programmes and activities Policy-oriented programmes Large-scale programmes Basic research programmes Independent projects («free research») Independent projects for researchers and User-driven research based Innovation Infrastructure Centres of Excellence (SFF) and Centres for Researchbased Innovation (SFI)
Thematically defined programmes - health research in RCN BIOTEK 2021 Biomedisin Translational research Clinical medicine Social medicine and health sciences Welfareoriented health research --------- Stem Cell Research NevroNor (neurosciences) Environment, Genetics and Health Global Health and Vaccination Publicly-initiated Clinical Cancer Studies Clinical Research Mental Health Alcohol and Drug Research Human biobanks and health data Public Health Health and Care Services Sickness Absence Research ---------- Welfare, Working Life and Migration
HRCS Research Ac1vity 2013 752 mill. NOK, 703 projects
HRCS Health Categories 2013 752 mill. NOK, 703 projects
Programme on Clinical Research 2011-2015 Multiregional, national and international intervention studies No thematic limitations Research in the dental health services Research in the field of general practice and the primary health care services at large need not to be multiregional In character Competence and network-building
Requirements and criteria for researcher projects Budget limitations: 3-10 million NOK For national, multiregional and intervention studies: inclusion of patients from at least three health regions and/or countries mandatory. Special requirements for smaller clinical trials in dental health services, general practice and primary health care services at large Combining fellowship position with relevant work in clinical practice is possible.
Assessment criteria for the application: Scientific merit Project management and the Project group Feasibility Dissemination and communication of results Overall assessment of the referee/panel National cooperation International cooperation Ethical perspectives Gender perspectives in the research Relevance relative to the call for proposals
Evaluation form
Assessment of grant applications 2-stage decision process Expert panel evaluate proposals Gran*ng programme board Scien*fic quality Uses the recommenda*ons from the panels, incorporates strategic and budget considera*ons Relevance
Examples funded trials: ARCTIC- Aiming for remission in RA (revmatoid artritt) Phase: IV Randomized, open, national, multicentre, 2-arm prospective clinical study Number of patients: 240 Budget ~15 mill NOK RCN 6,4 mill NOK Health south east authorities 3 mill NOK Abbott* NKS UCB * Pfizer* MSD NRF Roche* NFUD * Support also investigator meetings
Examples funded trials: NorStent- Norwegian coronary stent trial 9013 patents randomised to DES vs BMS 5 years follow up Randomised, five-year prospective, multicenter, twoarm open-label clinical trial, blinded end point evaluation Outcome measures by information from Norwegian Patient Registry Investigator initiated and run by academic/ independent researchers Main funder: RCN Total budget: ~ 25 mill- NOK
Examples funded trials: Metformin treatment of pregnant PCOS women Prospective, randomised, Nordic multicentre study Funding RCN 10 mill. NOK Novo Nordisk 0,4 mill. NOK Own funding 7 mill. NOK
Project database
NASATS - national funding for cross-regional health research projects Pilot in 2011 43 mill. NOK 20 % from The Research Council of Norway Increased cross-regional and national coordination Participation of institutions from at least three of the four regional health authorities
HELSEFORSK - The regional health authorities national funding for cross-regional health research projects 200 mill. NOK Deadline for applications 3 rd September 2014 RCN administers the call and performs the quality assessment The Regional Health Authorities have the granting authority Cross-regional cooperative projects Service-relevant, patient-oriented clinical research Participation of institutions from at least three of the four regional health authorities Budget: minimum 6 mill NOK, maximum 50 mill NOK