Singapore China Joint Research Programme 10 th Singapore China JRP Call for Proposals Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR) 20 Biopolis Way, #08-01 Centros, Singapore 138668 Tel: (65) 6826-6111 Fax: (65) 6478-9581
1. BACKGROUND OF INITIATIVE 1.1. The Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), People s Republic of China jointly announce the 10 th call for proposals under the Singapore China Joint Research Programme implemented in August 1998. 1.2. This International Joint Research Programme aims to stimulate information exchange leading to cooperative research to advance science and technology in both countries. 1.3. Under this programme, BMRC, a research council under the Agency for Science, Technology & Research and their counterpart in China will fund the approved project undertaken by the respective sides through their respective budgets Singapore will fund the Singapore component of the project, while China will fund the Chinese component. 1.4. Enquiries concerning this Call should be addressed to the following BMRC officer: Ms Zhang Qianyi, Programme Officer Email: Zhang_qianyi@a-star.edu.sg 2. OBEJCTIVE OF INITIATIVE 2.1. For 2013, the 10 th JRP will fund projects in the area of Metabolism and Obesity. 2.2. Metabolism and Obesity is an area of increased prevalence in both countries and worldwide. The 10th Joint Grant Call aims to support bilateral research collaborations in the field of metabolism and obesity to advance our understanding of the biological mechanisms that regulate metabolism and how they are dysregulated in obesity. The aim is to translate basic scientific knowledge into improved diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Obesity and Metabolism related diseases. 2.3. Through this bilateral collaboration, synergistic expertise across institutions from both countries could be brought together to enhance and deepen the understanding of relevant research in the thematic area of interest. 3. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS 3.1. Proposals must attempt to fully disclose the research ideas and approaches. It is important that proposals are well crafted and provide substantive description of the research plan for a fair review of the scientific / technical plans and approaches
3.2. The proposed project should leverage as much as possible on existing infrastructure and programmes that BMRC is supporting and pre-positioned to launch such an initiative. No major investments in tools and equipment are envisaged. Allocation for manpower, service and share time charges for use of equipment should be factored in proposal submissions. 3.3. A formal contract involving the relevant Singapore-based public institutions and Chinese institutions shall be drawn for each project. 4. GRANT PROPOSAL SELECTION AND EVALUATION CRITERIA 4.1. The grant call seeks to identify proposals that are innovative, demonstrative of a high level of scientific pursuit, clearly identify recipients of research outcomes and applications, challenge paradigms and set international benchmarks. 4.2. Other factors will include level of synergy of the proposed research to the collective set of activities, the abilities of the researchers, their past performance in prior awards, comments of the referees (if required), effectiveness of project management, and appropriateness of the requested budget. 4.3. Specifically, the projects would be assessed based on: Significance Project has to address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field. The success of the project should improve scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice, and aim to change the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments or preventative interventions in metabolism and obesity related research studies Innovation The collaborative project should seek to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel (or a refinement / improvement of) theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions. Scientific quality and approach Clear overall scientific strategy, methodology, and analyses to accomplish the specific aims must be stated in the application. If potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success are available, it has to be presented. Synergistic partnership and track record of the team PIs, collaborators, and other researchers should have the relevant expertise and investigators must have complementary and synergistic capabilities e.g.
- Provide access to unique/specialized characteristics of overseas partner country, e.g., specific scientific knowledge or technique availability of key manpower, common interest in seeking a breakthrough in science, training in research manpower, research capability in a specific field, etc. - Tap on specialized capabilities of overseas partner agencies, and through this, create strategic linkages to tap on specialized capabilities in the future. Environment Details of how the scientific environment in which the work is done will contribute to the probability of project success, must be stated. Examples include institutional support, equipment and availability of other physical resources. Project would be at an advantage if it states the benefit of unique features of the scientific environment, subject populations, or collaborative arrangements. 4.4. This grant call will give preference to projects: a) In the following Sub-research areas Molecular mechanisms of energy homeostasis regulation Mechanism of inflammation in obesity Clinical prevention and treatment studies in obesity complications (e.g. Obstructive sleep apnea & cardiovascular disease) b) Involving one or more of the following aspects: Innovative approaches Bench to Bedside and Bedside to Bench Translational Research Multidisciplinary science and multi-institutional ** Applicants from private sector are NOT eligible to receive funding from this grant, BUT, may take part as a collaborator of projects, and Co-fund the project either in cash or in-kind contribution; the assignment of commercialisation rights and distribution of any intellectual property (IP) (made according to the contributions by the respective parties) will be established in a Research Collaboration Agreement (RCA) prior to the commencement of the project. 4.5. What this grant call will not fund: Solely clinical studies (e.g. Intervention studies, clinical trials, health care delivery research, particular medical interventions) Metabolism and Obesity related educational campaigns (E.g. Increasing obesity awareness amongst people) Screening (or similar) programmes or services / Health checks Programmes to implement new policies
Activities / research that is solely based on data collection and investigating trends in Metabolism and Obesity (unless this is part of the research project that includes laboratory or clinical research conducted) Projects leading to duplication of resources, or developing resources which do not meet a need 5. PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS 5.1. ELIGIBILITY 5.1.1. This Call for Proposals is open to Singapore public sector research organisations, including A*STAR RIs. 5.1.2. For every proposal submitted, there should be 2 Co-Principal Investigators (one Singapore-based, and one China-based). The China-based PI must concurrently submit the joint proposal to China s MOST. 5.1.3. In addition, the following are not scored in the International Review, but has to be abided / indicated in the proposal application. Proposals must not be duplicative or substantially similar to any previous project or proposal submission in the 8 th JRP. No individual should be represented in more than two proposals. Proprietary or confidential information must be clearly indicated in the proposal. 5.1.4. The proposal should contain the following: Overall detailed Joint Project Description fulfilling requirements in Paragraphs 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5 Details on the involvement and contribution of the Singapore Investigators Details on the interaction among investigators of both countries Details for the funding required for the Singaporean effort 5.2. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS 5.2.1. Only COMPLETED proposals will be accepted for review, evaluation and assessment for awards. 5.2.2. Grant applications must be made through both A*STAR and MOST. Singapore-based applicants are required to apply electronically via the Integrated Grants Management System (https://igrants.astar.edu.sg/) by 30 April 2013, 5.00pm SST. China-based applicants are required to submit their application forms to MOST, which can be found on the following websites: http://www.most.gov.cn and http://www.cistc.gov.cn 6. FUNDING AND PROJECT DURATION
6.1. A total funding of S$4.0M, comprising equal contributions from A*STAR and MOST (S$2.0 M and ~RMB$10M respectively) has been established for this joint grant call. 6.2. Up to 7 proposals are expected to be awarded. For each successful proposal, MOST would fund ~RMB$1.5M for the China grantee while A*STAR would fund up to $300K for the collaborating Singapore grantee, over 3 years. 7. PROPOSAL SELECTION AND AWARD PROCESS 7.1. All proposals would reviewed by an International panel appointed by the MOST. The panel consists of a group of scientific experts and will review and recommend complete proposals for award. 7.2. BMRC may require proposals to be combined as it deems fit to enhance collaboration, facilitate integration and optimize resources. 7.3. BMRC may seek referee reports, written submissions or presentations from PIs to justify, elaborate or clarify aspects of the research approach described in the proposal after the International review process. 7.4. Notification of in-principle awards will be sent to the respective employing organizations and copied to the Principal Investigator. 8. INFORMATION OWNERSHIP 8.1. The following should be satisfied prior commencement of the project: Cooperating parties should enter into a formal contract agreement, which should specify the roles and tasks to be undertaken by each party to the cooperation; and Share and ownership of intellectual property rights brought to and resulting from the cooperation, as well as the commercialization rights should be agreed amongst the cooperating parties, and will be subjected to contract assigned by both parties in the joint collaboration before commencement date of the project as far as possible. 8.2. The formal award letter will not be issued until the above agreed terms are incorporated into a formal contract agreement between the collaborating parties from Singapore and China and forwarded to BMRC not later than six (6) months after the in principle approval of the project, failing which the offer would have been deemed to have lapsed. 9. PROGRAMME REVIEW AND MONITORING
9.1. Programmes will be reviewed annually, and research teams are expected to submit annual summary reports. Presentations and public seminars may also form part of the project progress review. 10. INDICATIVE ACTIVITY SCHEDULE Activity Deadline for submission of softcopy to igrants Schedule 30 h April 2013, 5.00pm