20052006 Annual Funding Round

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2005-2006 Annual Funding Round

• Investment Processes Group

HRC Roadshow
August 2005
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Funding Round Team

• Vernon Choy
• Manager, Investment Processes
• Aroha Haggie
• Manager, Maori Health Research Health Sector
  Relationships
• Mary-Anne Woodnorth
• Research Coordinator Biomedical Clinical
• Fiona Gordon
• Research Coordinator - Public Health
• Moana Hadfield
• PA/Secretarial support

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Agenda
Funding opportunities

• 2005 Opportunities Funding Round
• HRC Priorities Relevance
• Maori Health Research
• Tips for Applying
• Q A Session

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Types of Contracts
Funding opportunities

• Emerging Researcher First Grant new!!
• Feasibility Studies new!!
• Research Projects
• Research Programmes

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Emerging Researcher First Grant(available funds
1M approx.)
Funding opportunities
Established Research Project

• To provide research funds for emerging
  researchers seeking to establish independent
  careers in health research, and who have not
  previously held a competitive research contract
  of gt50,000
• Maximum value of 150 000 over three years
• Exclusive of salaries for Applicant, Supervisors,
  Academics or Senior Researchers

HRC Project Grant
NI Salary
Post-doc Salary
Project Expenses
Lectureship
Ist NI Salary
Independent Research Stream
Clinical Appointment
Emerging Researcher First Grant
Project Expenses (150 000)
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Feasibility Studies(available funds 1M
approx.)
Funding opportunities

• For testing feasibility of a larger study,
  specifically assessing a research proposal, the
  likelihood of obtaining valid results, or
  acceptability in a population.
• Public Health or Clinical Research only
• Maximum value 150 000, maximum tenure 12 months
• Later deadline (Apr 06) so feasibility work can
  be carried out to feed into the following years
  funding round.
• Must identify scope of full study to follow on

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Research Projects(available funds 26.75M
approx.)
Funding opportunities

• Not restricted in value (2004 average 0.8M,
  fully-costed)
• Normally for maximum of three years
• Prior consultation required for large clinical
  trials or national epidemiological studies
  costing gt 1M
• - May require joint funding from the HRC and
  other agencies
• - Application for feasibility study contract is
  advised for clinical trials or survey

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Research Programmes(available funds 5.25M for
new Programmes,18M for extensions to existing
Programmes)
Funding opportunities

• To support a multidisciplinary research group
  with an outstanding track record
• 3-5 individual projects
• Contracts are for 6 (33) years
• Programme directors should have good HRC track
  record
• Expressions of Interest (EoIs) by 1 September

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Important Closing Dates - Funding Round
Funding opportunities

• 1 September 2005
• Programme Expressions of Interest
• 3 October 2005
• Summary Submissions including Referee Nominations
• 1 November 2005
• Full Project, Emerging Researcher, Programme
  proposals
• 3 April 2006
• Feasibility Study proposals

Check dates with Research Office (earlier closing
date)
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Important Closing Dates - Career Development
Awards
Funding opportunities

• 1 September 2005
• Sir Charles Hercus Health Research Fellowships
  (2)
• HRC Foxley Fellowship
• Clinical Research Training Fellowships (3) NEW!!
• ACC Career Development Research Awards
• 22 September 2005
• HRC Pacific Health Research Capacity Contracts
  Masters Scholarships,
• PhD Scholarships and Postdoctoral Fellowships
• 21 October 2005
• HRC Maori Health Research Capacity Contracts
  Masters
• Scholarships, PhD Scholarships and
  Postdoctoral Fellowships

Check dates with Research Office
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HRC Funding Round 2003 2004 Projects
FR 2003
37 PJ
182 Total PJ
119
99
27 Total funded
13 PGPJ
63
Fundable
Triaged
Funded
FR 2004
50 PJ
189 Total PJ
163
122
34 Total funded
14 PGPJ
26
Fundable
Triaged
Funded
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Notes for Application Forms (XX205)

• Minor changes from XX204 (still useful as
  templates)
• Injury and Rehabilitation Research Portfolio has
  been extended to Injury, Impairment,
  Rehabilitation and Disability Research Portfolio

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Submission process for Project, Programme
Emerging Researcherproposals
Application process
1st September
Programme Expressions of Interest (EoI)
Submit PA205-EoI form to Research Office
Submit General Information Module and Applicant
Nominated Referee for -GA205 -PA205
GA205 for each project -FG205 online, and
signed copy, to HRC via Research Office
Programme Extensions Submit General information
Module And Applicant Nominated Referee
for PA205-Ext GA205 for each new
project online, and signed copy, to HRC via
Research Office
Summary Submissions -Projects -Programmes
-Emerging Researcher
3rd October
Receive HRC reference number via Research Office
Full Submissions -Projects
-Programmes -Emerging Researcher
1st November
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Final submission requirements
Application process

• Full application (Word) and Budget (Excel),
  correctly named
• HRC Reference number on all applications
• Submission via your Research Office
• Paper copies to Research Office
• Electronic copies uploaded online and submitted
  on to Research Office
• Research office will have the facility to approve
  and submit electronic applications online.
• Independent researchers to contact HRC in this
  regard

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Hallmarks of HRC Funding Rounds
Assessment process

• Open contestability
• Peer Review
• External Referees (may be nominated expert)
• Modeled after NIH (USA), MRC (UK) and NHMRC
  (Australia)
• Assessing Committee (knowledgeable in your field)
• Standardised assessment criteria

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Assessment Process Timelinefor Projects
Assessment process
2005
2006
Dec
Apr
May
Jan
Feb
Mar
Nov
Proposals assigned to Assessing Committees
Proposals reviewed by External Referees
Applicant Rebuttal of Referee Review
A-B-C ranking by AC Members ? Triage of lowest
ranked Proposals (20 approx.)
AC Discussions ? Scoring and Fundable line
GAC application of Relevance Criteria
Research Committees collate AC rankings
Council Review and Final Results
AC Discussions ? Scoring and Fundable line
A-B-C ranking by AC Members ? Triage of lowest
ranked Proposals (20 approx.)
Proposals Assigned to Assessing Committees
Proposals Reviewed by External Referees
Applicant Rebuttal of Referee Reviews
Research Committees collate AC rankings
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HRC Assessing Committees
Assessment process

• Chairperson will be member or designee of BRC,
  MHC or PHRC
• 8-10 Committee Reviewers, New Zealand and
  Australian Experts
• Note will include HRC contract holders

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Assessment and Scoring ofHealth Research
Proposals
Assessment process

• Health significance
• Scientific merit
• Design and methods
• Expertise and track record of team
• Referees provide grades (A-D) and a succinct
  critique of the proposal, using the points above.

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A-B-C ranking
Assessment process

• Assessing Committee Members pre-meeting rankings
  
• (A above average, B average, and C below
  average)
• Rank based on referee report, applicant rebuttal,
  AC members expertise and comparison with other
  proposals in committee
• Lowest scoring 20 approx. of proposals triaged.
• Approximately 25 proposals per Assessing
  Committee

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Assessing Committee Reviewthe science score
Assessment process

• Scoring is confidential
• Scoring uses a 7-point scale and anchor point
  descriptors
• Outliers with a 10-point or greater differential
  will be identified, discussed.

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Priorities Relevance

• Dr Patricia Anderson
• Group Manager
• Policy, Evaluation Business Development

HRC Funding Round Roadshow August 2005
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HRC Priorities Count!

• HRC priorities now fully integrated into
  assessment process
• Final funding decisions based on quality
  relevance
• Proposals considered by Grant Approval Committee
• Many researchers not completing priorities
  sections of properly

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Research Portfolio Framework
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Priority Populations

• All health research relevant to priority
  populations as New Zealanders
• Prioritize research focusing on these groups
• Provides new knowledge on health issue in
  priority population
• Effort made to ensure appropriate consultation,
  protocols involvement

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Tip Read Criteria for Relevance to Priority
Populations

• Expert panels determined criteria of relevance
• Many criteria focus on consultation
  participation
• Important to make relevance clear in proposal
• Criteria found in Assessing Processes Handbook

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Grant Approval Committee (GAC)
Assessment process

• Sub-committee of Council made up of the chairs of
  BRC, PHRC, MHC, PIHRC and RPAC
• Applies relevance criteria to proposals at
  portfolio funding margins
• Makes final recommendations to Council

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Assessment process
GAC Review Criteriathe relevance score

• How the research proposal contributes to
• Maori health outcomes
• HRC priority populations
• HRC Research Portfolio priorities and balance of
  investments
• NZ health workforce development and retention
• Priorities of NZ Health Strategy, NZ Disability
  Strategy and He Korowai Oranga
• Medium term impact (3-5 years) on health,
  economic goals

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Science-Relevance Matrix
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Application FormModule 4 Relevance of Research
to Specific Population Groups

• 4a Relevance of Research for Maori Health
  Outcomes
• Clearly state
• Consultation
• Estimated no. of Maori participants
• Separate analysis?
• Maori researchers/training opportunities?
• Appropriate dissemination of results

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Module 4 (Contd)

• Section 4b Research with Population Groups
• General principles of consultation
• Working with not on participants
• Consultation always appropriate if human
  participants involved
• Stakeholder groups more appropriate in some areas
• Priority population relevance
• Check criteria
• State/estimate number of participants
• Researchers from population group
  involved/training opportunities?

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Module 7 Research Mapping Categories

• Research Portfolios
• Check strategies before completing
• Secretariat will double-check
• Add/remove
• Research Mapping Categories
• Discipline based
• Used to identify gaps in investment
• Starting point of research

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Summary

• Specific priorities communicated to HRC by
  government
• HRC required to act through
• Annual Funding Round
• Partnership Programme
• Minister of Health may add additional priorities
  at any time
• Health workforce research
• Primary care
• Check Statement of Intent 2005/06
• Priority Research for Health
• Still room for innovative, fundamental
  strategic research proposals

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Maori Health Research

• Aroha Haggie
• Group Manager - Maori Health Research and Health
  Sector Relationships

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Contents

• HRC Maori Health Research
• Tools
• Training awards
• Career Development Awards
• Grants in aid Seeding grants
• Reference points

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Maori Health Research

• Maori Health Research is research which actively
  seeks to produce knowledge which contributes to
  health outcomes for Maori.
• Consolidate and develop Maori knowledge
• Deepening the Maori research skill base
• Addresses the significant disadvantage in health
  outcomes of Maori relative to non-Maori

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Maori Health Research

• HRC has an expectation that Host institutions
• Demonstrate (where appropriate) quality and
  extent of partnership and relationship
• Declare (where appropriate) consultation with
  Maori has taken place
• HRC has an expectation Researchers
• Provide details of the processes, partnerships
  and relationships appropriate to the research
  project

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Tools

• Process
• Funding round application guidelines and
  assessment processes handbook
• Guidelines for researchers on health research
  involving Maori
• Strategy
• The Health Research Strategy to Improve Maori
  Health And Wellbeing 2004 2008
• Research portfolio strategies

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Rangahau Hauora Maori

• The Rangahau Hauora Maori portfolio supports
• building Maori capacity and capability to
  undertake health research to prioritise the
  development of Maori science, paradigms and
  methodologies
• Enhance whanau, hapu and iwi ability to develop
  and lead research
• ensure Kaupapa Maori focused research

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Career Development Awards

• Maori Health Research Awards
• Foster the Maori health research workforce in New
  Zealand.
• Rangahau Hauora Awards
• Masters Scholarships
• PhD Scholarships
• Postdoctoral Fellowships
• Check dates with Research Office

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Grants in Aid / Seeding Grants

• Grants in Aid
• Up to 5,000 is available for dissemination of
  research results, including health research hui
  and publications.
• Seeding Grants
• Up to 5,000 is available to develop and pilot
  Maori health research proposals.

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Contact details

• Aroha Haggie Kaiwhakahaere Rangahau Hauora
  Group Manager - Maori Health Research and Health
  Sector Relationships
• Health Research Council 110 Stanley St, P O Box
  5541, Wellesley St,
• Auckland Ph 09 303 5207Fax [phone]
  Email ahaggie_at_hrc.govt.nz

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Tips for Applying
Tip 1 Start early things can go wrong at the
last minute

• Project preparation time 3-6 months
• HRC will not accept late applications
• Research office closing date 2 weeks prior
• I.T. problems in last 24 hours are COMMON!!

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Tip 2 Catch Yourself an HRC-funded researcher
Tips for Applying

• Important to collaborate with established
  researcher(s)
• Track record of research team ¼ total score
• Assessing committees look for expertise
  mentorship
• Contributions of senior researchers must be
  genuine
• Must contribute more than their name

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Tip 3 Read the guidelines before applying
Tips for Applying

• HRC Investment Strategy
• HRC produces detailed guidelines for applicants
  and assessing committees
• Available on HRC website
• Information on
• How to fill in each section of the form
• What to include
• HRC priorities
• Research portfolios
• Priority populations

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Tip 3a Read Research Portfolio Strategies

• Research priorities scored in assessment process
• Up to 3 points
• Definition not always clear from title
• Need to know areas of research included
• Should be considered when drafting application
• All strategies on website
• www.hrc.govt.nz
• Research Policy ?
• Research Portfolios

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Tip 4 Get an HRC-funded researcher to
peer-review your draft application
Tips for Applying

• Get someone with knowledge of HRC assessment
  processes to read application
• Many researchers with experience on assessing
  committees
• Their advice could make the difference
• Poor applications will not be discussed by an
  assessing committee

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Tip 5 Consider alternative approaches
Tips for Applying

• OK to apply to more than one funding agency
• HRC must be informed at time of application via
  RO
• HRC then has option of co-funding
• Remember if successful, funding available from
  1 July in following year
• You can always re-apply
• Valuable input from peer-reviewers

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Tip 7 Get your figures right
Tips for Applying

• Important to properly cost research
• As bad to under-cost as to over-cost
• May affect chances of funding
• Take advice from experienced researcher on how to
  cost your project
• Assessing Committees review budgets, HRCs CFO
  checks for over-pricing duplication

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Tip 8 Observe the page limits
Tips for Applying

• Page limits absolute
• Applications received with extra pages, reduced
  margins /or smaller font size not acceptable
• HRC getting stricter on page limits
  applications will be rejected

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Tip 9 Dont give up!
Tips for Applying

• HRC has budget to fund 20-25 of applications
• but gt60 deemed fundable!!
• Resubmit, many good proposals are funded
  second-time round
• Even the greats once stood where you stand!