Grants

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Competitive Research Grants
COVID-19 Research Fund
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Healthy Longevity Global Grand Challenge
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National Innovation Challenge on Active and Confident Ageing
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Ageless Workplaces Innovation Grant
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National Innovation Challenge (NIC) on Active and Confident Ageing Phase 1B
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Healthy and Meaningful Longevity
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Talent Development
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Enablers & Infrastructure
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Review Process
05 May 2020 - 18 May 2020

The COVID-19 Research Fund is provided to support COVID-19-related research. 

Research Theme

The third grant call will fund 3 categories:  

  1. Investigator Initiated Research
  2. Clinical Trials
  3. Gap Funding

(A) Investigator Initiated Research Category

The Investigator Initiated Research category aims to support COVID-19-related research in all areas, with priority given to research in the area of outbreak control or management in the following 4 thematic areas set in the first 2 grant calls:

  1. Transmission – viral shedding, duration
  2. Pathogenesis
  3. Serological tests
  4. Modelling

Funding support of up to S$1mil (inclusive of 20% indirect cost) per project for up to 1 year.

(B) Clinical Trials Category

The Clinical Trials category aims to enable clinicians to carry out clinical trials for the development of novel therapies, interventions and diagnostics for COVID-19.

Projects with promising compounds that show efficacy in the trial will be considered for extension/top-up of funding to facilitate their transition to further testing.

Funding support (inclusive of 20% indirect cost) will match the research scope and efforts, up to a period of 1 year.

(C) Gap Funding Category

The Gap Funding category aims to support the translation of research outcomes into useful products, process and services that generate economic and societal benefits

Funding support (inclusive of 20% indirect cost) will match the research scope and efforts, up to a period of 1 year.

Assessment Criteria

The proposals will be assessed based on the following criteria:

  1. Relevance and potential impact of the work on the understanding, control, management and prediction of the COVID-19 epidemic.
  2. Likely timeframe for outcomes
  3. Scientific excellence
  4. Feasibility of study in local context
  5. Track Record and overall technical expertise of PI and team

Additional considerations for Gap Funding category will include:

  1. Impact of the solution and whether it addresses an immediate COVID-19 need
  2. Readiness of the solution and its scalability in the near term (in one year’s time)

Review Process

Applications will undergo an expedited review process, where it will be directly assessed by the review panel

The review panel has the prerogative to ask applicants to include additional PIs who can bring expertise to enhance and speed up the work, and/or to refine specific areas of the proposals in order for the proposal to be considered for funding.

Eligibility Criteria for Investigator Initiated Research and Gap Funding categories

Only one Principal Investigator (PI) is allowed per application. Applicants applying as Principal Investigator are required to fulfil the following criteria at the point of application:

  1. Preferably holds a primary appointment in a local publicly funded institution and salaried by the institution.
  2. PIs should have PhD or MD/MBBS/BDS qualifications. (Exceptions would be made on a case-by-case basis).
  3. Is an independent PI with a demonstrated track record of research, as evidenced by the award of nationally competitive funding (international funding to be considered on a case by case basis), substantial publication record in the past 3 years, or PI status in research institutes.
  4. Has a laboratory or clinical research program that carries out research in Singapore
  5. Holds a minimum of 9 months employment (per calendar year) with local Singapore institution(s). Upon award, the PI must agree to fulfil at least 6 months of residency in Singapore for each calendar year over the duration of the grant award.
  6. For proposals involving patients, the PI should be SMC registered; or should be able to demonstrate ability to access patients through SMC registered Co-Is or collaborators.

Eligibility Criteria for Clinical Trials Category

Only one Principal Investigator (PI) is allowed per application. Applicants applying as Principal Investigator are required to fulfil the following criteria at the point of application:

  1. Each proposal must be submitted by a Clinical Principal Investigator who has to fulfil the eligibility criteria listed below at the point of application. Only one Principal Investigator (PI) is allowed per application.
  2. Must be clinically qualified (i.e. with MD/MBBS/BDS) with clinical specialty certification, and post-graduate clinical training and experience.
  3. Must fulfill HSA’s requirements for PIs who are conducting clinical trials. Please refer to HSA website for detailed guidelines on conducting clinical trials.
  4. Must hold a primary appointment and be full time employed and salaried in a local public hospital/ public health institution/ national specialty centre/ public university/ academic medical centre.
  5. Must be an independent PI with a demonstrated track record of research as evidenced by the award of nationally competitive funding (international funding to be considered on a case-by-case basis), or substantial publication record.
  6. Have a laboratory or clinical research program that carries out research in Singapore.
  7. Hold a minimum of 9 months employment with the above institutions, and fulfil full time residency in Singapore over a period of the calendar year.

Funding Quantum

Please refer to the respective funding category for the funding quantum.

Application Submission

  • Please note that there are specific application forms for the respective COVID19RF categories.
  • The proposal should clearly define the research milestones and the corresponding budget required to achieve each milestone.
  • Please note that resubmission of applications submitted in the previous COVID19RF grant calls are not allowed. Proposals have to be substantially changed for consideration as new submissions.

Submission Mode and Deadline

For Investigator Initiated Research and Clinical Trials Categories

It is mandatory for all applications to be submitted and endorsed by Director of Research (DOR) online via IGMS by 18 May 2020, 5pm. We will not entertain any late submissions or submissions from individual applicants without HI DOR endorsement.

Please download the COVID19RF3 Application Templates for the Investigator Initiated category or the COVID19RF3 Clinical Trial Application Templates for the Clinical Trial category respectively for more information.

For Gap Funding Category

It is mandatory for all applications (complete with your Director of Research’s endorsement) to be submitted through your respective Office of Research (ORE) via email to National Health Innovation Centre (NHIC) at grant@nhic.sg by 18 May 2020, 5pm. We will not entertain any late submissions or submissions from individual applications not sent through your ORE.

Please download the COVID19RF3_Gap Funding Application Templates for the Gap Funding category for more information.