Please note that the last grant call under RIE2025 will be the July 2025 grant call. There is no planned grant call in January 2026. Subject to approval of the RIE2030 framework, the first grant call under RIE2030 is expected to be launched in July 2026.

02 Jan 2025 - 06 Feb 2025

The Open Fund - Individual Research Grant (OF-IRG) is provided to support the conduct of research proposals in basic, translational and clinical research that are relevant to human health and potential, including research that looks at the causes, consequences, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases.

Research Theme

OF-IRG is open to applications in all research areas. Applications are assessed based on scientific merit at the international level and relevance to Singapore, but should prioritisation be required between meritorious applications, the following seven disease areas have been identified as national priorities for research:

Cancers and neoplasms
Cardiovascular
Eye
Infection
Mental health
Metabolic and endocrine
Neurological

Evaluation Criteria

Selection of successful proposals would be based on the following evaluation criteria:

Quality of the science
Capability of the research performers to conduct the research
Objectives of the research programme in context of HHP goals*

* The HHP Domain’s vision for RIE2025 is to be a leading hub that transforms and protects health, advances human potential and creates economic value through excellence in research and its application for Singapore, Asia and the world.

Eligibility Criteria for IRG

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:

a) Holds a primary appointment in a local publicly funded institution and salaried by the institution.

b) PIs should have PhD or MD/MBBS/BDS qualifications. (Exceptions would be made on a case-by-case basis).

c) Is an independent investigator (with PI status in institution) 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.

d) Has a laboratory or clinical research program that carries out research in Singapore

e) 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.

f) Has no outstanding report from previous BMRC, NMRC grants, and other national grants.

g) 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.

Grant Call Frequency

There will be two grant calls per year (January and July).

Funding Quantum

The OF-IRG will provide a funding quantum of up to S$1.625M (inclusive of up to 30% indirect costs^) and up to 5 years.

^Indirect costs is not applicable for research scholarship budget

Submission Mode and Deadline

It is mandatory for all applications to be submitted and endorsed by Director of Research (DOR) online via IGMS by 6 Feb 2025, 5pm. We will not entertain any late submissions or submissions from individual applicants without HI DOR endorsement.

Please download the OF-IRG Application Guide for more information.

Review Panel

The composition of the OF-IRG Local Review Panel (2025-2026) is listed in the table below.

S/N	Name	Institution
1	Prof Chng Wee Joo (Co-Chair)	Group Director, Research Office, National University Health System Vice President (Biomedical Sciences Research), National University of Singapore
2	Prof Thomas Coffman (Co-Chair)	Dean, Duke-NUS Medical School
3	A/Prof Angela Koh Su-mei	Senior Consultant, Department of Cardiology, National Heart Centre Singapore Associate Professor, SingHealth Duke-NUS Cardiovascular Sciences Academic Clinical Programme
4	Prof David Lye	Director, Infectious Disease Research and Training Office, National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), Tan Tock Seng Hospital Deputy Executive Director, Programme for Research in Epidemic Preparedness and Response (PREPARE) Group Head (Research), Interim Communicable Disease Agency
5	Prof Dean Ho	Provost’s Chair Professor Director, The N.1 Institute for Health (N.1) Director, The Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM) Head, Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore
6	A/Prof Tan Gek Yen Gladys	Director, Biological Defence Programme, Defence Medical & Environmental Research Institute, DSO National Laboratories
7	Prof Han Weiping	Director, Laboratory of Metabolic Medicine, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR Honorary Joint Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Ling School of Medicine, National University of Singapore Professor, Signature Research Programme in Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School
8	Prof Jonathan Loh Yuin-Han	Deputy Executive Director, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR
9	Prof Kanaga Sabapathy	President Chair’s Professor Professor and Chair, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University Singapore Joint Research Director, Division of Cellular and Molecular Research, National Cancer Centre Singapore
10	Dr Khoo Chin Meng	Head and Senior Consultant, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital Assistant Professor, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore Director, NUHS Investigational Medicine Unit
11	Prof Leopold Schmetterer	Scientific Director and Head of Ocular Imaging, Singapore Eye Research Institute Professor, School of Chemical, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Nanyang Technological University Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Program, Duke-NUS Medical School
12	Prof Nicholas Barker	Research Director, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR
13	Prof Reshma Taneja	Head, Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore
14	Prof Salvatore Albani	Director, Translational Immunology Institute, SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre Senior Consultant and Senior Clinician Scientist, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital
15	A/Prof Hyunsoo Shawn Je	Associate Professor, Signature Research Programme in Neuroscience & Behavioural Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School Director, SingHealth Advanced Bioimaging Centre Co-Director, Talent Development Unit, National Neuroscience Research Institute Singapore
16	A/Prof Su I-hsin	Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University
17	A/Prof Tam Wai Leong	Deputy Executive Director, Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR
18	A/Prof Yu Fengwei	Senior Principal Investigator, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory
19	A/Prof Zeng Li	Deputy Director, Basic Science & Translational Research; Assistant Director, Research Programs, National Neuroscience Institute Associate Professor, Signature Research Programme in Neuroscience & Behavioural Disorders, Duke-NUS Medical School
20	Prof Alfred Cheng	Professor, SBS and Assistant Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong
21	Prof Ben Berkhout	Professor of Human Retrovirology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
22	Prof Chen Ting	Professor, Department of Computer Science and Technology Director, Center for Big Data Research in Health and Medicine, Institute of Data Science, Tsinghua University, China
23	Prof Chris Denning	Professor of Stem Cell Biology, School of Medicine Director, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK
24	Prof David Brooks	Emeritus Professor of Neurology and PET Clinical Science, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
25	Prof Diana Boraschi	Professor, Laboratory of Inflammation and Vaccines, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
26	Prof James A. Ross	Professor Emeritus (Liver Cell Biology), University of Edinburgh, UK
27	Prof John Marshall	Professor and Centre Lead, Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, UK
28	Prof Kofi E. Aidoo	Emeritus Professor, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK
29	Prof Lee Chi Ho, Paul	Clinical Associate Professor, University of Hong Kong
30	Prof Mauro Pistello	Professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, University of Pisa, Italy Director, Clinical Virology Service, Pisa University Hospital
31	Prof Mok Chi Chiu	Senior Consultant and Chief, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong
32	Prof Richard James	Honorary Research Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland
33	A/Prof Ryu Takechi	Associate Professor and Domain Lead, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Australia
34	Dr Simon Langdon	Visiting researcher, University of Edinburgh, UK
35	Dr Stephane Germain	Group Leader, College de France
36	Prof Wang Haibo	Director, Research Centre of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence for Medicine Vice Dean, Institute of Precision Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, China

Applicants are not allowed to approach any of the panel members to discuss or solicit information related to their application review or funding decisions. NMRC may impose a suspension and/or debarment on such applicants.