NHMRC Ideas Grants – Now Open

The NHMRC Ideas Grants scheme is now open for applications in Sapphire.

The objective of the Ideas Grant scheme is to support innovative research projects addressing a specific question(s). The expected outcomes are:

• innovative and creative research
• funding of researchers at all career stages, and
• funding any area of health and medical research from discovery to implementation.

The scheme will provide particular opportunities for early and mid-career researchers. It is expected that the CIA will have the scientific leadership and skills to achieve the proposed project aims.

The Ideas Grant scheme is not intended to support research where a clinical trial or cohort study is the primary objective. Applicants seeking funding to conduct a clinical trial or a cohort study should apply, instead, to NHMRC’s Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grant (CTCS) scheme.

Guidelines and Grant Proposal Documents - Available on GrantConnect
Grant Guidelines and the Grant Proposal template are available on GrantConnect (GO3777). You will need to login to access the documents. MRO Submission Process Documents are available on our Intranet page. 

Minimum Data
Ideas Grants have a minimum data requirement. Minimum data must be entered into Sapphire by 17:00 AEST 8 April 2020. Applications that fail to satisfy this requirement will not be accepted. Minimum data for Ideas Grants is comprised of:

• Application title
• Administering institution
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Research Focus (yes/no)
• Project synopsis
• Privacy agreement
• Research Classification:
• Broad research area
• Field of research
• Peer Review Areas
• Research keywords
• Chief Investigator A (complete CIA Role and Name)

The MRO will automatically begin checking applications to ensure they meet minimum data requirements in Sapphire from Wednesday 1 April 2020 and will contact you if there are missing sections. You do not need to contact us to request we check your minimum data.

MRO Compliance & Eligibility Checking & Webinar
As required for submission, the MRO will be conducting eligibility and compliance checks of Ideas Grant applications. The due date for a full draft to be provided to MRO (including Sapphire sections being completed with a justified budget, and the Grant Proposal document) is 15 April 2020. Due to the Easter and Anzac Days public holidays, only applications that meet the 15 April 2020 deadline will have a full check of the application. 

The MRO will be holding a webinar on Friday 13 March 2020 at 1-2pm to discuss the major guidelines and requirements for Ideas Grants.

• To join from a PC, Mac, iPad or Android device: click on https://monash.zoom.us/j/115918545 or, go to https://monash.zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID: 115 918 545  
• To join from a dial-in phone: dial: +61 3 9905 9666 (+61 3 9905 ZOOM) or +61 2 8015 2088 (meeting ID: 115 918 545). 

Key Dates
Applications open in Sapphire: 11 March 2020
Minimum data close: 8 April 2020
MRO Compliance Check close: 15 April 2020 (for a full eligibility and compliance check)
CI Certification of Finalised application: 1 May 2020
NHMRC external deadline: 6 May 2020

Please contact the MHS team if you have any questions.