Current Sections: HRC PrioritiesAssessment of Research Applications
HRC Assessment Process: Assessing Science and Priority
The HRC assessment process has two phases. The first is the assessment of the scientific merit of a proposal on the basis of peer review. Applications are assessed across four criteria (scientific merit, design and methods, health significance, track record) and awarded a science score out of a possible 28 points. Once the best research applications on the basis of scientific merit have been identified, these applications are then assessed on the basis of priority. Proposals are reviewed across six domains and awarded a priority score out of a possible 16 points.
The HRC's Grant Approval Committee (GAC) then jointly review and consider the scientific merit and priority of applications before making final funding recommendations to the Board.
This dual assessment process was introduced in 2002 to ensure the HRC is investing its limited budget in health research that is not only scientifically excellent, but is addressing New Zealand's highest priority health needs.
How the HRC Determines an Application's Priority Score
Priorities for health research and the relevance of applications to identified priorities are assessed by way of the HRC's priority criteria. Priority scores are derived from a possible 16 points. The score is based on whether the research proposal is assessed as:
• A high priority for one or more of the HRC's priority populations (max 3 points);
(Click here for HRC Expert Panel priority criteria to see what the priorities and expectations are for the HRC's five priority population groups: Māori, Pacific peoples, Children and Youth, Older Adults, and People with disability);
• Maori Development research aligning with Vision Matauranga (max 2 points);
(Click here for HRC Expert Panel priority criteria for Māori and the priorities for the Ministry of Research, Science & Technology's strategy, Vision Matauranga)
• Relevant to one or more of the HRC's Research Portfolio strategy priorities (max 3 points);
(Click here for the HRC's nine Research Portfolio strategies. The priorities for each portfolio are listed under the ‘Research Priorities' section of each portfolio)
• Research that addresses one or more of the priorities identified in the NZ Health Strategy (max 2 points);
(Aspects of the NZ Health Strategy that are priorities for health research)
• Research that addresses one or more of the priorities identified in the NZ Disability Strategy (max 1 point);
• Research that addresses one or more of the priorities identified in He Korowai Oranga, the Maori Health Strategy (max 1 point);
• Research contributing to the development and retention of the health research workforce (max 3 points);
(describe in your application how your research is contributing to the retention and development of the health research workforce);
• Whether the research application meets the criteria for translational research (max 1point).
(Click here for translational research criterion.)
Also discussed but not scored, is the contribution the research makes to the balance of investments within one or more of the HRC's Research Portfolios.
The criteria are developed and reviewed by the HRC's Research Policy Advisory Committee (RPAC) in consultation with researchers, stakeholders and the HRC's five Expert Panels and nine Portfolio Advisory Groups.
Applicants are advised to read the HRC's Research Portfolio strategies, Expert Panel relevance criteria and the national strategies identified above, to consider how the proposed research addresses the priorities identified, and to make relevance to the identified priorities explicit in the application.
The HRC is also interested in the development and retention of the health research workforce. Applicants are therefore encouraged to consider how the proposed research contributes to the training, development and/or retention of the health research workforce, and to provide as many details in the application of possible.
Last Updated : 22 August 2008 15:50:48.
