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2009 HRC Roadshows - Frequently Asked Questions

This year the HRC Roadshow visited institutions in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.  The total number of 450 participants showed a high level of interest in the funding round for contracts beginning from 1 July 2010.

The Secretariat team presented detailed information about the funding opportunities offered in the annual contestable funding round, including the new ‘Research for New Zealand Health Delivery' Investment Signal.  The presentation outlined the new processes, forms and guidelines and information relating to the new Investment Signal, ‘Research for New Zealand Health Delivery'.  The new Investment Signal was described by Dr Robin Olds as “signalling the way of the future.”  He noted at the presentations that from next year onwards, all investments will be done through similar investment streams.

The presentations were followed by a question and answer session, during which a wide range of issues were raised.  The greatest areas of discussion were related to how research applications were assessed, the type of research funded by the HRC and the new Investment Signal.  The introduction of a two-stage process was widely accepted although evaluation of the outcome would be needed to judge success.

1)  Do I need to put a budget in the Expression of Interest?  Will the capped budget affect the kind of application I should submit?  Clinical trials will cost more than the Project budget, does this mean HRC will no longer fund them?

The Expression of Interest does not require you to provide a budget, nor does it require you to get signatures, but the submission must still come through your Research Office (see below). Applicants can plan proposals up to the capped budget for each contract type. Small budgets may be viewed more favourably although value for money is not scored. The HRC understands that clinical trials may not fit either the Project or Programme criteria and is considering how to support them, for example, by allowing a Programme bid.

2)  How will Expressions of Interest be assessed?  Are the criteria different for full applications?

The Expression of Interest template has sub-headings that applicants must use.  The Assessing Committee will use the responses to judge the application and to arrive at an overall score.  The full applications are scored using the criteria that have been well-established over many years, i.e. Health Significance, Science Merit, Design and Methods, and Track Record of the research team. Substantial changes between the two stages are not permitted, for example, substitution of senior investigators or changes in research plans where these influenced Expression of Interest scoring.

3)  How much feedback will I get on my research application?

Due to the expected volume of Expression of Interest applications, the HRC will not be able to provide any feedback, other than the outcome of the Assessing Committees deliberations.  Due to the smaller number of full applications that committees will be reviewing, the HRC expects to be able to provide fuller feedback than previously.  Applicants will be able to follow the progress of their applications through the review process online and so can expect early notification of outcomes.

4)  Do I have to have funded projects before I can be awarded a Programme grant?

For this funding round, the Programme application has a new format and is stand alone bid. You do not have to have three funded projects to be eligible for a Programme bid, as previously.  However, there is still the expectation that applicants for Programmes will have significant track records of peer reviewed research contracts and health research outputs.

5)  Do HRC's research portfolios and prioritisation scoring process still apply?

Yes and no.  No, if you are making a Project application in response to the Investment Signal for Research for New Zealand Health Delivery.  In the application form you will address the fit of your proposal with the Investment Signal and the potential impact, and this will be reviewed by the assessing committee.  These proposals will not need to undergo the HRC's prioritisation process.  However, all other Project and Programme proposals will need to identify with one or more of HRC's research portfolios and specifically address how the proposal meets HRC's stated priorities, but only at the full application stage and not in the Expression of Interest.

6)  Is the Expression of Interest stage only online and what will the Research Office require?

Applicants must work with their Research Office to ensure that due dates are met and required copies arrive at the HRC on time.  The Expression of Interest must be submitted online using your EASY account (portal opens on 1 October 2009).  The online submission is sent to the HRC after approval by the Research Office; applicants cannot do this using their own account.  Although no signatures are needed, the Research Office will still need to send 12 copies of the Expression of Interest to the HRC by the due date (16 October 2009).  Each Expression of Interest must be first registered on EASY by 6 October 2009 so that an HRC Reference ID can be provided.

7) Can I bid into both the targeted and general funding streams, or apply for a Programme and a Project, with the same research proposal?

There are no rules on how applicants wish to divide or strategically ‘increase' their chances of success at the Expression of Interest stage. However, this is discouraged and could lead to new rules in subsequent years.  'Double dipping' will not be permitted at the contracting stage.  Furthermore, substantial changes from the Expression of Interest application to the Full Application in research plans or research team could disqualify applications. 

 

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