Research Project Grants - Guide to applicants for Victorian & multi-state cancer research grants-in-aid

Applications to the Cancer Councils comprise of:

the NHMRC application form (Informed Filler document), which is to be submitted to the NHMRC in accordance with their guidelines, and
the Supplementary Questions document, which is to be submitted by your institution's RAO as a PDF file to the Cancer Council Australia's National Cancer Research Grants Secretariat (CancerCouncilGrants@cancervic.org.au).

Note: The Cancer Council and Cancer Australia processes are separate. Cancer Australia applicants are advised to visit http://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/grants-and-funding/overview.aspx

Applications Open: 8 December 2009

NEW Closing Date: 5.00 pm, Monday 22 March 2010. This is in line with NHMRC's closing date.

The closing date is the same for both Research Project Grants and Multi-State Research Project Grants.

All cancer research grant applications will be assessed and ranked via the NHMRC Project Grant process. Applications will be allocated to Grant Review Panels (GRPs) based on the Field of Research selected by applicants.

Please note: Whilst all cancer research grant applications will be assessed via the NHMRC process, the Cancer Councils will continue to make the funding decisions, as is current practice.

Background Information

The National Cancer Research Grants Secretariat will continue to be hosted by Cancer Council Victoria on behalf of Cancer Council Australia. The Secretariat is the link between the NHMRC and the Cancer Councils.

How to Apply

Visit the NHMRC website for information about applying and for downloading the latest version of the NHMRC application form.

A number of options will be available on the NHMRC application form for choosing which funding body (or bodies) your application is to be submitted to.

In addition to the NHMRC application you will need to complete a set of Supplementary Questions, which is to be emailed to the National Cancer Research Grants Secretariat (CancerCouncilGrants@cancervic.org.au).

Supplementary Questions

The Supplementary Questions document identifies which Cancer Council(s) you are submitting your application to for funding consideration and seeks information specific to Cancer Council applications.

The Supplementary Questions will not be available to the NHMRC Grant Review Panels (GRPs) but will be for the exclusive use of the Cancer Councils to assist them in their funding decisions. Applicants are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with the Eligibility Criteria and Guidelines of the Cancer Council they are applying to. See below for contact information and web sites.

Some Cancer Councils have priority research areas or state specific criteria, which will be identified on their websites. Please address these in the Supplementary Questions document.

Please note: Cancer Council NSW also requires applicants, whether Cancer Council NSW only or multi-state applications with NSW participation, to complete a Consumer Review Form that is located on their website. Please follow the Cancer Council NSW directions for return of this form (submit direct to Cancer Council NSW).

Eligibility Criteria and Guidelines for Applicants

Applicants ineligible to apply for NHMRC Project Grant funding are still entitled to apply via the NHMRC process for Cancer Council funding.

Applicants need to adhere to the Cancer Council eligibility criteria as well as that of the NHMRC, if they are applying for funding from both organisations. These are available on their respective web sites.

There are variations in both the amount and duration of funding offered by the Cancer Councils. See below for a snapshot of what is offered.

Cancer Council	No of Years	Amount (maximum per year)
Cancer Council ACT	1 year	Up to $50,000
Cancer Council NSW	1 - 3 yrs	$120,000
Cancer Council Queensland	1 - 2 yrs	$100,000
Cancer Council South Australia	1 - 2 yrs	Single salary + $25,000 maintenance
Cancer Council Tasmania	1 - 2 yrs	Dependent upon available research funds
Cancer Council Victoria	1 - 3 yrs	$100,000
Cancer Council Western Australia Inc	1 - 2 yrs	$90,000

Multi-State Research Grants

Multi-state grant applications will also be submitted via the NHMRC Project Grant application form.

Multi-state research grants are ONLY available for clinical trials or epidemiological studies that:

a) involve patient or participant recruitment from at least 2 states
b) require funding from at least two states to be viable, and
c) have a Chief Investigator named for each participating state.

There are no funds specifically earmarked for multi-state projects. Multi-state projects will compete for funding against state-based projects in each state.

The overall Chief Investigator for the project should submit the application in accordance with the guidelines of their local Cancer Council. National project tasks should be clearly identified as well as the responsibilities of each participating state in which the research is carried out.

Note: Applicants need to clearly explain in the Supplementary Questions the budget for Cancer Council applications, what funds are being requested from individual Cancer Councils and how the funds will be utilised within each state. Cancer Councils will be reluctant to provide funds for work to be carried out in States other than their own.

Grant administration: All multi-state grants will be administered locally i.e. each Cancer Council will enter into a funding agreement with the chief investigator for their state and the funds will be paid to that investigator's administering institution. The reporting requirements and conditions in each participating state will need to be complied with and the overall chief investigator is responsible for providing a national progress report for all participating states.

Key Dates for Cancer Council Project Grants Review Process 2010

8 Dec 2009	NHMRC Project Grant process opens Cancer Councils advertise that application process now open
17 Mar 2010	Closing date for applications to the NHMRC and submission of Supplementary Questions to the National Cancer Research Grants Secretariat. Some institutions may have an earlier closing date for submission to their Research Office.
April/May 2010	NHMRC will forward copies of Applications to National Cancer Research Grants Secretariat for distribution to Cancer Councils
May/June 2010	Assessment of applications by one Grant Review Panel member and two external assessors
June/July 2010	Applicants will be given one week to respond to the Grant Review Panel questions and the external peer assessments
Aug/Sep 2010	Grant Review Panels meet to rank applications
Sept 2010	NHMRC will provide the National Cancer Research Grants Secretariat with ranking information for distribution to Cancer Councils
Oct 2010	Applicants advised of NHMRC funding outcomes
Oct/Nov 2010	Cancer Councils Research Committee meetings
Nov/Dec 2010	Cancer Councils advise applicants of funding outcomes

Contacts for further information

Further information is available from either the Cancer Council/NHMRC Liaison Officer (National Cancer Research Grants Secretariat) or from your local funding body:

Information regarding submission of applications to the NHMRC can also be obtained from the GrantNet Help Desk: