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Family Medical Care, Education and Research Grants

Information for Applicants

Deadline for submission of applications has been extended to Friday 3 June 2011, 5.00 pm AEST

Introduction

The Family Medical Care Education and Research (FMCER) grants have been offered by the RACGP since 1980. The aim of the grant is to encourage and support general practitioners in the early stages of their research career to conduct research into an aspect of primary health care. The objective of the grant is to advance education in, and research into, medical knowledge and science.

Award Details

The Family Medical Care Education and Research (FMCER) grants are available for a 12 month period to provide new and emerging GP researchers with an opportunity to conduct research. Funding of up to $10,000 is available for research that benefits primary health care. Funding will not be provided for researcher salary.

The FMCER grants are awarded by the RACGP National Research Awards Committee (NRAC).

Eligibility

To be eligible for the FMCER grants, the chief investigator must be a GP or GP registrar who is a member of the RACGP and must have a project that relates directly to general practice. New and emerging researchers are particularly encouraged to apply.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be judged on

• training potential for applicants
• significance or importance of the proposed research to general practice
• scientific basis of the proposed research project
• quality and originality of the proposed research project
• feasibility of carrying out and completing the research in a one-year time frame
• value for money

In reviewing grant applications, the National Research Awards Committee will place a higher weighting on training potential versus other criteria.

Completed original application forms should be mailed to the RACGP Foundation Manager and e-mailed to research@racgp.org.au.

Conditions

1. Unless otherwise indicated, the grant must be used in the year for which it is awarded.
2. The grant will be paid only to incorporated bodies that have an ABN and ACN and not to individuals.
3. By applying for the grant each applicant will be taken to have consented to permit the RACGP to publicise their name, institution, and title of their research project.
4. Personal information provided to the RACGP by grant applicants will be used for the purposes of administering the grant. The RACGP Privacy Statement explains how the RACGP usually collects and uses personal information provided to the RACGP and how it can be accessed.
5. If required, successful applicants must obtain an ethical clearance from an ethics committee constituted under NHMRC guidelines.
6. Any unused funds are to be returned with the final report or 15 months from the date of project commencement, whichever occurs first.
7. Unless the purpose and conditions of the grant can be fulfilled, the grant must be forfeited and all payments refunded within 1 month of notification of forfeit.
8. A grant may be revoked at any time upon three months’ notice given by the RACGP.

Selection Process

9. The RACGP National Research Awards Committee (NRAC) is responsible for the independent, objective evaluation and review of grant applications. All decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
10. NRAC has the right to send the application to two external independent referees to review.
11. Applicants eliminated after independent referee review will be advised by letter.
12. Successful grant applicants may receive an outline of de-identified referees’ comments, which may require a satisfactory written response before the final award can be made.
13. Successful grant applicants are expected to receive their award at an event hosted by the RACGP state faculty where the award winner resides.

Reporting Requirements

14. Successful applicants must provide a 1-2 paragraph biography, a 1-2 paragraph layman’s summary of the project and an electronic photograph for use on the RACGP website or in relevant RACGP publications.
15. Proof of ethics approval must be provided no later than 12 months from the date on which the grant recipient is notified of the outcome of their application. If proof of ethics approval is not received within this timeframe, the offer of funding may be withdrawn.
16. A progress report must be provided 6 months from the date of ethics approval or from the date on which the recipient is notified of the outcome of their application, whichever is later.
17. Notification of project completion is due 12 months from the date of ethics approval or from the date on which the recipient is notified of the outcome of their application, whichever is later.
18. A final report and statement of expenditure is due 3 months from the date of project completion (ie 15 months from the date of ethics approval or from the date on which the recipient is notified of the outcome of their application, whichever is later).
19. Successful grant applicants will be expected to present their research findings or progress to date at a scientific meeting, preferably the RACGP Annual Scientific Conference, any time within 2 years of the commencement of the project.
20. All RACGP research funding is given with the expectation that a paper will be submitted for publication in an appropriate peer-reviewed medical journal. A copy of all published papers must be forwarded to the RACGP at grantholders@racgp.org.au.
21. The RACGP Foundation and the Family Medical Care, Education and Research Grant must be acknowledged in all publications arising from the research funded by the grant.
22. If the project is delayed in any way or if any of the deadlines are unable to be met, the researcher must request an extension of this timeline. A Request for Extension form can be obtained by emailing grantholders@racgp.org.au. If any of the reporting requirements are not met without an extension being granted, funding may be withdrawn.

Payment of Awards

23. Grants will not exceed $10,000.
24. Grants will be paid according to the following schedule:
• 20% of total budget upon receipt of a tax invoice and publicity materials (see 14 above);
• 60% of total budget upon receipt of a tax invoice and proof of ethics approval (see 15 above);
• 20% of total budget upon receipt of a tax invoice and a final report and statement of expenditure (see 18 above).

Any variation to this payment schedule must be agreed upon by both parties.

Last Modified: 6 May 2011
Authorised By: RACGP Foundation