The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is committed to supporting new and emerging general practitioner (GP) researchers to complete projects and conduct research into primary healthcare and general practice. The College is pleased to announce the opening of the 2012 RACGP research grants and awards round.
This year, a total of 26 research grants and awards are offered by The RACGP Foundation to GPs and general practice registrars who are members of the RACGP. The available grants exceed $500,000 as the RACGP invests in its vision: ‘Healthy Profession, Healthy Australia’.
The RACGP Foundation Patron, Professor Peter Mudge, said the range of research being undertaken by Australia’s GPs is both relevant and impressive.
“There are over 125 million general practice consultations taking place in Australia annually and around 83 percent of the Australian population consults a GP at least once a year. Much of the evidence we require as GPs can only be obtained from general practice research that involves GPs and patients.
“The RACGP strongly believes in the value of research in general practice and the College’s research grants and awards acknowledge the vital contribution GPs make to furthering medical advancements within the community. GPs are building the research evidence that is necessary to deliver the highest quality health outcomes to all Australians,” Professor Mudge said.
The following research grants and awards are available in 2012:
- 1 x RACGP/Heart Foundation Grants-in-Aid ($130,000 over 2 years) – to support GPs to conduct research in the area of cardiovascular health. Applications need to be made via the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) website at www.nhmrc.gov.au/grants/apply-funding. Applications close on 14 March, 5pm AEST
- 1 x RACGP/Independent Practitioner Network Pty Ltd (IPN) Grant ($20,000) – to encourage innovation in the area of chronic disease management in the general practice setting
- 1 x RACGP/PC4 – Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group ($10,000) – to build capacity in cancer research in primary care and to mentor early and mid-career researchers in general practice
- 1 x RACGP/Osteoporosis Australia Bone Health Research Grant ($30,000) – to improve bone health for all people in Australia through the provision of research funding to general practitioner researchers, the creation of educational tools to influence and assist primary care providers of osteoporosis care and the promotion of bone health amongst the Australian community
- 3 x RACGP Research Grants for a Pilot Study ($20,000) – to fund methodologically rigorous pilot work that is designed to contribute to the future application for funding for a large scale study
- 3 x Family Medical Care Education and Research Grants (FMCER) (up to $15,000 each) – to encourage and support general practitioners in the early stages of their research career to conduct research into an aspect of primary healthcare
- 1 x Integrative Medicine and Lifestyle Research Grant (up to $7,500) – to assist in the integration of safe and ethical forms of natural and complementary medicines or therapies into general practice
- 1 x RACGP Chris Silagy Research Scholarship (up to $20,000) – focusing on an aspect of evidence-based primary healthcare
- Up to 2 RACGP/Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine (CONROD) Research Fellowships (up to $30,000 each) – to support research into general practice patient populations who have experienced motor vehicle related trauma and encompass all types of motor-vehicle related trauma
- 1 x Rex Walpole Travelling Fellowship (up to $2,500) – to support a plan of travel for a general practitioner
- 2 x RACGP/Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute (APHCRI) Indigenous Health Awards (up to $4,500 each) – to provide support for Indigenous medical students, medical students wanting to gain experience in Indigenous health, Indigenous medical graduates undertaking GP training, registrars and GPs undertaking research and educational projects in Indigenous health and other activities supporting the provision of high quality healthcare to Indigenous people
- 1 x PWH Grieve Memorial Award (up to $2,500) – to support a plan of study in medical education for the general practitioner or for research in general practice
Applications for the above grants and awards (except for the Heart Foundation Grants-in-Aid) are now open and close on 30 April, 5pm AEST.
- Up to 2 RACGP/Therapeutic Guidelines Ltd Research Grants (total $100,000, up to two grants) – focusing on use and/or implementation of guidelines in general practice. Expressions of interest close on 30 March; Applications close on 31 May, 5pm AEST
- 1 x Charles Bridges-Webb Memorial Award ($5,000) – for general practice registrars who have, will, or are undertaking an academic term in a university department of discipline of general practice or rural health.
Applications close on 28 September, 5pm AEST
- 1 x Iris and Edward Gawthorn Award ($500) – to the general practice registrar who receives the highest score on the circulatory and respiratory components on the Fellowship Exam over the 2012 calendar year. No application required
A number of awards will be judged and presented at GP12 – the Conference for General Practice – to outstanding presenters of research papers or posters. The following four awards will be presented at the GP12 closing ceremony on 27 October:
- 1 x Peter Mudge Medal (an engraved medal and $500) – to a presenter who has advanced the discipline of general practice and whose original research has the most potential to significantly influence daily general practice
- 1 x Alan Chancellor Award (an engraved medal and $500) – to the best first time presenter of a research paper
- 1 x RACGP and National Asthma Council (NAC) Asthma Research Award ($500) – to the best presenter of an asthma related abstract or poster
- 1 x Best General Practice Research Article in the AFP Journal Award (engraved medal) – selected from the papers published in the research section of AFP during 2012
In order to be considered for the GP12 awards (except AFP Journal Award) for research papers or posters, presenters must apply by Monday 3 September, 5pm AEST.
A comprehensive listing of all research grants and awards and access to the online application process can be located at http://foundation.racgp.org.au/. For more information, please email The RACGP Foundation on research@racgp.org.au or phone 03 8699 0497.