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HRC Māori Health Research Writing Workshops. June-July 2010 Dr Heather Gifford Dr Amohia Boulton. Programme. 10am: Welcome and introductions 10.15: Session 1 - Funding information 11 am Morning Tea 11.20: Session 2 - Grant writing 12.30 pm Lunch
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HRC Māori Health Research Writing Workshops June-July 2010 Dr Heather Gifford Dr Amohia Boulton
Programme • 10am: Welcome and introductions • 10.15: Session 1 - Funding information • 11 am Morning Tea • 11.20: Session 2 - Grant writing • 12.30 pm Lunch • 1.30pm Session 3 - Working on applications
HRC • Crown entity responsible for investment in health research • Owned by Minister of Health, funded by Minister of RS&T • Supports biomedical, clinical, health services & public health research • Mission: to improve human health through promoting and funding research
Specific Roles • Special interest in Māori & Pacific peoples’ health research & capacity building • Rangahau Hauora Investment Stream • Supports career development & monitors health research workforce • Establishes funding partnerships with private & public sector agencies
Changes to the Funding Round Structure • 9 Research Portfolios replaced with 4 Research Investment Streams (RIS) • broad priority areas for health research • the scope of these will remain stable for at least a five-year period • improved responsiveness to government and stakeholders • better communication of research needs and priorities
HRC Investment Streams • New Zealand Health Delivery • Health and Wellbeing • Improving Outcomes for Acute and Chronic Conditions • Rangahau Hauora Maori
Changes to the Funding Round Structure • Research Investment Streams and Signals • Annual Investment Signal for each stream will be released prior to the annual funding round • Investment Signals will define the priorities for HRC investment in research • Investment Signals will present high-level information for researchers on HRC’s expectations
Changes to the Funding Round Structure • Researchers will be required to: • nominate which Investment Signal they are responding to in their application; AND • clearly make a case for how their proposal addresses the Investment Signal • The fit between the proposal and the IS will be a crucial part of the assessment process
Changes to the Funding Round Structure • Indicative budgets will be included in each Investment Signal • Indicative budgets will apply only to Programme and Project applications • The budget indications will be used by the HRC Board as a means of determining future research investment
HRC Investment Streams • HRC Investment Signals (IS) for the four Research Investment Steams (RIS) are currently being developed • As part of this process the scope of each signal will be determined • Budgets will be allocated • Total of $66M to be invested through the annual contestable round
Annual Funding Round 10/11 • Several new features • Project and Programme definitions • two stage application process • new contract types with fixed maximum budgets • introduction of 4 Research Investment Streams (RIS) • use of Investment Signals (IS) to initiate the call for proposals
HRC Investment Streams • New Zealand Health Delivery • Health and Wellbeing • Improving Outcomes for Acute and Chronic Conditions • Rangahau Hauora Maori
NZ Health Delivery • Scope: • improved health service delivery over the short-medium term • improvements in productivity, performance, organisation and sustainability of the health sector • Cost-effectiveness, equity, quality and efficacy of care and support • Local, regional or national focus • evaluation research is not excluded
Health and Wellbeing • Scope: • clear link between knowledge generated and improving the health and wellbeing of individuals and populations • understanding, maintaining and enhancing health and wellbeing • prevention of disease and injury • understanding and reducing inequalities • innovation / economic benefit
Improving Outcomes for Acute and Chronic Conditions • Scope: • focus on a disease state, condition or impairment • communicable or non-communicable conditions • full spectrum of health improvement from diagnosis, development of treatments through to patient self management, rehabilitation and palliative care • understanding the pathology of a disease, through to the management of the disease or disability
Rangahau Hauora Māori • Scope: • build an evidence base which contributes to Māori health gains derived from high-quality Māori health research that upholds Rangatiratanga • support health research that values Māori worldviews and builds Māori research capacity and leadership • utilises and advances Māori knowledge, resources and people
Types of Funding Available • Research Contracts (Annual Funding Round) • Career Development Awards/Scholarships • Seeding Grants and Grants-in-Aid • Partnership initiatives: • Māori Knowledge and Development Community Health Research Grants (NgāKanohiKitea) • Partnership Programme • ICIHRP (international initiative)
Funding information • Four contract types: • Programmes • Projects • Emerging Researcher First Grant • Feasibility Study Grants • Career Development Awards • Rangahau Hauora Awards, Summer Studentships, Masters and PhD Scholarships, Postdoctoral Fellowships
Funding information • Programmes • stand alone proposals • support for the long-term development of a health • research field • normally require three or more established researchers, with a history of receiving contracts • potential for outcomes, vision, collaboration/integration • up to $5 M over five years
Funding information • Projects • available for an individual or a group if researchers • typical duration is three years (five years maximum) • project contracts will have a budget cap of $400,000 per annum, to a maximum contract price of $1.2 M
Funding information • Emerging Researcher First Grants • to support emerging researchers with a salary • must not have previously held a competitive contract for research expenses of > $50,000 • budget maximum of $150,000 over three years • Feasibility Study Grants • study to test feasibility issues • up to $150,000 per year
Career Development • Rangahau Hauora Awards • personal support for research training • no academic background required • background/involvement in Māori community activities and/or be working or training in a health-related area • a maximum of $12,000 awarded • may be used to pay for travel, koha, accommodation, living expenses and course fees • tenure for a period of up to 6 months
Career Development • Summer Studentships • personal support for research training/work undertaken during the summer break • research term of 10 weeks • short report at the conclusion of the studentship • application by letter with the support of the research supervisor • a maximum of $4,000 awarded
Career Development • Master’s Scholarships • provide one year of personal support for students completing the research component of a Master’s degree • value: $10,000 • tikanga allowance of $1,600 • tuition fees may be claimed from the HRC • the host institution will be responsible for the administration of the scholarship
Career Development • PhD Scholarships • provide three years of personal support for students undertaking a PhD • value: $25,000 pa • a one-off grant of $10,000 may be awarded to assist with working expenses • tikanga allowance of $5,000 • tuition fees may be claimed from the HRC • the host institution will be responsible for the administration of the scholarship
Career Development • Postdoctoral Fellowships • support outstanding graduates who have recently completed a PhD to conduct further research and gain experience in their chosen field • value: based on recipient’s qualifications and University salary levels • a one-off grant of $125,000 for working expenses • tikanga allowance of $5,000 • the host institution will be responsible for the administration of the scholarship
Other Funding • Seeding grants • support the planning and scoping of a potential research project • may be used for piloting an idea, or consultation with a community, prior to a grant application • up to $5,000 available • Grant-in-aid • for the dissemination for research results • up to $5,000 available
Other Funding • NgāKanohiKitea • $1.5M total, $250k per project • enhance whānau, hapū and iwi ability to develop and lead research • Request for Proposals likely to be released in November 2010 • Partnership Programme • opportunities to undertake research in a range of areas
Assessment • Assessment comprises a number of stages • External review for research excellence is the stage most people are familiar with • Science Assessing Committee (usually only 1 for Māori Health) brought together to determine referees • thorough peer review of application by up to 5 reviewers resulting in review summaries • rebuttal by researcher
Assessment • Science Assessing Committee considers each application on the basis of 4 criteria • Health significance • Scientific merit • Design and methodology • Track record • Applications determined “fundable” • Details of the process still being confirmed
Prior to 10/11 Round • Process of “internal” prioritisation review • Purpose of prioritisationwas to ensure the HRC invested in a balanced portfolio of research that was both scientifically excellent and of high priority to NZ • Once the best applications were identified by SACs, priority review undertaken
10/11 Funding Round • Priority scoring will no longer occur • Replaced by an assessment on the impact of the research • Requires researchers to consider the links between their research and the specific goals outlined in research signals • Decision pending on how this will occur at the assessment stage
Assessment • Once applications are determined to be fundable by the SACs, they are considered by the General Assessing Committee • comprises Chairs of each of the Science Assessing Committees • GAC have an overview of the range of potential investment and consider the scope of the investment HRC will make in any one given year
Key dates • 31 July: Māori Seeding Grants (also 9 Nov) • Grants-in-Aid (also 9 Nov) • 25 Aug: Closing date for CDAs • Oct: Registration for Projects • Feasibility Studies • Emerging Researcher First Grant • Project Expression of Interest Due
Key dates • Nov: Feasibility Studies • Emerging Researcher First Grant Full Application • Mar 2011Project Full Application • Programme Full Application • Jul 2011 First Contracts offered to start from this date
Translating ideas into a research question • What is the question you want answered (can you say it in a couple of sentences, does it make sense to others)? • What is the health significance (how does it relate to priorities and current policy)? • Has it been asked before? • Is it able to be answered with some degree of confidence? Is the question too big?
Methods • Do the research methodology and the specific methods answer the research question posed? • Can you explain your methods clearly? • Have you explained all parts of the research process in your application? • Does the analysis link with the methods? • What are the budgetary implications of the methods chosen?
Methods • Is there sufficient detail to convince the reviewers of your ability to carry out the research in a timely fashion, using the methods and methodology you have outlined? • what previous experience do you have? • expertise of team members? • do you need an advisory committee? • novel methods adequately explained?
Timelines • Need to be realistic • consider staffing workloads • timing of the project • what outside influences might impact on research timelines? • Outline the stages of the research • Use GANTT charts and timelines to assist in mapping the project out
Bringing together a team • Who needs to be on your team? • specific methodological or clinical expertise • advisors • end users • Are there specific locality issues you need to consider? • Workforce development considerations
Bringing together a team • Collaborations • engagement needs to occur early on • may be a lengthy process of negotiating roles, boundaries • formal (MoUs) or informal agreements • sustainability • maintenance of the relationship
Budgets • Read the guidelines carefully to ascertain what can and can’t be included in budgets • Allow sufficient time to develop a budget and review it • Keep costings realistic • Ensure you can justify your budget (more detail makes it easier to agree to funding requested) • Factor in overheads
Dissemination • How will you keep end-users, funders, advisors engaged and informed? • Consider using the full range of dissemination methods • Consider dissemination methods early • Staged approaches are useful both for you as the researcher and the research audience
Knowledge translation • Highly regarded by funders • The earlier in the process you can consider knowledge translation opportunities the better • Consider how your research can improve services, practice at a local level, national level and implications internationally
Writing a fundable application • Write to the HRC guidelines • Keep the language clear, precise and jargon free • Presentation is important, use headings to ensure a logical argument • Allow sufficient time for writing, review, peer review, rewriting • When building up a profile start small and be realistic
Some final tips • Don’t be overambitious • Innovation (whether it be methodological or simply a novel idea) is highly regarded • Outcomes/impact also sought after • Read the relevant material to assist in your writing • Don’t be scared to ask others for help • Follow the HRC Guidelines!!!!
Key dates • 31 July: Māori Seeding Grants (also 9 Nov) • Grants-in-Aid (also 9 Nov) • 25 Aug: Closing date for CDAs • Oct: Registration for Projects • Feasibility Studies • Emerging Researcher First Grant • Project Expression of Interest Due
Key dates • Nov: Feasibility Studies • Emerging Researcher First Grant Full Application • Mar 2011Project Full Application • Programme Full Application • Jul 2011 First Contracts offered to start from this date