Research Branch Bulletin

In anticipation of the ARC’s Funding Rules for Australian Laureate Fellowships for funding commencing in 2011, potential applicants are required to complete an Expression of Interest to the University countersigned by the appropriate Head of School and Faculty Executive Dean and returned to Research Branch by 30th July 2010.

Further information on completing an Expression of Interest can be found in the internal information sheet at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/rb/arc/.

The Expression of Interest will be used to shortlist applicants to be invited to prepare a full proposal.

Third Heart Foundation Conference to be held in Melbourne, from 17 – 19 March 2011.

The Heart Foundation is the leading organisation in the fight against cardiovascular disease in Australia. The Conference, to be held at the world class Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, will host leading international and Australian presenters to showcase key clinical, research, and public health perspectives on cardiovascular disease.

The program will span primary prevention through to reduction of risk factors, and treatment and ongoing management of cardiovascular disease. Already, six outstanding international speakers and ten leading Australian speakers are confirmed for the program.

The public health stream of the program will cover areas such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heart health, tobacco control and smoking cessation, overweight and obesity, physical activity and sedentary behaviour, and healthy eating.

The research and clinical practice stream will cover topics including acute coronary syndromes, chronic heart failure, management of clinical risk factors such as lipids and hypertension, arrhythmias, thrombosis, and more. In addition, there will be a focus on quality use of medicines, and on state of the art devices and imaging.

Call for abstracts is now open via the conference website. The deadline for submission is Friday, 17 September 2010.

The Ethics Centre of South Australia, in collaboration with the University of Adelaide, University of South Australia and Flinders University, invites all HDR students who have commenced their program of study in the last 12 months to attend the following workshop: ‘Ethics and Integrity in Research with Humans’

This interactive workshop aims to give participants:

• an understanding of the ethical issues that may arise in research involving human participants (across the full spectrum from biological samples to whole populations) applied during discipline specific workshops
• tools to analyse and address these issues
• an understanding of what constitutes good practice in research
• assistance in the preparation of Human Research Ethics Committee applications

This workshop will run on Monday 21st of June (9am – 4pm) and Tuesday 22nd of June 2010 (9am – 1pm) at North Tce Campus, University of Adelaide. A map will be forwarded to all registrants. Refreshments will be provided.

Current HDR students who have research projects which require Human Ethics Approval are strongly encouraged to attend this workshop. To register, please complete the attached form and forward to Amy Baker amy.baker@unisa.edu.au by Monday 14th of June 2010.

NHMRC's Research Grants Management System (RGMS) is now open for the following grant scheme:

• Development Grants

For funding policies and application guidelines visit www.nhmrc.gov.au.
Further information on this system is now available on our website:  http://www.adelaide.edu.au/rb/nhmrc/RGMS.html.

The 2010 round of the Criminology Research Council research grants are now open.

Grants are considered if they are public policy-relevant, have practical application, contribute to the understanding, prevention or correction of criminal behaviour and will make a substantial and original contribution to criminological knowledge. Grants are considered for if they are related to criminological research (including the dissemination of information and advice and the publication of reports, periodicals, books and papers in connection with criminological research and the results of criminological research) as are determined by the Council.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.criminologyresearchcouncil.gov.au/applications/

Kidney Health Australia’s mission is "To advance the public health agenda through awareness, detection, prevention and management of kidney disease" and their vision is “to save lives and reduce the need for dialysis”. The focus of all future Kidney Health Australia funded research projects will be “to reduce the burden of Chronic Kidney Disease through expanding the range of evidence-based knowledge”.

Areas considered to be a special focus for research support include:

• Improving and assisting community awareness and prevention strategies
• Increasing detection rates of early Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
• Documenting CKD demographics, trends and costs
• Implementing best care approaches to detected CKD cases
• Facilitating a smooth transition into dialysis and transplantation
• Improving outcomes and quality of life on dialysis
• Reducing the financial and social impact of CKD on patients and families

Applicants will be encouraged to specially focus on the harder-to-reach population groups in the community including:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
• People from culturally and linguistically diverse populations;
• People experiencing socio-economic disadvantage.

Four project grants of up to $50,000 each will be offered for commencement in 2011. The conditions for these Project Grants include:

• Projects must fit above criteria and priority will be given to those projects capable of completion within a 2 year timeframe (although KHA will not provide 2 years of funding).
• Project “deliverables” to be identified and reported upon prior to final payment of the grant.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.kidney.org.au/HealthProfessionals/MedicalResearchFundingProgram/tabid/633/Default.aspx

The National Breast Cancer Foundation of Australia (NBCF) announced a new funding opportunity for breast cancer research in Australia beginning in 2007. NBCF believes we need to be responsive to breast cancer research progress and opportunities nationally and internationally and maximise our use of limited resources.

The National Collaborative Breast Cancer Research Grant Program is designed to foster wide collaboration between groups of investigators and pooling of knowledge, expertise and resources to enable larger scale or accelerated research programs into the prevention, causes, treatment or management of breast cancer.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.nbcf.org.au/subcategory.asp?category_id=3&subcategory_id=21

The Commonwealth Fisheries Research Advisory Body (ComFRAB) assesses applications for funding of research for Commonwealth fisheries. In the 2010 research funding round ComFRAB is making a call for research, focusing on areas of research that have potential application across a number of AFMA fisheries. Also included for the first time this year is the call for research identified by AFMA's Management Advisory Committees (MACs) that address fishery-specific research issues.

Applicants for either process should use the project scopes listed in ComFRAB and Fishery Specific Research Opportunities 2010 as a guide when developing their pre-proposals to meet the identified need for the project. Applicants for either process should use the project scopes listed in ComFRAB and Fishery Specific Research Opportunities 2010 as a guide when developing their pre-proposals to meet the identified need for the project.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.afma.gov.au/research/calls/default

The Norman Wettanhall Foundation’s objective is to support projects that enhance or maintain the vitality and diversity of the Australian natural living environment. It should be noted that guidelines have recently changed and projects must have strong links with a community group working to improve the natural environment to be considered.

Support is given to projects that enhance or maintain the vitality and diversity of the Australian natural living environment. The objectives of the grants are to build capacity in local communities to effect long-term beneficial change in the natural environment and to support and encourage research, monitoring and knowledge sharing relating to all aspects of Australia's natural environment.

Note: Internal closing date is 23rd June for full application but pre approval must be sought from the Foundation prior to this. Please visit the following website for further information.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.nwf.org.au/grants/index.html

Multidisciplinary

The Department of Defence is seeking industry proposals for participation in the Capability and Technology Demonstrator ( CTD ) Program. The CTD Program assists in the improvement of priority Defence capabilities by providing Australian Industry with an opportunity to demonstrate their technology, thereby allowing Defence to assess its potential and associated risks. Proposals need to address a Defence capability priority and are required to demonstrate their potential within three years. 

Applicants are encouraged to discuss their CTD proposals with the Capability Development Group of Defence, and with the relevant research division of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO). The CTD Program Office can assist prospective applicants with relevant Defence contacts and with completing their proposals. Project funding is expected to commence in July 2011, although some companies may be funded for detailed proposal development or specific activities at an earlier date (conditions apply).

Full list of r&d areas can be found at: http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/attachments/Round%2015_Advertisement.pdf. The University of Adelaide has been successful on this Program on a number of occasions, with Projects attracting funds of the order of $1M-$2M over 1-3 years, with or without an industry partner.

Initial submissions must be in by the 19 July 2010 (a 5 to 10 page submission). Please contact Paul Arthur (8303 8310) for more information.

For further information, please visit:
http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/ctd/

Health Sciences

The Fiscal Year 2010 (FY10) Defense Appropriation Act provides for $15 million (M) to the Department of Defense (DOD) Peer Reviewed Cancer
Research Program (PRCRP) to research cancers not addressed in the breast, prostate, and ovarian cancer research programs currently executed by the DOD U. S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC). 

The funds provided are directed to be used to conduct research in the following topic areas:

• Melanoma and other skin cancers
• Pediatric brain tumors within the field of childhood cancer
• Genetic cancer research and genomic medicine
• Blood cancers
• Colorectal cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Listeria vaccine for cancer
• Radiation protection utilizing nanotechnology

1. Idea Awards: Idea Awards support the exploration of ideas that are still in the early stages of development yet have the potential to yield high-impact results and open new avenues of investigation in the relevant topic areas. Proposals must not address breast, prostate, lung, or ovarian cancer research.  Preliminary data is not required. Clinical Trials will not be supported. The maximum period of performance is 3 years. The maximum allowable direct cost amount for the entire period of performance is $375,000. In addition to direct costs, indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution's negotiated rate agreement.  Collaborative Option: Up to three investigators may collaborate on a single application, each of whom will be recognized as
a principal investigator (PI) and receive a separate award.  For multiple PIs, the combined total funding for all PIs from the entire period of performance may not exceed $750,000 in direct costs.

2. Translational New Investigator Awards: support the  development of translational research collaborations between an independent new investigator and a mentor to address at least one of the FY10 PRCRP Topic Areas in a manner relevant to military beneficiaries. Either the new investigator or the mentor must be a clinician.  Proposal must not address breast, prostate, lung, or ovarian cancer research. Preliminary data are not required. Clinical trials will not be supported. The maximum period of performance is 3 years. The maximum allowable direct cost amount for the entire period of performance is $300,000. In addition to direct costs, indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution's negotiated rate agreement.

A synopsis table is available Synopsis Table on website: http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/pdf/10prcrpreftable.pdf.

For more information and application guidelines, please visit:
http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/prcrp.htm

Health Sciences

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) issued by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), invites research applications in support of preclinical development of lead candidate therapeutics against Nesseria gonorrhoeae, Hepatitis B Virus and Clostridium difficile. The NIAID intends to commit US$6 million in total costs in FY2011 to fund 6-10 applications in response to this FOA.

Individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research are invited to work with their institution/ organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support.

For more information and application guidelines, please visit:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-10-010.html#SectionIV

H&SS

The IELTS Joint Research Committee is interested in supporting external researchers to conduct quality research under the three headings below. This year we would particularly encourage applications to undertake research studies which fit within these broad areas:

• Test development and validation issues
• Issues relating to contexts of test
• Issues of test impact

Proposals are welcomed from researchers and institutions with expertise in language learning and assessment research. In addition, as part of the IELTS policy of stimulating test-related research among its stakeholders, it is hoped that proposals will come from researchers and organisations who have a direct and ongoing connection with IELTS e.g. consultants, examiners and IELTS Administration Centres.

The maximum amount of funding which will be made available for any one proposal is £15,000/AUS$36,000 (including institutional overheads/taxes). This upper limit may be reviewed in exceptional circumstances. The research study will need to be completed and a full report submitted by the end of December 2011. Please note that applications for extensive travel or large items of equipment are not encouraged.

For more information and application guidelines, please visit:
http://www.ielts.org/researchers/grants_and_awards/guidelines_for_applying.aspx

Multidisciplinary

This scheme is a joint initiative of the Go8 Universities and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). It supports exchanges for Go8 researchers to spend time at partner institutions in Germany and for collaborating German researchers to spend time at Go8 universities. The scheme aims to foster research collaboration of the highest quality between Australian researchers from Go8 universities and German researchers and to result in research outcomes and the exchange of skills and knowledge of mutual benefit to Australia and Germany.

Australian applicants must use the Australian application pack and send the application to their designated contact officer in the research office at his/her university. The German collaborating partner must submit a corresponding application, with the same project title, to the DAAD in Bonn by the closing date of 30 June 2010.

Applications (one signed hard copy, one electronic copy and a University of Adelaide application coversheet signed by the researcher and Head of School) should be forwarded to Dr Don McMaster in Research Branch by the internal closing date of 30 June 2010. For any queries, please contact Don (don.mcmaster@adelaide.edu.au) or Kerrie Thornton at Go8 Office ph. 0262395488 or kerrie.thornton@go8.edu.au.

For more information and application guidelines, please visit:
http://www.go8.edu.au/university-staff/international-collaboration/
81-go8-germany-joint-research-co-operation-scheme

The NBCF is pleased to announce the NBCF Postdoctoral Training Fellowship Awards for researchers. The aim of this award is to attract, train and retain our most talented breast cancer researchers of the future.

The Postdoctoral Training Fellowship will support the salary and research of outstanding new investigators with a vision to expand the scale and scope of breast cancer research in Australia. The specific aims of the schemes are to:

• Develop the most outstanding and creative breast cancer researchers across the range of disciplines in biomedical, clinical, health services and public health research
• Foster mentoring and collaboration of talented postdoctoral researchers and facilitate integration of these new investigators into successful research teams.
• Enhance the quality and foster expansion of the scale and scope of breast cancer research in Australia
• Undertake research that is a major importance and with potential to impact of breast cancer outcomes

NBCF Postdoctoral Training Fellows are expected to be promising rising stars in their fields. The maximum funding available for each Postdoctoral Training Fellowship is up to $90,000 per annum over four years inclusive of salary, oncosts and some research-related expense

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.nbcf.org.au/page.asp?category_id=3&subcategory_id=5&page_id=70

The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is pleased to announce the NBCF Early Career Fellowship Awards for researchers. The aim of this award is to support the development of early career researchers with outstanding potential for a career in breast cancer research.

Researchers with a doctorate degree and/or a professional qualification from an accredited institution who have between three and eight years of research or professional experience are encouraged to apply. The accepted professional qualifications include, but are not limited to, nursing; psychology; public health; medicine; physiotherapy; veterinary science; social work; pharmacy, engineering and occupational therapy. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate substantial ability and potential as a future breast cancer research leader.

The Early Career Fellowship will support the salary and research of outstanding new investigators with a vision to expand the scale and scope of breast cancer research in Australia.

The specific aims of the scheme are to:

• Develop the most outstanding and creative breast cancer researchers across the range of disciplines in biomedical, clinical, health services and public health research
• Foster mentoring and collaboration of talented early career researchers, and facilitate integration of these new investigators into successful research teams
• Enhance the quality and foster expansion of the scale and scope of breast cancer research in Australia
• Undertake research that is of major importance and with potential to impact on breast cancer outcomes.

NBCF Early Career Fellows are expected to be outstanding scholars in their fields. The maximum funding available for each Early Career Fellowship is up to $150,000 per annum over four years. The funding provided will cover:

• The salary of the Fellow (up to $100,000 per annum)
• Up to $50,000 per annum towards the research project.

NBCF Early Career Fellowships provide support for four years. There may be scope to renew depending on demonstration of productivity and availability of funds.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.nbcf.org.au/page.asp?category_id=3&subcategory_id=38&page_id=340

The Pfizer Australia Research Fellowship Program aims to encourage leaders in biomedical research to establish a career in Australia; fostering the continued development of Australia as a source of world-class scientific innovation and ideas.

The Pfizer Australia Research Fellowships are awarded to scientists with significant potential to attain leadership in their chosen field of research.  These fellowships allow successful applicants to continue their research at an Australian university or research institution.

Since 2003, Pfizer Australia has committed more than AUS$15m to the fellowship program.  Each fellow is provided AUS$1m in funding over a five year period to support salary, travel and other establishment costs.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.pfizer.com.au/ResearchFellowships/Default.aspx

The Neville and Jeanne York PhD Scholarship is offered to a PhD applicant – anywhere in Australia- investigating Motor Neuron Disease. The applicant must be beginning their first year of the Scholarship.

This opportunity is offered under our Research Companion Program which is a three-way financial commitment between a co-funding Rotary Club or District, Australian Rotary Health and the administering university of research institute. They are currently funding over 50 students Australia-wide with research funding totalling over $1,000,000 in medical and mental health research.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au/Information-About/Research/Current-Opportunities.aspx

This opportunity is offered under our Funding Partner Program which is a three-way financial commitment between a co-funding Rotary Club or District, Australian Rotary Health and the administering university of research institute. We are currently funding over 50 students Australia-wide with research funding totalling over $1,000,000 in medical and mental health research.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au/Information-About/Research/Current-Opportunities.aspx

The ALA Fellowships program is part of a regional program that aims to develop leadership and build partnerships and linkages with developing countries.

ALA Fellowships is a highly flexible program that offers Australian organisations opportunities to provide short term study, research and professional development activities in Australia to mid-career professionals and senior officials from eligible countries. ALA Fellowships complement the longer term ALA Scholarships providing opportunities to current and aspiring leaders who cannot leave their positions for extended periods.

ALA Fellowships are available across a broad range of fields relevant to Australia's foreign policy agenda or development outcomes. Applications addressing the priority areas of disability and development, economic growth, education, environment, food security, gender, governance, health, human rights, infrastructure, regional stability, rural development and water and sanitation are particularly encouraged. Applications are restricted to Australian organisations demonstrating on-going linkages with counterpart overseas organisations in eligible countries.

Australian organisations from a wide range of academic, research, business, industry, media, NGOs, professional groups and government may apply to host ALA fellows. To qualify, organisations will be required to demonstrate region-specific linkages and the relevance of the proposed programs to the priority areas.

Partner country counterpart organisations and individual fellows are not eligible to apply for support, however they may initiate contact with an Australian organisation to explore their interest in applying. Prospective Fellows identified by Australian organisations must be professionals already in leadership positions or have a potential to assume leadership roles that can influence social and economic policy reform and development outcomes. Individuals cannot apply for an ALA Fellowship directly.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.ausaid.gov.au/scholar/alafellow.cfm

UNESCO awards two UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prizes and two UNESCO Confucius Prizes for Literacy. The King Sejong Prizes give special consideration to the development and use of mother tongue languages, while the Confucius Prizes for Literacy give special consideration to literacy for people in rural areas and out-of-school youth.

The call for candidatures will particularly welcome innovative and successful literacy projects and programmes that specifically promote women’s empowerment in the social, economic and political dimensions. It is strongly recommended, therefore, that candidatures for the 2010 Prizes address both the designated theme (literacy and women’s empowerment) and respond to the criteria pertaining to specific prizes.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.unesco.org/en/education/dynamic-content-single-view/
news/call_for_nominations_unesco_international_literacy_prizes_2010/
back/9195/cHash/3cdd4ca802/

The Future Water Leaders Award is designed to recognise young researchers who have new results to communicate about a water-related topic. The Award promotes excellence in the development of those who are capable researchers, communicators and innovative thinkers. It gives postgraduate students the opportunity to raise the profile of their research and receive recognition for their work. 

Opportunity to enter the 2010 Riversymposium Future Water Leaders Award is now open to any PhD student 35 years old or younger currently undertaking postgraduate research on a water related topic through any recognised institution within Australia.

Postgraduate research students are encouraged to apply - entry will be open shortly.  The entry process involves the submission of a 200 word abstract and a 4-page extended summary. To recognise postgraduate water researchers, the International Riversymposium will present an award to the winner of the Future Water Leaders Award at the 13th International Riversymposium held in Perth from 11 - 14 October 2010.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.riversymposium.com/index.php?page=YWS+Award.

The Foundation for High Blood Pressure Research is pleased to announce that it will provide Travel Awards to young Australian researchers presenting their work at the ISH Scientific Meeting in Vancouver. Individual awards will be up to $3,000.00 as determined by the Foundation.

The awards are available to PhD students and postdoctoral researchers with no more than five years’ experience post-PhD. Preference will be given to members of the High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.hbprca.com.au/hbp-foundation

The E-Concept provides a formal mechanism for anyone, at anytime, to put forward an idea to the GRDC for consideration – not an opportunity for researchers to submit traditional preliminary research proposals or to extend existing projects.

The E-Concept is available to both the public and private sectors. GRDC is looking for truly innovative ideas that their current investment process may not have identified but may contribute significantly to achieving our objectives. For the purposes of the E-concept process innovation is defined as: A new idea (methodology/practice/technology/product/service) that adds value, which has not previously been considered for implementation by the grains industry.

Further information can be found at http://www.grdc.com.au/director/apply/econcept

Call for Nominations

• PCFA Prize and Lecture for Outstanding Excellence in Prostate Cancer Research
• PCFA Young Investigator of the Year Award

The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia invites you to nominate candidates for the PCFA Prize and Lecture for Outstanding Excellence in Prostate Cancer Research and the PCFA Young Investigator of the Year Award, honoring two generations of scientists in the prostate cancer research field.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://www.anz.com/personal/private-bank-trustees/trustees/apply-grant/named-charitable-trusts/

The goal of this funding opportunity is to advance the discovery of new, efficacious therapies for the treatment, delay of progression, or prevention of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and age-related cognitive decline. This funding opportunity announcement encourages the early stages of drug discovery necessary to identify promising disease-modifying therapies as well as treatments aimed at ameliorating the cognitive and neuropsychiatric/behavioral symptoms characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease.

Studies aimed at the discovery and testing of therapies directed at a variety of established as well as novel therapeutic targets are encouraged. The goal is not to duplicate or compete with pharmaceutical companies but to encourage the process of discovering new, innovative, and effective therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of the cognitive impairment and behavioural symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease

For more information and application guidelines, please visit:
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAS-10-151.html#SectionIV

Relevant Research Branch contact Dr Don McMaster (Ext: 33347)

The Butterfly Research Institute (BRI) is a research institute ‘without walls’ established to bring together eating disorder and body image research from all over Australia. In particular it aims to support research that is collaborative with science outside the field of eating disorders. It was established through the generosity of the 2009 Commemorative grant from the Sidney Myer Trust and the Myer Foundation.

The BRI places value on:

• collaboration between researchers, clinical treatment and the lived experience
• research outside traditional fields of eating disorder research e.g. bench science and the social sciences
• growing new ‘brains’ by providing
• multi disciplinary research

The BRI is now accepting applications for research grants for collaborative projects as well as research scholarships in the form of a full PhD scholarship and PhD top up scholarships.

For further information and application instructions, please visit:
http://thebutterflyfoundation.org.au/CMSPageDetails.aspx?CMS_Page_Id=19&Parent_CMS_Page_Id=3