| 1.
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Can
I submit more than one application covering different research topics
to the same application round? |
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Yes.
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| 2.
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I
have sent my application for ethical approval. But the result is still
pending by the closing date. Will my application be processed? |
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We
understand that it may take some time to obtain an approval from an
ethics committee. Please indicate this concern in a covering letter
and provide proof showing a request for ethical approval has been
sought from an appropriate committee. In most cases, we will process
your application for peer review pending the result from the ethics
committee. However, this does not imply that ethical approval is being
exempted. Ethical approval is mandatory for every grant application.
No funding will be allocated to any application without an ethical
approval from a recognised ethics committee. |
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| 3.
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What
is meant by a "recognised" ethics committee? |
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A
recognised ethics committee includes those established under the purview
of academic institutions, public and private hospitals, Department
of Health, and Hospital Authority. |
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| 4. |
Is ethical approval required for grant applications not involving
direct contact with study participants? |
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The
ethics committee determines whether or not ethical approval is required
for your intended proposal. If it is not required, a proof of exemption
issued by the ethics committee should be presented. |
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| 5. |
I
work in the private sector and do not have access to an ethics committee.
What should I do? |
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Please
contact the Research Fund Secretariat for a list of suitable ethics
committees. |
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| 6. |
Can I apply without an Administering Institution? |
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No.
Funding will be allocated to the Administering Institution if the
application is approved. The Administering Institution is jointly
responsible for the conduct of any proposed research with the principal
applicant. |
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| 7.
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I
am inexperienced in applying for research grants. Any advice? |
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The
Grant Review Board will consider the experience and qualifications
of the principal applicant when assessing a grant application. You
are advised to co-investigate with experienced researchers in the
field to provide a better chance of success for the proposed project.
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| 8. |
Can
I amend the content of the application form after submission? |
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An
amendment to the application form after submission is strongly discouraged
as this will administratively hinder the process of grant assessment.
The Research Fund Secretariat will not accept any amendments of research
proposal made 2 weeks after submission. |
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| 9. |
How
to make an anonymised copy? |
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Applicants are
requested to provide 5 anonymised copies of the Application Forms
(Word file) to allow unbiased peer view. Any information that may
identify the applicants should be deleted or blanked out. In particular,
information on applicants and signature pages (Section 9 & 12
of Form
A and Section 14 & 15 of Form
B) must be blanked out.
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| 1.
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Do
I need to submit an Interim Report for Mini-Grants? |
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Regardless of the type of grant, interim reports should be submitted
annually for any project lasting more than one year. |
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| 2.
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What
will happen if the Interim Report is overdue? |
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An interim
report shall be submitted in writing within 2 months of the first
anniversary of the commencement date. If the interim report is overdue,
your account will be frozen and claims for reimbursement will be
put on hold. The Research Council reserves the rights to terminate
the grant due to unresolved overdue reports.
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| 3.
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Under
what circumstances do I need to seek approval from the Research Council?
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No
alteration, deletion or addition may be made to any of these conditions
or any part of the Application Form without the prior agreement in
writing of the RC or (if the change is proposed by the RC) of the
principal applicant and the administering institution. In particular:
- any change
of substance in the objectives of the project;
- any change
of the principal applicant and the administering institution;
- any change
of the maximum expenditure figure for each element of the grant
given in the Application Form;
- any change
in the duration of the grant
must be so approved.
If the RC does not approve a change proposed by the principal applicant
and the administering institution the RC may cancel or renegotiate
the arrangements for support of the project.
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| 4. |
Do I need to report to the Research Council any dissemination of research
findings/new findings? |
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Yes.
The Research Council maintains a database of research output that
will be taken into account when considering future applications submitted
by the principal applicants. |
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| 5. |
Can I request additional budget? |
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Principal
applicants may submit a written request to seek approval for additional
funds from the Research Council. |
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Health and Health Services Research Fund 
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