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Funds Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases FAQs
FAQs
FAQ Grant
Application 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. Allocation
and Release of Funding
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. 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. Principal applicants
should submit final reports on or before the due date. Late submission
of reports might adversely affect the track record of applicants.
Final reports are the evidence of research output that will be taken
into account when considering future grant applications. Dissemination
of Research Findings To close the
research cycle, principal applicants are requested to assist in
publishing dissemination reports by submitting a draft with the
final report. Dissemination reports will be distributed to the wider
community.
Grant Review Process
Allocation and Release of Funding
On-going Projects
Completed Projects
Dissemination of Research Funding
1.
What
kind of research proposals are likely to be supported by the RFCID?
Research
proposals of high scientific merit and relevant to the scope as set
out in the Policy
Statement (PDF file) are likely to be supported. The Research
Council will consider grant applications for basic/lab-based medical
research as well as collaborative research with Mainland China and
overseas institutions. Apart from the content of the proposed research
projects, principal applicants are advised to provide full justification for
the amount requested.
2.
Can
I submit more than one application covering different research topics
to the same application round?
Yes.
3.
I
have sent my application for ethical approval. But the result is still
pending by the closing date. Will my application be processed?
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.
4.
What
is meant by a "recognised" ethics committee?
A
recognised ethics committee includes those established under the purview
of academic institutions, public and private hospitals, Department
of Health, and Hospital Authority.
5.
Is ethical approval required for grant applications not involving
direct contact with study participants?
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.
6.
Can I apply without an Administering Institution?
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.
7.
I
am inexperienced in applying for research grants. Any advice?
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.
8.
Can
I amend the content of the application form after submission?
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.
9.
How
to make an anonymised copy?
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1.
Who
decides the result of funding?
The Research Council makes a decision on funding the proposed research
projects based on recommendations received by the Grant Review Board.
2.
When
and how will I know if my application is approved?
Principal applicants will be notified of the result of their applications
by mail approximately 6 months from the closing date of application.
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1.
What
will happen if I cannot start the project as committed in the application
form?
Approved projects are expected to commence within a specific time
period or the grant will lapse. Principal applicants should seek prior
approval from the Grant Review Board Executive to delay the start
date.
2.
Can
I request the approved grant to be allocated to my personal bank account?
No. The approved amount will only be allocated or reimbursed to the
Administering Institution which should have a proper audit trail in
place.
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1.
Do
I need to submit an Interim Report for Mini-Grants?
Regardless of the type of grant, interim reports should be submitted
annually for any project lasting more than one year.
2.
What
will happen if the Interim Report is overdue?
3.
Under
what circumstances do I need to seek approval from the Research Council?
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:
4.
Do I need to report to the Research Council any dissemination of research
findings/new findings?
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.
5.
Can I request additional budget?
Principal
applicants may submit a written request to seek approval for additional
funds from the Research Council.
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1.
I
encounter difficulties in completing the project. What shall I do?
Please approach the Research Fund Secretariat as soon as you encounter
difficulties. We will refer your concerns to appropriate experts for
their opinion and look for alternatives to reduce the risk of incomplete
projects.
2.
Can
I submit final reports later than the due date?
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1.
Will
the Research Council inform the principal applicants before the publication
of dissemination reports?
Yes.
The Research Fund Secretariat will seek the principal applicants'
approval before publication.
2.
What
is my involvement in publishing/distributing dissemination reports?
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