National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

Substantial support for major bids is provided on a case by case basis. If you wish to develop such a bid, please discuss with your College Dean (Research) and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).

The Near Miss funding scheme provides funding to applicants whose grant application was ranked highly in the annual NHMRC Ideas Grants assessment process, but was not funded.

Funding is provided from the University research budget at the discretion of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) who may seek matching funding on a co-investment basis from the relevant Vice-President and Executive Dean/Dean (Research).

Funding will be awarded to the first named chief investigator (CI) on the unsuccessful NHMRC application. The CI must submit a new application for a NHMRC grant within 18 months or will not be eligible for any subsequent Near Miss funding.

Subject to submission by specific deadlines, University Research Budget and College co-funding, to a maximum of $20K pa for a maximum of three years will be committed to support the project if the application is successful, a contribution that should be included in the application. Overall, the Flinders’ contribution to be maximum of 20% of external funding (combined NHMRC request and industry commitment) that comes specifically to Flinders University.

Applicants need to provide a submission-ready application to Research Development and Support together with a signed and completed co-investment form. Extension requests will not be considered.

Internal deadlines:

• NHMRC Partnership Grants - 18 November 2020
• NHMRC Development Grants - TBC

This scheme support activities which will enable applicants to develop a proposal for submission to ARC Linkage Project, CRC-Projects, Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), NHMRC partnership projects or Development Grants schemes in 2019.

Amount of funding support

Up to a maximum of $5,000

Closing date

No deadline but applicants should note that an application for one of the grant schemes listed above needs to be submitted in 2019.

Applications will be dealt with as they are received.

Use of funds

Funds can be used for:

• workshops and meetings between researchers and partners to develop proposals e.g. travel costs to meet with partners
• support for the development of a funding proposal e.g. external review of an application

Selection process

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) will decide on whether to support the application based on advice from the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Impact) and the (Dean) Research from the College of the lead Flinders chief investigator.

How to apply

Send summary details of the application (project title, project summary, proposed participants, proposed partners and their expected contributions, proposed budget for both the proposed application and use of the funding support of up to $5K) to RDS research.grants@flinders.edu.au.

Substantial support for major bids led by Flinders University researchers is provided on a case-by-case basis proportional to the strength of the bid and the expected return of research funding to Flinders.

If you wish to develop such a bid, please first discuss with the relevant Dean (Research).  The Dean (Research) should then discuss with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at least four months in advance of the closing date (excluding short turnaround MRFF opportunities).

Funding outcomes are published on the NHMRC website on the same day they are announced by the Minister for Education. RDS will provide awardees with acceptance paper work as soon as possible, following the publication of funding round outcomes.

The lead investigator will receive an acceptance pack, which includes a letter of offer detailing any special NHMRC conditions, as well as a grant acceptance form, which will need to be completed and returned to RDS.

The NHMRC Funding Agreement, the relevant scheme funding rules and the schedule for your grant outline the responsibilities of the NHMRC, the University and chief investigators, including details relating to the payment and use of funding, specified personnel, reporting requirements and termination of the grant.

As a chief investigator you are responsible for ensuring that the research funds are expended in accordance with the terms and conditions of your grant and that all reporting requirements are met.

You can obtain a copy of the NHMRC Funding Agreement from the NHMRC website.

It is important that all appropriate approvals and clearances, together with an agreement with external collaborators where relevant, are in place.

RDS is the only source of authorisation for the release of research funds and this will only be given once RDS is satisfied that all internal and external requirements have been met.

The Grants Finance Office is responsible for the financial administration of all research grants, special purpose funds and consulting funds, including:

• Establishing accounts
• Loading budgets where applicable
• Raising invoices for grant income
• Authorising funding for staff appointments
• Preparing financial statements
• Assisting with policy/ procedure queries
• Monitoring overdrawn accounts
• Liaison with external funding bodies

For further information on any of the above or to obtain contact details please visit the Grants Finance Office website.

Flinders Budget Estimator Tool can be used as a means to help manage your awarded budget. For further information contact your College Research Support staff.

The reporting requirements for your individual project are outlined in the NHMRC Funding Agreement and funding rules. As the lead chief investigator (CIA), you are responsible for ensuring that the reporting requirements for your project are met. Failure to comply with the reporting requirements will impact your future eligibility for NHMRC funding.

Reporting requirements for your project may include:

• Audited financial statements
• Annual RGMS CV update as part of progress reporting requirements
• Final report

Detailed information on how to prepare and submit financial, and meet reporting requirements is available on the NHMRC website. Please note that any financial reports must be submitted via the Grants Finance Office.

Over the duration of the project circumstances may change and it may become necessary for Chief Investigator A to request changes to the approved funding proposal. Researchers should not approach NHMRC for advice on how to manage variations but should contact the RAO (Flinders University) via nhmrc@flinders.edu.au in the first instance.

In the event that a variation is required, a Grantee Variation request must be submitted to NHMRC via RGMS. Requests must be submitted in advance, as retrospective requests are generally not approved.

NHMRC have developed a Grantee Variation policy to articulate NHMRC’s policy position on grantee variations.

Advice also been developed that details the factors that NHMRC will consider when deciding whether a grantee variation request is approved or declined under the Grantee Variations Policy. Please refer to: Advice when seeking NHMRC approval for a grantee variation.

This advice states that, except in Exceptional Circumstances:

• the maximum deferral period for defer commencement dates is up to 12 calendar months from the original commencement date.
• the maximum extend end date variation allowed for all schemes is up to 12 months via one or multiple extend grant duration requests.
• and for family related reasons including the birth and care of children, the maximum defer/suspend in progress and extended leave request variation allowed for all schemes is up to 12 months per grant or Funding Period (see scheme specific Funding Rules for exceptions).

Over the duration of a project circumstances may change which necessitate the transfer of the research grant to a different administering organisation, such as in the event that a researcher:

• ceases to work at the University and seeks to transfer a research grant and/or equipment and materials obtained for the purpose of prosecuting the research to a new institution; or
• receives grant funds administered by another institution or requests that grant funds or equipment be transferred from the University to another institution to support activities associated with the grant.

In the event that it is deemed necessary for a researcher to transfer a research grant to a different administering organisation, a Grantee Variation request will need to be submitted to NHMRC via the Research Grants Management System (RGMS). Researchers should not approach NHMRC for advice on how to manage variations but should contact the RAO (Flinders University) via nhmrc@flinders.edu.au in the first instance. Further information on the Grantee Variation process is available on the NHMRC website.