1. NHMRC New Grant Program Prof Trish Livingston Associate Dean Research
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

2. Overview of New Grant Program
Grant type
Investigator Grants
Synergy Grants
Ideas Grants
Strategic and Leveraging Grants
Purpose
Support the research programs of outstanding investigators at all career stages
Support outstanding multidisciplinary teams of investigators to work together to answer major questions that cannot be answered by a single investigator
Support focussed innovative research projects addressing a specific question
Support research that addresses identified national needs
Centres of Research Excellence
Partnerships
Development Grants
Targeted Calls
International schemes
Clinical trials and cohort studies
Duration
5 years
Up to 5 years
Varies with scheme
Number of Chief Investigators 1
4-10
1-10
Dependent on individual scheme
Funding
Research support package (RSP) plus salary support
Research costs ($5 million)
Research costs
Max no. of apps allowed per round;
Max grant type that can be held# 2
Not capped relative to Investigator, Synergy and Ideas Grants. Dependent on individual scheme.
Peer Review
Focus on track record
Focus on science, innovation and significance
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

3. Investigator Grants
consolidates separate fellowship and research support into one grant scheme
provides the highest-performing researchers at all career stages with funding for their salary (if required) and a significant research support package
Supports full-time or part-time researchers (eg. clinical, teaching, admin, career disruption)
Caps apply for all the CIs on the grant
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

4. Investigator Grant Scheme: Structure
Investigator Grants comprise two categories – Emerging Leadership & Leadership
Five levels of salary support and six tiers of Research Support Packages (RSP) will be offered across the scheme.
Emerging Leadership Investigator Grants will be restricted to researchers who are ≤10 years post- PhD or equivalent on 1 March of the application year
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

5. Investigator Grant Scheme: Structure
Investigator Grant level
Salary per annum (AUD)
Eligibility
RSP per annum (AUD)
Max terms
Leadership
Leadership 3 (L3)
$175,201
Unrestricted
Allocation of $300,000, $400,000, $500,000 or $600,000 per annum as determined by overall score 5*
Leadership 2 (L2)
$164,911 2*
Leadership 1 (L1)
$141,474
Emerging Leadership
Emerging Leadership 2 (EL2)
$107,750
≤10 years post-PhD or equivalent
$200,000 1
Emerging Leadership 1 (EL1)
$75,738
$50,000
* Max total of 5 Leadership Grants can be held
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

6. Investigator Grant Levels – Aligned to current fellowship schemes
Current NHMRC Fellowship
Corresponding Investigator Grant Level
Early Career Fellowship
Translation of Research into Practice (TRIP) Fellowship
Emerging Leadership Level 1
Career Development Fellowship Levels 1 & 2
Emerging Leadership Level 2
Career Development Fellowship Level 2
Senior Research Fellowship Levels A & B
Practitioner Fellowship Level 1
Leadership Level 1
Principal Research Fellowship
Practitioner Fellowship Level 2
Leadership Level 2
Senior Principal Research Fellowship
Australia Fellowship
Leadership Level 3
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

7. Eligibility: current or previous NHMRC Fellows
Highest NHMRC Fellowship level previously or currently held
Emerging Leadership Level 1 (EL1)
Emerging Leadership Level 2 (EL2)
Leadership Level 1 (L1)
Leadership Level 2 (L2)
Leadership Level 3 (L3)
No previous NHMRC Fellowship
Eligible if ≤10 years post- PhD
Eligible
Early Career Fellowship
Translation of Research into Practice (TRIP) Fellowship
Career Development Fellowship Level 1
Not eligible
Career Development Fellowship Level 2
Practitioner Fellowship Level 1
Senior Research Fellowship Levels A & B
Practitioner Fellowship Level 2
Principal Research Fellowship
Senior Principal Research Fellowship
Australia Fellowship
Current or previous fellows cannot apply for an Investigator grant lower than most recently held
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

8. Investigator Grant Scheme
Awarded for a five year term - irrespective of Category or Level of grant awarded
The grant can be awarded full- or part-time
Part time grants, 0.2 to 0.8 FTE, over five years & the value
of the salary will be adjusted pro rata
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

9. Investigator Grants : Assessment
Track record (70%) value of an individual’s past research achievements, relative to opportunity, not prospective achievements, using evidence
Knowledge Gain (30%) quality of the proposed research and significance of knowledge gained
incorporates the design, hypothesis, impact of the research in advancing knowledge, practice or policy
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

10. Investigator Grants: framework for track record (70%) assessment
1. Publications (35%)
10 year list (taking career disruption into account)
Five best publications
3. Leadership (15%)
Research programs and team leadership
Institutional leadership
Research policy and professional leadership
Research mentoring
2. Research Impact (20%)
Knowledge
Health
Economic
Social
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

11. Framework for track record assessment Research Impact
2. Research Impact (20%) indicators (examples)
Knowledge
Health
Economic
Social
Evidence of scientific reach and influence
Engagement Participation in clinical research
Policy leadership
Clinical Guidelines
Standards
Development of product/ intervention
Healthcare cost savings IP development
Industry collaboration
Start-up company
Product to market
Employment
End-user/ public engagement
Community health benefit
Wellbeing of end-user and community
Reducing inequalities
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

12. INVESTIGATOR GRANTS – PEER REVIEW PROCESS
Preliminary info from 26 April 2018 NHMRC CEO Webinar. To be confirmed by release of NHMRC Peer Review document.
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

13. Synergy Grant Scheme
support outstanding multidisciplinary teams to work together on major questions that cannot be answered by a single investigator
fixed budget $5 million for 5 years
10 Synergy Grants available in 2019 round
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14. Synergy Grant Scheme 4 - 10 CIs
each CI must nominate which leadership category and level similar to the Investigator Grants
up to 10 AIs
Caps apply for all the Cis on your grant
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

15. Synergy Grants: Assessment
Track Record (40%)
Knowledge Gain (30%)
Quality of the research gained, design, impact of research outcomes
Synergy (30%)
Definition of synergy: quality of the diverse team’s multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to solving a major health and medical research question, while building capacity
Focus: is on demonstrating transformative health outcomes which require new techniques or an intellectual approach; engagement with stakeholders
Multi-disciplinary team: involving teams that integrate information, data,
techniques, tools from 2 or more disciplines to solve a question that one
individual cannot answer
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

16. Synergy Grants: framework for track record assessment (similar to Investigator Grant Scheme)
1. Publications (35%)
10 year list (taking career disruption into account)
Five best publications
3. Leadership (15%)
Research programs and team leadership
Institutional leadership
Research policy and professional leadership
Research mentoring
2. Research Impact (20%)
Knowledge
Health
Economic
Social
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

17. SYNERGY GRANTS – PEER REVIEW PROCESS
Preliminary info from 26 April 2018 NHMRC CEO Webinar. To be confirmed by release of NHMRC Peer Review document.
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

18. Ideas Grants Scheme up to 10 AIs Innovative & creative research
B/w 1-5 years
up to 10 CIs & caps apply for all the CIs on your grant
up to 10 AIs
Ideas grant suitable for all career stages
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

19. Ideas Grants: Assessment
Research Quality (35%)
quality of the project aims and the proposed research plan
Innovation and Creativity (25%)
research that seeks to challenge and shift current paradigms and/or has a major impact on a health research area
concepts, approaches, methodologies, interventions in all Broad Research Areas
incremental advances
not only commercial innovation
showing what doesn’t work
Refer Ideas Grant Guidelines Appendix D. Concept of Innovation and Creativity
Significance (20%)
extent to which the outcomes and outputs will result in advancements to the research or health area
not the incidence of disease
Feasibility (20%)
Appropriateness of the applicant team and their expertise, the resources and access to additional personnel necessary for the project
not assessment of track record of the investigator team or preliminary data
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

20. IDEAS GRANTS – PEER REVIEW
Preliminary info from 26 April 2018 NHMRC CEO Webinar. To be confirmed by release of NHMRC Peer Review document.
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

21. Strategic & Leveraging Grants
Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants
support high-quality clinical trials and cohort studies that address important gaps in knowledge, leading to relevant and implementable findings for the benefit of human health
open to research proposals for clinical trials and/or cohort studies of any size
1-5 years; amount based on budget request
up to 10 CIs; up to 10 AIs
not capped relative to other three schemes
no limit on number of applications for a CI
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

22. Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants - Assessment
Significance (40%)
advancement of knowledge to improve prevention, diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions, or improve health and wellbeing
Research Quality (40%)
quality and feasibility of the research
Team Quality and Capability (20%)
research skills and experience of the research team
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

23. Senior Grants Officer – Deakin Research
Dr Yvonne Lai
Senior Grants Officer – Deakin Research
Ms Rose Firkin
Executive Manager – Deakin Research
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

24. CAPPING: ELIGIBILITY LIMITS ON CONCURRENT APPLICATIONS AND GRANTS HELD
Steady State
Investigator Grants
Synergy Grants
Ideas Grants
Strategic & Leveraging Grants
Maximum number of applications allowed per round 1
Not capped relative to Investigator, Synergy or Ideas Grants 1a 2
Maximum number of each grant type that can be held 2b 2c
Max two applications per round
N.B. If both Investigator and Ideas Grants applied for are successful, only Investigator grant will be awarded a
Max two grants can be held concurrently
Can hold 2 Ideas Grants and apply for and hold 1 Investigator Grant, but RSP will be reduced by 50% for 1 Ideas Grant and by 100% for 2 Ideas Grants until the Ideas Grant/s have ended b
Can hold 2 Ideas Grants and 1 Synergy Grant c
Exceptions
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

25. ELIGIBILITY: CURRENT NHMRC FELLOWSHIPS, SYNERGY and IDEAS GRANTS
Further restrictions may apply to CIs with existing NHMRC Fellowships, Project Grants and Program Grants
Census date = 1 Jan of year funding is to commence
Eligibility tool for 1st round available on NHMRC website
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

26. ELIGIBILITY: CIs WITH FELLOWSHIPS & PROJECT GRANTS ACTIVE ON 1 JAN 2020
SOME EXAMPLE SCENARIOS
For full list, see
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

27. Resources NHMRC New Grant Program website www.nhmrc.gov.au/restructure
NHMRC new website
beta.nhmrc.gov.au
GrantConnect - Portal for all Cth Govt funding opportunities
Download Guidelines, Instructions and Peer Review documents from
Sapphire - new NHMRC Grant Management System to replace RGMS
Expected to go live end of Sep-Oct 2018
DR-Grants NHMRC webpages
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B

28. Apps Internal deadline
Internal Deadlines
Scheme
Faculty to submit list of approved submissions to DR-Grants
Apps Open in Sapphire
Apps Internal deadline
NHMRC deadline
Investigator Grants
15-Oct-18
5-Dec-18
9-Jan-19
6-Feb-19
Synergy Grants
3-Dec-18
6-Mar-19
3-Apr-19
1-May-19
Ideas Grants
10-Apr-19
8-May-19
Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B