Some tips for you when thinking about applying for research grant funding:

• Preparing a research grant application takes time—you should allow at least 6-8 weeks for drafting, feedback, re-drafting and obtaining relevant signatures. You can begin this planning even before the research application forms and funding guidelines are uploaded.
• Particular care must be taken to secure approval from collaborators, supervisors, divisional/departmental heads and reviewers prior to submission and contact details of each should be checked thoroughly.
• Research grant schemes can be very competitive, it is therefore important to discuss possible research grant applications with a research mentor and/or clinical team;
• Read the eligibility criteria on all research grant applications—some may have specific requirements, for example implementation projects or linkages.
• Talk to a research mentor as they are likely to have had prior experience with certain research grant schemes.
• Discuss the research project with supervisors/line managers and divisional/department heads to determine if the proposal may be possible without additional funding.

In Metro South Health research grants represent funding from internal and external sponsoring/funding entities/organisations for approved research projects. Major external sponsoring/funding entities/organisations include:

• National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)—Grants and Funding Schemes
• National Critical Care Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC)—TRauma And DIsaster Management (TRADIM) Research Grant Scheme
• Australian Research Council (ARC)—Research Grants
• primary industry
• private industries via consultancy for research.

The Translational Research Institute (TRI) has compiled a helpful resource which identifies some grant and funding opportunities relevent to research projects at TRI. 

If a research grant is sought from an entity/organisation external to Metro South Health, Principal Investigators (PIs) and research student supervisors must ensure the relevant sponsoring/funding entity/organisation’s processes are followed, in addition to, provisions outlined within the Research Grants Administration Procedure (PDF, 423.69 KB) Research Grants Administration Procedure (PDF, 321.28 KB)

Metro South Health must be involved in the research grants administration process if it is proposed for Metro South Health to be identified as the grant administering institution. Learn more about the Metro South Health research grants administration process.

Australian Government’s whole of government grants information system

Information on current and future grant funding can now be found on the Australian Government’s whole-of-government grants information system—GrantConnect.

GrantConnect is the authoritative source for potential grant applicants to find and access Commonwealth Grant Opportunities and Grant Opportunity Guidelines. Anyone can sign up to receive optional email notification of new Commonwealth Grant Opportunities, relevant to their interests, as they are published. To access Grant Opportunity Guidelines and to receive optional email notifications, users will need to create a GrantConnect account.
The GrantConnect Helpdesk (run by Department of Finance) can be reached on 1300 484 145 (between 9am and 5pm ACT Local Time, Monday to Friday, excluding ACT and national public holidays) or via email ‐ GrantConnect@finance.gov.au (link sends e-mail). 

Additional funding sources

Queensland

• Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
• Queensland Cancer Fund
• Queensland State Government
• Study and Research Assistance Scheme (SARAS)

National

• ANZ Trustees
• ANZ Society of Nephrology
• ANZCA
• Australian Cancer Research Foundation
• Australian Research Council
• Australian Respiratory Council
• Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation
• Fulbright Scholarships
• Gastroenterological Society of Australia
• Haemophilia Foundation
• Harold Mitchell Foundation
• Heart Foundation
• Kidney Health Australia
• Leukaemia Foundation
• Medical Advances Without Animals (MAWA) Trust
• Menzies Foundation
• Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Inc
• Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia
• National Breast Cancer Foundation
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• National Science Foundation
• National Stroke Research Foundation
• Neuro Science Research Grants (Pfizer)
• National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
• Nutrition Society of Australia
• Ophthalmic Research Institute
• Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia
• RACP Research and Education Foundation
• Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation
• Retina Australia
• Viertel Charitable Foundation
• Winston Churchill Memorial Trust

International

• Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
• American Foundation for AIDS Research
• European Union Sixth Framework Programme
• GrantsNet Funding Database (US)
• Huntington's Disease Society of America
• The Wellcome Trust

Research grant applications

Clinicians, researchers, research student supervisors and PIs are responsible for undertaking appropriate planning prior to developing research grant applications. It is imperative to focus on research significance, scientific quality and feasibility, including the accurate identification of resources and expertise required to enable research to be conducted in a safe, responsible, ethical and efficient manner.

Clinicians, researchers, research student supervisors and PIs are responsible for:

• ensuring appropriate development and review of research grant applications
• reading eligibility rules and guidelines and ensuring that research grants are submitted in accordance with the sponsoring/funding entity/organisation’s requirements
• consulting with the relevant Business Manager/Finance Officer and/or Cost Centre Manager to develop research grant application budget
• obtaining appropriate statistical and other advice relevant to the research grant application
• obtaining all required authorisation prior to submission of research grant applications

Multi-Institutional Agreement (MIA)

Where it is proposed for Metro South Health to be included as part of a NHMRC Multi-Institutional Agreement (MIA), the completed agreement must be submitted to the Metro South Health Research Governance Office prior to the research grants submission process. See the Research Grants Administration Procedure (PDF, 321.28 KB) for more information.

Research grants support

On request from the clinician or researcher and with sufficient notice the Metro South Health Research Support Coordinators and Grants Administration Office may be able to facilitate a more detailed review of the application, aimed at improving the quality of the application. Please contact the Metro South Health Research Support Coordinator and Grants Administration Office to discuss further.