Applying For Grants
A) Aim
The Bedside & Bench (B&B) Grant aims to foster closer interactions between the basic scientist and the clinicians to translate scientific discoveries in the laboratory to clinical useful and commercially viable applications to improve health outcomes.
The B&B Grant will fund collaborations between 2 Co-Principal Investigators (PIs), one of whom is a basic scientist and the other a clinical investigator, with each Co-PI providing symmetrical intellectual inputs into the project. The applicants will need to show evidence of understanding required to bring a novel idea to clinical use and define these clearly as milestones, outcomes and future value.
Projects such as experimental medicine studies/phase zero studies or projects that will lead to the development of novel biomarkers, medical devices, therapeutics, new product candidates, technologies or techniques that can improve healthcare outcomes will be considered for funding. This grant will not support stand-alone pre-clinical studies, studies in model systems and approaches such as genetic association studies that do not link to direct commercial outcomes.
Priority for funding will be given to those applications which have the greatest potential for a commercial endpoint and impact on healthcare. Partnerships with industry collaborator(s) are strongly encouraged and additional consideration will be given to proposals that demonstrate industrial interest or engagement.
(B) Eligibility Criteria
Each proposal must involve a demonstrable collaboration between the 2 Co-Principal Investigators. Each team must be made of one basic scientist and one clinician. Both must be independent investigators with a strong track record of peer reviewed research publications and grant support.
The Basic Science Co-PI should at the point of application fulfill the following requirements:
a) Possess a minimum academic qualification of a PhD or the equivalent training.
b) Hold a primary appointment in a local publicly funded institution.
c) Be an independent Co-PI with a track record of leadership ability in coordinating research programs and providing mentorship to research team, as well as having productive research outcomes e.g. quality research publication record in the past 3 years;
d) Have a laboratory or research program that carries out research in Singapore.
e) Hold a minimum of 9 months employment with a local Singapore institution, and fulfilling at least 6 months of residency in Singapore over a period of 1 calendar year[1]
f) No outstanding reports from previous BMRC, NMRC grants, and other national grants.
The Clinical Co-PI should at the point of application fulfill the following requirements:
a) Clinically qualified (i.e. with MD/MBBS/BDS) and preferably with post-graduate clinical training and experience. For proposals involving patients the clinical Co-PI should be SMC registered; or the Co-PI should be able to demonstrate ability to access patients through SMC registered collaborators.
b) Hold a primary appointment in a local public hospital/public health institutions/national specialty centre/public universities/Academic Medical Centers and salaried by the institution.
c) Be an independent Co-PI with a demonstrated track record of research as evidenced by the award of nationally competitive funding (international funding to be considered on a case by case basis) and substantial publication record in the past 3 years
d) Have a laboratory or clinical research program that carries out research in Singapore
e) Hold a minimum of 9 months employment with a local Singapore institution, and fulfilling at least 6 months of residency in Singapore over a period of 1 calendar year[2]
f) No outstanding reports from previous BMRC, NMRC grants, and other national grants.
(C) Funding Quantum and Duration
A funding quantum of up to S$2M per project, with additional 20% indirect costs, will be provided to the host institution of the non-A*STAR Co-PI. The budget for each basic science and clinical Co-PI will be capped at S$1M.
Additional funding of up to S$3M, inclusive of 20% indirect costs, may be provided by the BMRC for proposals involving a scientist from the BMRC research institutes or units.
The B&B will provide funding for up to 3 years.
(D) Submission and Deadline Details for Full Proposals
All submissions must be submitted either through the Basic Science Co-PI’s or Clinical Co-PI’s respective Research Office or equivalent. It is mandatory for all full proposal applications to be submitted via soft and hardcopy by 14 Jan 2013 (Mon), 5pm. Please ensure that all hardcopy submissions are endorsed by the corresponding host institution's Research Director by the closing date.
We will not entertain any late submissions or submissions from individual applicants without endorsement from the Host Institution. Walk-in submissions (by the Co-PIs or any representatives) will NOT be accepted.
Please download the B&B Sept 2012 Grant Call Full Proposal Guide and Form for more information.