CLINICIAN INVESTIGATOR SALARY SUPPORT PROGRAMME

In line with Singapore’s vision to be a preferred site for clinical research and clinical trials, NMRC has introduced a programme to support contributions from Clinician Investigators (CIs) - “Clinician Investigator salary support programme (CISSP)”.  The pilot call for the programme was launched in September 2010.  This is the final call for applications for research projects funded by NRF through NMRC.

A)     Aim

The CISSP aims to encourage more clinicians to participate in clinical research by providing funding for clinicians’ research time.  In recognition of support from the clinical departments for the clinicians’ time and participation in clinical research, funding for salary support or full-time-equivalent (FTE) will be channeled to the respective clinical departments, with flexibility in using the funds to support clinical research in the department.

B)     Eligibility

The applicant must be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident, an SMC-registered doctor (MD/MBBS/BDS) and holding a clinical appointment in a local public health institution.

All research must be conducted in Singapore at a public research institute, hospital/centre or medical school.

The applicant must be participating in clinical research projects funded by NRF (through NMRC) that involve the recruitment of human subjects.  The projects under the following programmes funded by NRF (through NMRC) are eligible to apply:

i)   Exploratory and Developmental Grants (EDGs)
ii)   New Investigator Grants (NIGs)
iii)  TCR Flagship Programmes
iv)  Singapore Translational Research (STaR) Award
v)  Clinician Scientist Award (CSA)

The projects’ end-date must be on or after 30 November 2012 (without a request for grant extension).

Applicants must spend 0.1 – 0.6 FTE in the clinical research project.

C)     Award

The funding of CI’s salary (including fringe benefits and allowances) will commensurate with the declared and approved FTE.  The computation of the FTE funding will be based on CI’s Clinical Grade and the respective Annual Salary Cap as follows:

Table 1: NMRC Annual Salary Cap based on Clinical Grade

The Clinical Departments will be awarded consolidated funding amount for successful applicants within the department, based on approved FTE spent on research (i.e., within the grant period). 

Fundable items that could be listed in the departmental plan include:

1. “backfilling” of the CIs’ clinical duties;
2. expertise and scientific collaboration related to the clinical research project to include biostatisticians and bioinformaticians, site-monitoring, data analysis and management, and training of CRCs;
3. other research-related support costs that help in the clinical research project.

The items must be in accordance to NRF Fund Guide and NMRC Grant Policy Document on Financial Regulations.

The funds are not to be used as direct monetary incentives to the CIs or to cover any costs relating to routine clinical care/services. 

For reimbursement of the CIs’ research time, HOD should submit the department’s claim form (signed off by HR, HOD, and Finance) and the CIs’ monthly payslips (verified by HR), to NMRC on a quarterly basis.  Consolidated funding of the approved research time/FTE support will be reimbursed to the respective CIs’ Departments through the Institution on a quarterly basis.

Funding will cease together with the grant funding of the project.  Should there be any extension of the grant, funding of the research time/FTE for the extended period will not be provided in line with the current policy of no-cost extension for all grants.

D)     Application Procedure

Applicants are required to submit:

• A softcopy of the completed NMRC Application Form and relevant supporting documents.  The application should be submitted as 1 file to include all pictures, tables, and various attachments either in Word DOC or PDF format.  The restriction in the number of words/pages should be adhered to where specified.
• A hardcopy package with 1 set of NMRC Application form (with original signatures) and relevant documents

Please ensure that information on the soft copy and hard copy submitted are identical.  Incomplete submissions will be rejected.

Please read the following carefully before completing the application form:

• Follow the instructions closely in every section.
• Complete all sections in the application. Indicate “NA” where a particular section is not applicable. 
• Use Arial font size 11 for all text.
• Applicants with multiple appointments at different institutions are to select only one hosting institution for the application.
• The original signatures of the Applicant, Lead PI, HOD, & Institution Director are required.

NO late submission or revision to the submitted application will be entertained after the closing date.  Incomplete applications will be rejected.

E)     Submission Deadline

The closing date is 31 May 2012, 5.00pm (Singapore Time)

Please download the necessary documents below:

i)         Application Form
ii)        Application Guide

The duly endorsed applications should be submitted through Host institution’s Research and Development Offices (RDOs) to:  

Clinician Investigator Salary Support Programme Application
National Medical Research Council
11 Biopolis Way
#09-10/11, Helios
Singapore 138667