Young Individual Research Grant (YIRG) is a sub-category of IRG and a step for the new investigator to a first independent national level grant. The YIRG is provided to support the conduct of research proposals in basic and translational clinical research that are relevant to human health and wellness as well as research that looks at the causes, consequences, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of human diseases.

Research Themes

IRG is open to proposals of the highest quality across the breadth of disciplines relevant to its mission articulated above. To better realise the goals of Health and Biomedical Sciences (HBMS) in Singapore, the following five therapeutic areas have been identified as national priorities:

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Neurological and sense disorders
• Infectious diseases
• Diabetes mellitus and other metabolic/ endocrine disorders
• Cancers

While the focus of the IRG is on scientific excellence, the HBMS community is encouraged to address these therapeutic areas and consider their proposals’ relevance to the HBMS industry sectors in PharmBio, MedTech, Food & Nutrition and Personal Care.

Evaluation Criteria

Selection of successful proposals would be based on the following evaluation criteria:

1. Quality of the science
2. Capability of the research performers to conduct the research
3. Objectives of the research programme in context of HBMS goals

Eligibility Criteria

Only one Principal Investigator (PI) is allowed per application. Applicant applying as Principal Investigator is required to fulfil the following criteria at the point of application:

a)      Holds a primary appointment in a local publicly funded institution.

b)      PIs should have PhD or MD/MBBS/BDS qualifications. (Exceptions would be made on a case-by-case basis).

c)       Has a laboratory or clinical research program that carries out research in Singapore

d)      Holds a minimum of 9 months employment (per calendar year) with local Singapore institution(s). Upon award, the PI must agree to fulfil at least 6 months of residency in Singapore for each calendar year over the duration of the grant award.

e)      For proposals involving patients, the PI should be SMC registered; or should be able to demonstrate ability to access patients through SMC registered Co-Is or collaborators.

Additional Eligibility Criteria for Young IRG:

a)      Applicants who are applying for the Young IRGs are strongly encouraged to work with a mentor for guidance in their research. This mentoring will provide support for a period of supervised research leading eventually to the investigators conducting larger scale research projects independently.

b)      The maximum number of years of postdoctoral experience for PIs is 7 for PhD holders and 10 for MBBS/MD/BDS holders. No exceptions will be allowed.

c)       There will not be a limit to the amount of prior funding that YIRG applicants have received. However, awardees of the following grants will not be eligible for YIRG:

            - A*STAR Investigatorship

            - NRF Fellowship

            - MOE Tier 2 and 3 grants

            - MOH/NMRC IRG-equivalent grants        

d)      Applicant should not have held any prior OF-YIRG award.  

e)      Applicants must indicate how the proposed area of work would be distinct from their current supervisor’s existing research.  The applicant’s current supervisor should not be a co-investigator on the proposal. 

e)       Upon the award of the YIRG, the host institution will be required to provide written confirmation from either the applicant’s Head of Institution or supervisor to describe the steps the institution will take to demonstrate its commitment to his/her career development. This must include provision of appropriate space to carry out the work proposed, but may also include investment in the equipment necessary to establish the laboratory, access to shared institutional resource, provision of mentorship and career development support etc.

Grant Call Frequency

There will be two grant calls per year (May and November).

Funding Quantum

The YIRG will provide a funding quantum of up to $300,000 (inclusive of 20% indirect costs) for up to 3 years.

Submission Mode and Deadline

It is mandatory for all applications to be submitted and endorsed by the Host Institution’s Director of Research (DOR) online via IGMS by 16 Dec 2020, 5pm.

NMRC will not entertain any late/hardcopy submissions or submissions from individual applicants without endorsement from the Host Institution.

Please download the OF-YIRG Application Guide and Templates (for reference) for more information.