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MRFF 2024 Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19

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Key dates for MRFF 2024 Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19

  • Proposals open in Sapphire: 30 October 2024
  • UQ R&I NOI Close: 26 March 2025
  • Minimum data requirements in Sapphire: 5pm ACT time 26 March 2025
  • Applications due to UQ R&I: 26 March 2025
  • Applications close: 5pm ACT time 16 April 2025

Overview

This grant opportunity will provide financial assistance to support medical research and medical innovation projects that:

  • Stream 1: conducts small scale developmental projects.
    • Topic A: investigate the molecular mechanisms, pathways or biomarkers that are central to the cause and progression of PASC.
    • Topic B: build knowledge of key factors that impact PASC prognosis, including but not limited to psychosocial, physical and behavioural contributors.

  • Stream 2: evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of multidisciplinary, consumer-centred, scalable, cost-effective and sustainable models of care for people with PASC, through co-design with consumers, clinicians and health services (including primary care services).
    • Topic A - the organisation that will undertake or oversee the majority of the proposed research must be located in, and the Chief Investigator A and 65% or more of all Chief Investigators must be primarily resident in, a metropolitan or regional area (MM1 and 2 according to the 2019 Modified Monash Model)
    • Topic B - the organisation that will undertake or oversee the majority of the proposed research must be located in, and the Chief Investigator A and 65% or more of all Chief Investigators must be primarily resident in, a rural or remote area (MM 3–7 according to the 2019 Modified Monash Model)
    • Topic C - the proposed research focuses on First Nations health and includes demonstrated leadership by First Nations individuals and communities in the design and implementation of the research
    • Topic D - the proposed research focuses on the health of people living with a disability and includes co-leadership by people living with a disability in the design and implementation of the research
    • Topic E - the proposed research focuses on the health of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and includes co-leadership by individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in the design and implementation of the research
    • Topic F - the proposed research must have a focus on frail older people and includes co-leadership by older people in the design and implementation of the research.

The amount available for a single grant in each Stream are as follows:

  • Stream 1 – the minimum amount for a single grant is $0.2 million and the maximum grant amount is $1.0 million
  • Stream 2 – there is no minimum grant amount, the maximum amount for a single grant is $3.0 million. 

How to Apply

Internal notice of intent process

All researchers intending to submit an MRFF application are required to submit a mandatory internal Notice of Intent. NOIs will be collated centrally and distributed to Faculties and Institutes in order to provide maximum support to the UQ research community.

Step 1. Sapphire updates and scheme reading

  • Register for Sapphire and update your full profile 'My Profile and CV'. The Grant Opportunity will be run through the new National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grants management system, Sapphire, which replaces RGMS. If any team members are new to Sapphire and need a login/password, start early. The NHMRC require at least three working days to create new Sapphire accounts. 
  • Familiarise yourself with the key MRFF, NHMRC and The University of Queensland (UQ) documentation.

Step 2. Completing the application

Step 3. UQ R&I internal review and feedback

  • Ahead of internal review, ensure all online components are complete and valid in Sapphire and CIA has initiated the Certification process. Application errors will be signalled and can be corrected during the Certification stage.
  • To initiate internal review, email your completed Funding Application Certification to UQ R&I at mrffgrants@research.uq.edu.au.
  • Internal review by UQ R&I/feedback provided (compliance/eligibility/grantsmanship).

Step 4. Final submission

  • Final submission by UQ R&I to NHMRC.

Letters of Support

Signing for all letters of support from UQ is co-ordinated through the Research Office. All Letters of support for MRFF applications, including those led by other institutions, must be accompanied by a completed Funding Application Certification (see below) and authorisations of any enumerated contributions or additional UQ staff beyond the lead CI listed in the letter.  We strongly recommend working with your local school/institute research professionals to complete this process.

To provide time for review and signature, we ask that UQ researchers submit draft letters to mrffgrants@research.uq.edu.au no later than two weeks before the external closing date.

Partner Letters

We would encourage applicants to provide drafts of partner letters of support for review by the Research office before organising their final signature to ensure eligibility and compliance. A template Letter of Support is provided below.

Non-UQ Lead Applications

  • The administering organisation should provide you with a draft letter of support. UQ information from the CEO letter below may assist you in completing the letter.
  • Complete a generic Funding Application Certification, and get it countersigned by your Head of School/Institute.
  • Submit both to mrffgrants@research.uq.edu.au, along with evidence for any additional co-contributions.

Readership and researcher support

Before applying, we recommend you:

Key documents

Before applying, please review the full suite of documents available from GrantConnect, the Australian Government grants information system and:
 

NHMRC

UQ