Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application

1. Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application Yousef M Abdulrazzaq Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences UAE University

2. Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application Attributes of a good researcher is the ability to find a good question to answer

3. Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application Success of grant application depends on • Production of clear evidence of a good question • Capacity to make a promising attempt at finding an answer • Reasonable opportunity to do the work within a defined a period • Need for specific finances for the stated purposes

4. Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application A good question is one for which the answer • Matters • Clarifies fundamental issue of medical or pure science • Affects medical practice in some appreciable manner • Must advance knowledge or understanding • Should usually convey positive information

5. Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application • Not sufficient to give account of new methods without showing results mean something • Identify question to be answered and specify it in clear & understandable way • Inspirational ideas drawn out of thin air seldom appeal to skeptical assessors.

6. Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application Applicants should • Allow plenty of time • Find out best date for applying • Complete standard application form- clear and fit for photo copying • Submit appendices for answers that do not fit in space provided

7. Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application Assessment of Grant application • By experienced knowledgeable scientists • Time period from application to response 3-6 months or more. • depends on clarity of application • Depends on dates of committee meetings

8. Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application • Asking for things like microscopes, centrifuges and furniture are liable to cool the welcome for an application • Specialized apparatus & highly qualified technical help may be given as part of the grant-only to known scientists • Fully and accurately costed preferably with manufacturer’s specifications and quotations

9. Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application • Grant giving bodies prefer to reinforce success • They seldom give money hoping some armchair strategy will lead to real advance • Assessors also look at motivation, initiative and capacity to work • Beginners may be asked for full CV, + for what problems are and how they would tackle them. • Proof of availability of facilities is often required

10. Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application • Sensible planning as to duration of project • Plan to show results in a specified time • Sensible plan may lead to extension being granted • Nothing is more terrible for a grant giving body than to support a never-ending sojourn into nowhere.

11. Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application The Sheikh Hamdan Award Foundation Administrative Structure is as follows: • Council of Trustees • General Secretariat • Scientific Committee • Grants Review Committee

12. Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application • The Award is cyclical occurring every 2 years • For every round 3 topical subjects are selected • Prospective grant holders apply to be funded in subjects related to selected subjects (priority) or other subjects

13. Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application Time Scale • Information is posted on Award site about 2 months after the previous award ceremony • Deadline for receipt of grant applications is usually 31st December of the year before the year in which award ceremony is held

14. Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application • All grant applications are received at the Awards office, coded and dispatched to the Grants Review Committee • Grants Review Committee (GRC) is chaired by a member of the Scientific Committee • 3-4 other members of GRC. • All members of GRC are of proven research track record, considered experts

15. Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application • All grant applications are carefully scrutinised by GRC • Obvious poor applications are rejected outright • The rest are sent to a panel of recognised international experts, each receiving applications on subjects within his own expert area.

16. Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application • The assessors are provided general instructions on what aspects of a grant he should be assessing • A standard assessment form is also provided for each assessor to complete • The GRC then reassesses each application and with the comments of international experts decide on which grant to accept

17. Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application • By June of the year when awards will be distributed, results are known and conveyed to the applicants • Most grant giving bodies follow almost similar procedures • Sheikh Hamdan Foundation also expects and insists on receiving regular reports of progress

18. Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application In conclusion • Process of assessment of grants is vigorous with multiple steps • A grant application with a good question with achievable positive answers in a definable period of time with reasonable budgetary demands presented by a known researcher has the best chance of being funded

19. Procedure and Assessment of Medical Research Grant Application