HRC Māori Health Research Writing Workshops

1. HRC Māori Health Research Writing Workshops June-July 2010 Dr Heather Gifford Dr Amohia Boulton

2. Programme • 10am: Welcome and introductions • 10.15: Session 1 - Funding information • 11 am Morning Tea • 11.20: Session 2 - Grant writing • 12.30 pm Lunch • 1.30pm Session 3 - Working on applications

3. HRC • Crown entity responsible for investment in health research • Owned by Minister of Health, funded by Minister of RS&T • Supports biomedical, clinical, health services & public health research • Mission: to improve human health through promoting and funding research

4. Specific Roles • Special interest in Māori & Pacific peoples’ health research & capacity building • Rangahau Hauora Investment Stream • Supports career development & monitors health research workforce • Establishes funding partnerships with private & public sector agencies

5. Changes to the Funding Round Structure • 9 Research Portfolios replaced with 4 Research Investment Streams (RIS) • broad priority areas for health research • the scope of these will remain stable for at least a five-year period • improved responsiveness to government and stakeholders • better communication of research needs and priorities

6. HRC Investment Streams • New Zealand Health Delivery • Health and Wellbeing • Improving Outcomes for Acute and Chronic Conditions • Rangahau Hauora Maori

7. Changes to the Funding Round Structure • Research Investment Streams and Signals • Annual Investment Signal for each stream will be released prior to the annual funding round • Investment Signals will define the priorities for HRC investment in research • Investment Signals will present high-level information for researchers on HRC’s expectations

8. Changes to the Funding Round Structure • Researchers will be required to: • nominate which Investment Signal they are responding to in their application; AND • clearly make a case for how their proposal addresses the Investment Signal • The fit between the proposal and the IS will be a crucial part of the assessment process

9. Changes to the Funding Round Structure • Indicative budgets will be included in each Investment Signal • Indicative budgets will apply only to Programme and Project applications • The budget indications will be used by the HRC Board as a means of determining future research investment

10. HRC Investment Streams • HRC Investment Signals (IS) for the four Research Investment Steams (RIS) are currently being developed • As part of this process the scope of each signal will be determined • Budgets will be allocated • Total of $66M to be invested through the annual contestable round

11. Annual Funding Round 10/11 • Several new features • Project and Programme definitions • two stage application process • new contract types with fixed maximum budgets • introduction of 4 Research Investment Streams (RIS) • use of Investment Signals (IS) to initiate the call for proposals

12. HRC Investment Streams • New Zealand Health Delivery • Health and Wellbeing • Improving Outcomes for Acute and Chronic Conditions • Rangahau Hauora Maori

13. NZ Health Delivery • Scope: • improved health service delivery over the short-medium term • improvements in productivity, performance, organisation and sustainability of the health sector • Cost-effectiveness, equity, quality and efficacy of care and support • Local, regional or national focus • evaluation research is not excluded

14. Health and Wellbeing • Scope: • clear link between knowledge generated and improving the health and wellbeing of individuals and populations • understanding, maintaining and enhancing health and wellbeing • prevention of disease and injury • understanding and reducing inequalities • innovation / economic benefit

15. Improving Outcomes for Acute and Chronic Conditions • Scope: • focus on a disease state, condition or impairment • communicable or non-communicable conditions • full spectrum of health improvement from diagnosis, development of treatments through to patient self management, rehabilitation and palliative care • understanding the pathology of a disease, through to the management of the disease or disability

16. Rangahau Hauora Māori • Scope: • build an evidence base which contributes to Māori health gains derived from high-quality Māori health research that upholds Rangatiratanga • support health research that values Māori worldviews and builds Māori research capacity and leadership • utilises and advances Māori knowledge, resources and people

17. Types of Funding Available • Research Contracts (Annual Funding Round) • Career Development Awards/Scholarships • Seeding Grants and Grants-in-Aid • Partnership initiatives: • Māori Knowledge and Development Community Health Research Grants (NgāKanohiKitea) • Partnership Programme • ICIHRP (international initiative)

18. Funding information • Four contract types: • Programmes • Projects • Emerging Researcher First Grant • Feasibility Study Grants • Career Development Awards • Rangahau Hauora Awards, Summer Studentships, Masters and PhD Scholarships, Postdoctoral Fellowships

19. Funding information • Programmes • stand alone proposals • support for the long-term development of a health • research field • normally require three or more established researchers, with a history of receiving contracts • potential for outcomes, vision, collaboration/integration • up to $5 M over five years

20. Funding information • Projects • available for an individual or a group if researchers • typical duration is three years (five years maximum) • project contracts will have a budget cap of $400,000 per annum, to a maximum contract price of $1.2 M

21. Funding information • Emerging Researcher First Grants • to support emerging researchers with a salary • must not have previously held a competitive contract for research expenses of > $50,000 • budget maximum of $150,000 over three years • Feasibility Study Grants • study to test feasibility issues • up to $150,000 per year

22. Career Development • Rangahau Hauora Awards • personal support for research training • no academic background required • background/involvement in Māori community activities and/or be working or training in a health-related area • a maximum of $12,000 awarded • may be used to pay for travel, koha, accommodation, living expenses and course fees • tenure for a period of up to 6 months

23. Career Development • Summer Studentships • personal support for research training/work undertaken during the summer break • research term of 10 weeks • short report at the conclusion of the studentship • application by letter with the support of the research supervisor • a maximum of $4,000 awarded

24. Career Development • Master’s Scholarships • provide one year of personal support for students completing the research component of a Master’s degree • value: $10,000 • tikanga allowance of $1,600 • tuition fees may be claimed from the HRC • the host institution will be responsible for the administration of the scholarship

25. Career Development • PhD Scholarships • provide three years of personal support for students undertaking a PhD • value: $25,000 pa • a one-off grant of $10,000 may be awarded to assist with working expenses • tikanga allowance of $5,000 • tuition fees may be claimed from the HRC • the host institution will be responsible for the administration of the scholarship

26. Career Development • Postdoctoral Fellowships • support outstanding graduates who have recently completed a PhD to conduct further research and gain experience in their chosen field • value: based on recipient’s qualifications and University salary levels • a one-off grant of $125,000 for working expenses • tikanga allowance of $5,000 • the host institution will be responsible for the administration of the scholarship

27. Other Funding • Seeding grants • support the planning and scoping of a potential research project • may be used for piloting an idea, or consultation with a community, prior to a grant application • up to $5,000 available • Grant-in-aid • for the dissemination for research results • up to $5,000 available

28. Other Funding • NgāKanohiKitea • $1.5M total, $250k per project • enhance whānau, hapū and iwi ability to develop and lead research • Request for Proposals likely to be released in November 2010 • Partnership Programme • opportunities to undertake research in a range of areas

29. Assessment • Assessment comprises a number of stages • External review for research excellence is the stage most people are familiar with • Science Assessing Committee (usually only 1 for Māori Health) brought together to determine referees • thorough peer review of application by up to 5 reviewers resulting in review summaries • rebuttal by researcher

30. Assessment • Science Assessing Committee considers each application on the basis of 4 criteria • Health significance • Scientific merit • Design and methodology • Track record • Applications determined “fundable” • Details of the process still being confirmed

31. Prior to 10/11 Round • Process of “internal” prioritisation review • Purpose of prioritisationwas to ensure the HRC invested in a balanced portfolio of research that was both scientifically excellent and of high priority to NZ • Once the best applications were identified by SACs, priority review undertaken

32. 10/11 Funding Round • Priority scoring will no longer occur • Replaced by an assessment on the impact of the research • Requires researchers to consider the links between their research and the specific goals outlined in research signals • Decision pending on how this will occur at the assessment stage

33. Assessment • Once applications are determined to be fundable by the SACs, they are considered by the General Assessing Committee • comprises Chairs of each of the Science Assessing Committees • GAC have an overview of the range of potential investment and consider the scope of the investment HRC will make in any one given year

34. Excellence and Priority

35. Key dates • 31 July: Māori Seeding Grants (also 9 Nov) • Grants-in-Aid (also 9 Nov) • 25 Aug: Closing date for CDAs • Oct: Registration for Projects • Feasibility Studies • Emerging Researcher First Grant • Project Expression of Interest Due

36. Key dates • Nov: Feasibility Studies • Emerging Researcher First Grant Full Application • Mar 2011Project Full Application • Programme Full Application • Jul 2011 First Contracts offered to start from this date

37. Session 2-Grant writing

38. Translating ideas into a research question • What is the question you want answered (can you say it in a couple of sentences, does it make sense to others)? • What is the health significance (how does it relate to priorities and current policy)? • Has it been asked before? • Is it able to be answered with some degree of confidence? Is the question too big?

39. Methods • Do the research methodology and the specific methods answer the research question posed? • Can you explain your methods clearly? • Have you explained all parts of the research process in your application? • Does the analysis link with the methods? • What are the budgetary implications of the methods chosen?

40. Methods • Is there sufficient detail to convince the reviewers of your ability to carry out the research in a timely fashion, using the methods and methodology you have outlined? • what previous experience do you have? • expertise of team members? • do you need an advisory committee? • novel methods adequately explained?

41. Timelines • Need to be realistic • consider staffing workloads • timing of the project • what outside influences might impact on research timelines? • Outline the stages of the research • Use GANTT charts and timelines to assist in mapping the project out

42. Bringing together a team • Who needs to be on your team? • specific methodological or clinical expertise • advisors • end users • Are there specific locality issues you need to consider? • Workforce development considerations

43. Bringing together a team • Collaborations • engagement needs to occur early on • may be a lengthy process of negotiating roles, boundaries • formal (MoUs) or informal agreements • sustainability • maintenance of the relationship

44. Budgets • Read the guidelines carefully to ascertain what can and can’t be included in budgets • Allow sufficient time to develop a budget and review it • Keep costings realistic • Ensure you can justify your budget (more detail makes it easier to agree to funding requested) • Factor in overheads

45. Dissemination • How will you keep end-users, funders, advisors engaged and informed? • Consider using the full range of dissemination methods • Consider dissemination methods early • Staged approaches are useful both for you as the researcher and the research audience

46. Knowledge translation • Highly regarded by funders • The earlier in the process you can consider knowledge translation opportunities the better • Consider how your research can improve services, practice at a local level, national level and implications internationally

47. Writing a fundable application • Write to the HRC guidelines • Keep the language clear, precise and jargon free • Presentation is important, use headings to ensure a logical argument • Allow sufficient time for writing, review, peer review, rewriting • When building up a profile start small and be realistic

48. Some final tips • Don’t be overambitious • Innovation (whether it be methodological or simply a novel idea) is highly regarded • Outcomes/impact also sought after • Read the relevant material to assist in your writing • Don’t be scared to ask others for help • Follow the HRC Guidelines!!!!

49. Key dates • 31 July: Māori Seeding Grants (also 9 Nov) • Grants-in-Aid (also 9 Nov) • 25 Aug: Closing date for CDAs • Oct: Registration for Projects • Feasibility Studies • Emerging Researcher First Grant • Project Expression of Interest Due

50. Key dates • Nov: Feasibility Studies • Emerging Researcher First Grant Full Application • Mar 2011Project Full Application • Programme Full Application • Jul 2011 First Contracts offered to start from this date