Flinders University Visiting International Research Fellowships are now open, due 31 October 2019.

These fellowships aim to support engagement with high-performing international collaborators. 

Flinders University provides matching funds to Colleges to attract a visiting international researcher to initiate or extend collaborative research and contribute to the development of researchers and students at Flinders University.

The visitor, who can be at any stage of their career, must have a strong research record in an area of research strength at Flinders or of strategic importance to Flinders research development.

The duration of fellowship is a minimum of 3 weeks and a maximum of 12 weeks and awards would typically be $5,000 to $15,000. Up to three fellowships will be offered each year on a co-investment basis with the host College.

The application form can be accessed at the internal schemes webpage and submitted to dvc-research@flinders.edu.au by 31 October 2019. 

ienrol research lists all training and development opportunities related to developing skills core to the research process and doing research at Flinders University. You can book to attend workshops, information sessions, and/or seminars that aim to facilitate the ongoing development of all researchers.

This regular posting in Inspiring Research will update you as to what’s on offer in the coming weeks, listing current opportunities that you can participate in and book into now.

Click on the links below to view the course details.

Drop-In Sessions: Social and Behavioural Research Ethics, Friday 2 August 2019

Drop-In Sessions: ARC grants, Monday 5 August 2019

Drop-In Sessions: Industry, Government, International & Internal grants, Tuesday 6 August 2019

Grants Budgets - Category 2 & 3, Wednesday 7 August 2019

Drop-In Sessions: NHMRC and Health grants, Wednesday 7 August 2019

ResearchNow - Researcher Training, Friday, 9 August 2019

Animal Ethics Group Workshop, Friday, 9 August 2019

Research environment and capability statement, Monday 12 August 2019

ResearchNow - Researcher Training, Tuesday, 13 August 2019

Drop-In Sessions: ARC grants, Tuesday, 13 August 2019

Drop-In Sessions: NHMRC and Health grants, Wednesday, 14 August 2019

Grants Budgets - NHMRC, Wednesday, 14 August 2019

ResearchNow - Researcher Training, Thursday, 15 August 2019

Further courses scheduled for later in the month and beyond are available at ienrol research.

Partnership Projects will support connections, within the Australian context, that translate research evidence into health policy and health practice, to improve health services and processes.

Partnership Projects answer a specific research question to influence health and well-being through changes in the delivery, organisation, funding and access to health services.

Minimum data due date is 20 November 2019, and applications close on 4 December 2019. The RDS deadline for compliance review is 20 November 2019. For application advice and assistance, contact the NHMRC team at Flinders on nhmrc@flinders.edu.au.

The objectives of the scheme are to:

• meet the need for a more effective integration of research evidence into health policy and service delivery
• create partnerships among policy makers, managers, service providers and researchers
• provide support to answer often complex and difficult questions that policy makers, managers and service providers face when making decisions and implementing policies that affect Australians’ health and health care 
• be highly responsive to the priorities of government, the community and health professionals
• enable applicants to apply for funding at any time during the year to allow researchers and partner organisations to develop timely collaborations

Applicants should note the following changes to the Partnership Projects 2019 Guidelines:

• Additional funding may be available to support research to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with mental health issues through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Million Minds Mission.
• The Partnership Projects 2019 Guidelines incorporates documents previously referred to as the NHMRC Funding Rules and the Partnership Projects scheme-specific Funding Rules.

Applicants to Partnership Projects 2019 may also select from the following funding opportunity from the Department of Health - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and Obesity Prevention Research Special Initiative. 

This Special Initiative will support collaboration between policy makers, program managers, service providers and researchers with experience or interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and provides the opportunity for community organisations that are contributing to health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People to develop a relationship with a researcher, to strengthen the evidence in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and obesity research. 

Successful applications will design and conduct research to augment evidence for prevention and appropriate responses to FASD and Obesity Prevention in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and families. Grants awarded under the Special Initiative will focus on integrating research evidence into health policy and health practice to improve health services and processes in key gaps identified in FASD or obesity research within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

For more information, visit the Partnership Projects page on the NHMRC website.

The Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation invites applications for 2020 Project Grants from 2 August 2019.

Project Grants aim to enable early-career researchers (3-10 years post-doctoral) conducting high quality research to take ownership of a discreet research project. The intention behind this funding scheme is to provide a stepping stone to independence for up-and-coming researchers.

The award will provide $50,000 per year for two years, commencing in 2020. Funding cannot be used to fund salary, salary-related on-costs, or institutional infrastructure/levies.

The external closing date for applications is 5pm AEST, 30 August 2019. The Flinders internal closing date for a final completed draft application is 16 August 2019. For application advice and assistance, contact Gareth Rees, Senior Research Grants Officer (NHMRC and Health).

Please refer to the Project Grant Application Guidelines 2020 for more information about eligibility and application requirements.  

Below is a list of eligible areas of medical research:

• Brain Sciences: Psychiatry or Neurology (excluding Dementias)
• Dermatology (excluding Skin Cancer)
• Endocrinology (excluding Diabetes)
• Geriatrics (excluding Dementias)
• Lung Disease (other than Cancer) 
• Rheumatology
• Vision Sciences

For more information, visit the Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation website.

QueersInScience and the Australian Academy of Science are inviting people who identify as LGBTQIA+ and work in science, technology, engineering, mathematics or medicine (STEMM) fields to submit an expression of interest to join the steering committee of the national QueersInScience network.

This is an opportunity for individuals who are passionate about advocating for the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people within STEMM organisations in their state or territory, and across Australia.

The selected members of the steering committee will work to define the direction and goals for the network before it launches.

Help create a national QueersInScience network that is diverse, representative and meaningful for members of the LGBTQIA+ community working in STEMM. Get involved by submitting your expression of interest and sharing this opportunity through your networks.

Expressions of interest close 18 August 2019. Please inform Dr Marina Delpin, Manager: Researcher Training, Development and Communication, of your intention to apply.

For more information, visit the Australian Academy of Science website.

Are you a new staff member, honour or postgraduate student who will be working with animals in teaching or research?

Flinders University invites you to participate in an Animal Ethics Group Workshop.

This session will cover:

• Animal ethics
• Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) operating procedures and terms of reference
• ANZCCART
• Register for projects not requiring animal ethics guidelines
• Common scenarios
• Ethics application trouble shooting

You will learn about the workings of the AWC, how to fill in an application form and if to identify if your project requires full ethics approval or listing on the 'register'.

The workshop will be held on Friday 9 August 2019 from 10.00 am (with registration from 9.45 am) in Rooms 3.06-3.09 in the Health Sciences Lecture Theatre Complex. Register at ienrol-Research to attend.

Are you looking for opportunities to further develop your skills and create a support network to help you build a successful career in science?

The Mentoring and guidance in careers workshop (MAGIC 2019) is an opportunity to explore the many facets of forging a career in academic, government or industry settings, and to discuss how to create building blocks for success and resilience. Selected attendees will be fully supported to attend the program.

Participation is limited to at most 50 early career researchers who will have the opportunity to develop a variety of skills; and to create a support network that will allow them to forge a successful career in science.

Applications are open and will close midnight 16 August 2019. Please inform Dr Marina Delpin, Manager: Researcher Training, Development and Communication, of your intention to apply.

The MAGIC program involves actively interacting with your fellow participants and seeking potential collaborations. Applicants should have an ongoing commitment to making a positive contribution not only to their research but also to the broader scientific community.

To be eligible to attend MAGIC you should:

• be an early career researcher 0-7 years post PhD (excluding career interruptions)
• be female or of diverse gender identity
• have a PhD in chemistry or mathematical or physical sciences (i.e. the disciplines of chemistry, mathematics, physics and cognate disciplines)
• currently be based in Australia

Details of how to apply are on the website: http://wp.maths.usyd.edu.au/MAGIC/

The 2019 workshop, to be held at ANU House, Canberra, 18-22 November 2019, is organised by Professors Michelle Coote (ANU), Mahananda Dasgupta (ANU) and Nalini Joshi (The University of Sydney). The organising committee includes Dr Merryn McKinnon from the Australian National Centre for Public Awareness of Science, ANU.

MAGIC2019 is supported by funding from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Future LowEnergy Electronics Technologies (FLEET), the Australian National University, the Australian Research Council, the Payne-Scott initiative of The University of Sydney, The University of Melbourne, The University of Queensland, and The University of Sydney.

Please any direct questions to mentoring.guidance.careers@gmail.com.

The Commonwealth Fund is pleased to invite applications from Australia for the 2019-2020 Harkness Fellowships in Health Care Policy and Practice.

The Harkness Fellowships provide a unique opportunity for mid-career professionals—academic researchers, government policymakers, clinicians, managers, and journalists—from Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, to spend up to 12 months in the United States conducting a policy-oriented research study, working with leading U.S. health policy experts, and gaining an in-depth knowledge of the U.S., Australian, Canadian, Dutch, German, New Zealand, and U.K. health care systems.

Applicants must demonstrate a strong interest in health policy issues and propose a study within the scope of The Commonwealth Fund’s principal areas of focus:

• health care system performance—including access to care and insurance coverage, quality and patient safety, efficiency, and equity;
• quality of care for vulnerable populations, e.g., low income families, children, the elderly, and minorities; and
• patient-centered primary care.

The deadline for applications from Australia is Monday 7 October 2019. The Flinders internal closing date is 23 September 2019 for a completed final draft application. For application advice and assistance, contact Amanda Wright, Research Grants Officer (NHMRC and Health).

Each fellowship will provide up to US$130,000 in support, which covers round-trip airfare to the United States, a living allowance, project-related travel, travel to fellowship seminars, health insurance, and U.S. federal and state taxes. A family supplement (i.e., approximately $60,000 for a partner and two children up to age 18) is also provided to cover airfare, living allowance, and health insurance.

For application materials, eligibility criteria, and more information about the Harkness Fellowships, please visit www.commonwealthfund.org/fellowships.

The Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program supports industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and the community. In its 28-year history, it has proven to be an effective model for linking researchers with industry to address R&D challenges with commercial outcomes.

Bidding for a CRC is a highly competitive process requiring cross-disciplinary teams to come together and collaborate. This takes planning, time and patience. Developed by the CRC Association and Collabforge, this workshop (two half-days - 29 - 30 August 2019) will combine practical bid-creation content with a deep dive into the theory and practice of collaboration.

The workshop will teach participants what makes a great bid, what the process of bid development entails, the roles of all bid participants, and how to build effective relationship/communication between researchers and industry to develop a compelling bid. Participants will be provided with the opportunity to develop their ideas in conjunction with guidance materials and feedback, finishing with substantive parts of their bid concepts being fleshed out (these can be hypothetical CRCs, bids planned for submission, or even ARC Linkage type concepts).

Attending this workshop will significantly increase the likelihood of a successful CRC or CRC-P application.

Who should attend:

• Researchers who have the responsibility for or interest to develop CRC and CRC-P bids.
• Administrators who have the responsibility for helping coordinate, develop, approve and or administer CRC and CRC-P bids (eg from Commercialisation, Research, Scholarships, etc)
• Interested industry representatives

For more information and to register for the workshop, visit the eventbrite page.

Flinders University is a member of the CRC Association. Interested attendees are to contact Jordan Gardner, Engagement and Policy Manager at the CRC Association, on 02 6260 4177 or at Jordan.Gardner@crca.asn.au for the discount code before registering for the workshop. 

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation has identified the need to understand how diet affects IBD, particularly at the individual patient level, as a critical gap in the understanding and management of IBD, and as an area of opportunity to make a significant impact on the quality of life of patients.

The long-term goal of the Precision Nutrition initiative is to be able to answer the IBD patient’s key question, "what should I eat," based on the patient’s personal response to different foods, so that diets can be tailored to the individual clinical, biological and lifestyle characteristics of the patient. This Request for Proposal (RFP) aims to address this key question.

Scope

P​​​​​​roposals submitted to this RFP should focus on one or both of the following approaches to advance the emerging field of precision nutrition in IBD:   

1. Patient-based prospective studies to identify signatures and/or mechanisms of response to food in IBD patients and their correlation with disease outcomes.  These studies will integrate one or more ‘omics’ derived data together with physical activity, food/food component(s) challenge, and clinical outcomes, in order to identify and measure the response of patients to different beneficial or deleterious food/food component(s) exposures.  
2. Preclinical model-based studies to identify signatures and/or mechanisms of response to food and their correlation to IBD pathophysiological readouts. Preclinical studies utilising state of the art humanised in vitro and/or in vivo IBD models will identify biological responses to food/food component(s) challenge and their mechanisms of action (MoA); by integrating humanised model-derived ‘omics’  data related to food/food component(s) challenge and their correlation with  relevant IBD pathophysiological readouts. 

Multidisciplinary proposals that incorporate both approaches, patient-based prospective studies and preclinical MoA studies, are highly encouraged.   

It is expected that at the end of the funding period, these studies will provide significant advances to inform future evidence-based design of precision nutrition interventional clinical trials.

Funding Terms

Option 1 – Individual agreement

The Foundation will grant 3 independent awards for 3 years with a maximum budget of USD $320,000 per year/per project, inclusive of all direct and indirect expenses.  The proposal can be submitted by a multicentre consortium or by an individual research group. 

Option 2 – Collaboration agreement

To leverage the expertise and resources of the multidisciplinary research teams, and to maximise the use of the funds, the Foundation may select several complementary studies, among the selected investigators and negotiate a collaboration agreement. In this case, a 1 year funding of USD $160,000  will be allocated for a pilot study, integrating the complementary study arms, to provide the grounds for a revised harmonised multi-centre proposal, for additional three-year period with a budget of up to USD $900,000 per year, inclusive of all direct and indirect expenses.  

Progress Oversight: The Foundation will follow the progress of the individual or collaborative projects through oversight meetings to ensure harmonisation of research efforts, effective funding utilisation, and successful achievement of milestones.

Application Process

Key Dates

Letter of Intent (LOI) submission deadline is 3 September 2019. The Flinders internal closing date for the draft completed LOI is 20 August 2019. The invitation to submit full proposal will be 13 September 2019, and the full proposal submission deadline is 14 October 2019. For application advice and assistance, contact Amanda Wright, Research Grants Officer (NHMRC and Health).

Before submitting a LOI or a Full Proposal, please read the RFP's guidelines and policies. All submissions should be done via proposalCENTRAL (https://proposalcentral.altum.com). Please refer to Appendices A and B of the RFP guidelines for detailed instructions for electronic submission.

The program is made possible through a generous donation from Jonathan D. Rose, MD, PhD, Chair, Intestinal Pathology Research Program.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation of Australia (NBCF) and the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF) have come together to jointly fund high impact translational research that spans both ovarian and breast cancers to improve outcomes for women. 

The goal of this funding opportunity is to tackle and answer the most critical clinical questions affecting women diagnosed with breast and/or ovarian cancer, with the potential to transform the clinical management of these conditions by delivering high impact patient outcomes significantly faster than existing funding mechanisms.

The total amount available for this funding opportunity is AUD $1 million over 3 to 5 years to fund one or two research projects.

Please note that as this opportunity is co-funded by both NBCF and OCRF, submitted applications must address both breast and ovarian cancer.

The application deadline is 5pm AEST Friday 27 September 2019. The Flinders internal closing date is 13 September 2019. For application advice and assistance, contact Amanda Wright, Research Grants Officer (NHMRC and Health).

For more information, visit the NBCF website.

ResearchNow – the University’s new research management system - will be available to all researchers and research support staff in August 2019.

During August one-hour hands-on training sessions will focus on how to access and use ResearchNow, make the most of the system’s capabilities, and access support. Enrolments are now open.

ResearchNow includes powerful tools for automatic publication harvesting, researcher profile promotion and research metrics collection and reporting. The system was profiled in the June edition of Inspiring Research. 

Training has been designed for researchers who are publishing research, including ECRs, MCRs and established researchers, and for research support staff.

Enrolment for training is available through iEnrol - Research. Click on a link below to register for your preferred session. 

ResearchNow - Researcher Training - Friday, 9 August 2019, Rm 163, Computer Lab 3, Central Library

ResearchNow - Researcher Training - Tuesday, 13 August 2019, Rm 4E303, Level 4, Flinders Medical Centre - please bring your own device

ResearchNow - Researcher Training - Thursday, 15 August 2019, Rm 107, Tonsley

ResearchNow - Researcher Training - Wednesday, 21 August 2019, Rm S122, Sturt Building - South Wing

ResearchNow - Researcher Training - Thursday, 22 August 2019, Rm 4E303, Level 4, Flinders Medical Centre - please bring your own device

ResearchNow - Researcher Training - Friday, 23 August 2019, Rm 317, Education Building

ResearchNow - Researcher Training - Tuesday, 27 August 2019, Rm S122, Sturt Building - South Wing

ResearchNow - Researcher Training - Friday, 30 August 2019, Rm 163, Computer Lab 3, Central Library

If you have any queries regarding the sessions, please don't hesitate to contact researcherpd.rds@flinders.edu.au.

We endeavor to fully support your ResearchNow experience and journey with ongoing communications, comprehensive training opportunities and assistance. Please keep an eye out for further information about ResearchNow.

The Australian Academy of Science convenes 22 discipline-based National Committees for Science. These committees work with Australian and international scientists to foster their discipline, provide input into policy, and advise the Academy’s Council on Australia’s representation on the International Science Council and other international bodies.

The National Committees and the Academy’s Early- and Mid-Career Researcher (EMCR) Forum have partnered to create an EMCR Representative position on each National Committee. These positions will provide a voice for EMCRs in each discipline, enable additional avenues for EMCRs to inform the Academy’s policy advice, and help the committees to develop effective EMCR activities. Nominations are now open for interested EMCRs.

What’s involved?

National Committees meet in person once or twice each year and by videoconference up to four times per year. EMCR Representatives will also be involved in ongoing committee business outside meetings. Terms are for 24 months in duration, and travel and accommodation costs to attend meetings is provided.

The role of EMCR Representatives is to:

1. provide input to the National Committee that is discipline-specific with an EMCR perspective
2. provide input to the National Committees that is from a broad science-sector perspective, by linking with the EMCR Forum Executive.

Eligibility

EMCR Representatives must be up to 15 years post-PhD (excluding career breaks), irrespective of their professional appointment, and currently active in their field.

Selection process

Applications are considered by the chair of the relevant National Committee, based on:

• how well the applicant demonstrates their research is appropriate to ‘the best interests of Australian science’, through benefiting society, government or industry
• whether the applicant has engaged in the promotion of science
• the applicant’s understanding of the Academy’s role in championing Australian science through the EMCR Forum and/or the National Committees for Science.

The chairs will endeavour to select EMCRs who represent the diversity of Australian science, considering geographical distribution, gender balance, non-traditional career paths and researchers originating from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

How to apply

Apply online, and include a CV no longer than two pages in your application. For more information please contact nc@science.org.au.

Applications close 5 pm AEST on 16 August 2019. If you are applying, please contact Dr Marina Delpin, Manager: Researcher Training, Development and Communications. Marina, can also be contacted for application advice and assistance.

The Australian Consortium for Social and Political Research Incorporated (ACSPRI)'s 2019 Spring Program is now open for enrolments.

The Program will be held at Macquarie University, Sydney, 23-27 September.

ACSPRI's courses are:

• small group, capped at 20 people;
• applied, with 'hands on' exercises;
• taught by experienced instructors;
• cover qualitative and quantitative methodologies;
• range from fundamentals courses (level 1) right through to very advanced (level 5);
• include lunch, morning and afternoon tea

Information on the Spring Program is available at the ACSPRI website. For further information, call or email ACSPRI on 03 8376 6496 or info@acspri.org.au.

The early bird deadline for discounted enrolments is 14 August 2019.

The Australian Army Research Centre is seeking service providers to undertake paid research on topics to inform future land force development and modernisation through the Army Research Scheme.

Proposals may be submitted through AusTender. The closing date for proposals is 4.00pm Tuesday 27 August 2019. The Flinders internal closing date is Tuesday 13 August 2019 for a completed final draft application. For application advice and assistance, contact Rupali Saikia, Research Grants Officer (IGII).

The Army’s research areas of interest are wide ranging and include operational, technological, social, cultural and organisational topics. For this round of the Army Research Scheme, the key topics are:

Question 1: How will Australia’s land forces conduct future joint land combat to win wars?

Question 2: What is the best use of land forces to promote Australian regional and global interests?

Question 3: How will social, cultural, demographic and/or economic change affect the Australian Army and its ability to defend the nation?

Question 4: How can Army build its intellectual capital and develop its culture to be best positioned for an ambiguous future?

Question 5: What are the limitations and opportunities of human machine teaming for land combat in 2030?

Question 6: If political warfare arises from the nature of the State and its conception of war, what are the future implications for Australia?

Service providers can answer one or multiple questions that align with their experience and research interest. The other questions do not have to be addressed.

The maximum contract value is $80,000 (including GST) for each accepted response. If two proposals are submitted, addressing two questions, and both are accepted, two contracts would be created to a maximum of $80,000 per contract.

For more information, visit the Australian Army website. Detailed conditions, draft contract and the application form can be found at the AusTender site, which will also receive applications: AUSTENDER-ARS (https://www.tenders.gov.au/Atm/Show/481ddc59-07b0-4a5c-9ed6-cc3ec1c70480)

Smart Australian companies and research centres participating in Pacific 2019 will get the opportunity to sell their new ideas, technologies and products to the Australian and international community at the Innovation Pitchfest.

The Innovation Pitchfest will provide an opportunity for DST Group, academia and Industry researchers and innovators to present new innovations and research projects to a mix of potential customers, research partners and venture capitalists.

Expressions of Interest from Industry, Start-Ups and Publicly Funded Research Organisations (PFRO) to participate in the Innovation Pitchfest at Pacific 2019 are now open and will remain so until 31 August 2019. This event will be comprised of a series of three minute “pitches” aimed at demonstrating Australian innovation, research collaboration and development strengths.

For application advice and assistance, contact Mr Tony Kyriacou, Defence Partnerships Director.

Register your Expressions of Interest to participate in this event at http://bit.ly/PacPitches

Participants in the three minute pitches must communicate:

• Uniqueness and novelty (i.e. the innovation).
• Application or end goal of the innovation.
• What they are looking for from the audience – finance, know-how, a partnering agreement?
• Where future collaboration may be of benefit (and from whom).
• Can be openly presented without fear of IP theft.
• Can be explained in an engaging manner to a general audience in 3 minutes.
• Avoid being seen simply as a sales pitch.

Full activity description and requirements can be viewed at: http://bit.ly/PacPitch1

The pitch sessions are to be seen as an opportunity to showcase an innovative idea/technology application/product in in early stage of its development (pre-commercialisation) to an audience including Primes, OEMs, Defence customers/users, research professionals, venture financiers and critical/interested peers.

In providing this forum during the PACIFIC 2019 Trade Days participants can take advantage of an advertised event in a prominent area of the exhibition, utilising a fast-paced and engaging presentation approach to ensure audience attention for the entire duration of their presentation. The final day of pitches will conclude with judging and the award of prizes. Participants will be offered training, free of charge (excepting travel), in the art of the “Three Minute Pitch” (locations yet to determined).

The Innovation Showcase is a collaborative event supported by Industry Defence and Security Australia Limited (the organisers of PACIFIC 2019), the Defence Science Institute (DSI), Defence Science Centre (DSC), Defence Innovation Partnership (DIP), and Defence Innovation Network (DIN). The prize-giving ceremony will be integrated with the presentation of the PACIFIC 2019 Innovation Awards on Wednesday 9 October.

DIP will run a full-day pitch training session if there is enough interest. Contact DIP as soon as possible to express your interest in an Innovation Pitch training session.

The Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group is holding a Defence Human Science Symposium in November.

Call for abstracts for the symposium are now open and will close on 2 September 2019.

The theme for this year's symposium is "Human Sciences Impact for the Warfighter". Defence is dependent on government departments like DST, private sector organisations and universities to conduct research and development activities that ultimately affect the way that that Defence fulfils its roles and missions. Having an impact in tomorrow's complex Defence environment will be a key challenge for human sciences because of the complex nature of modern operations.

The DHSS Organising Committee is aiming for a diverse program. Abstract submissions are invited for presentations in a wide range of topics including, but not limited to, the following:

Defence focused themes

• Future technologies (including Biotechnology)
• Health and Wellbeing
• Resilience
• Support to operations
• Trusted Autonomous Systems

Human Performance themes

• Anthropometry
• Cognitive enhancement and augmentation
• Cognitive performance: From Perception to Decision Making
• Food and nutrition
• Physical augmentation (assistive technologies)
• Physiology

Human Systems Analysis themes

• Ergonomics and Human Systems Engineering
• Human Systems Integration
• Training and Education

Human Sciences in National Security themes

• Cyber security
• Evaluation of software tools and techniques
• Mathematical and statistical modelling of social processes
• Social and cultural analysis of groups
• Social media exploitation

Methodologies themes

• Ethics
• Measurements and Metrics
• Modelling and Simulation
• Multidisciplinary Research
• Tools and Techniques

Organisational Effectiveness themes

• Health and Safety
• Organisational Culture
• Personnel Selection and Retention

 The above topics are indicative rather than all-inclusive. All submissions that directly relate to delivering human sciences impact for the warfighter will be considered.

Further details and lodgement details can be found at the DST Group website.

MS Research Australia offers a range of grants, including Project, Fellowships, Scholarships and Travel Awards to support and accelerate research into finding better treatments and a cure for MS.

Currently open for applications is the MS Research Australia Ian Ballard Travel Award. The Award is intended to enable recipients to undertake an international travel tour to undertake learning or to extend or establish collaborations on their MS research speciality.

Deadline: 27 September 2019. The Flinders internal closing date is 13 September 2019 for a completed final draft application. For application advice and assistance, contact Gareth Rees, Senior Research Grants Officer (NHMRC and Health).

Further information can be found on the MS Australia website.

The Genomics Health Futures Mission (GHFM) is the centrepiece of the Australian Government's National Health and Medical Industry Growth Plan.

The $106 million Flagships stream forms part of the GHFM and will be delivered over nine years from 2019-20 to 2027-28 through a number of rounds.

This grant opportunity is the first round of the Flagships stream.

The objectives of this grant opportunity are to:

• fund large scale pilot research studies into pathogen genomics late in the research and development pipeline aiming to:
  • demonstrate clinical and/or public health utility, cost-effectiveness, and capacity for translation of genomics in the clinic, in recognition that such evidence is critical to the adoption of genomics in mainstream healthcare. 
• The minimum grant amount is $1 million.
• The maximum grant amount is $10 million.
• The grant amount will be up to 100 per cent of eligible project costs.

You must complete your project by 30 June 2023.

Guidelines, eligibility and application information can be found from www.business.gov.au/pathogengenomics.

If you are interested in applying, contact Lucy Sheehan-Hennessy, Research Grants Officer (NHMRC and Health) as soon as possible. The external closing date for applications is 12 September 2019.

The Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) grant opportunity forms part of the Accelerated Research initiative, funded through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). 

The CHD grant opportunity supports research provides researchers with funding of up to $10 million to provide new diagnoses and treatment options for those suffering from congenital heart disease.

For this grant opportunity $20 million is available over 5 years from 2019-20 to 2023-24.

• There is no minimum grant amount.
• The maximum grant amount is $10 million.
• The grant amount will be up to 100% of eligible project costs.
• You must complete your project by 30 June 2024.

Ideally projects will align with the National Strategic Action Plan for Childhood Heart Disease, and could target the Research Priorities in the Action Plan in particular:

• preventing neurodevelopmental and mental health complications
• understanding the impact of prenatal and postnatal factors affecting the health of children born with CHD and their families, or
• exploring the role of exercise and increased activity in reducing the impact of CHD.

You must ensure new research is complementary to, and does not duplicate work in the following MRFF Accelerated Research Investments:

• The Stem Cells Australia research study into development of human heart tissue for understanding heart disease, improving repair and reconstructing tissues for kids with heart defects.
• The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute project to enable the Australian Genomics Health Alliance to extend the Cardiovascular Genetic Disorders Flagship study, which aims to interrogate the genomic basis of disease in individuals and families with cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias and congenital heart disease.

Guidelines, eligibility and application information can be found from https://www.business.gov.au/assistance/congenital-heart-disease. Applications close: 12 September 2019 5:00 pm AEST.

If you are interested in applying, contact Lucy Sheehan-Hennessy, Research Grants Officer (NHMRC and Health) as soon as possible. The external closing date for applications is 12 September 2019.