MTPConnect is set to launch a new round of its Biomedical Translation Bridge (BTB) program, specifically designed to target COVID-19 related research.

Expressions of Interest (EOIs) will be open for two weeks from Monday 18 May – Monday 1 June 2020. Funding will support Australian small and medium enterprises, medical research institutes and universities conducting COVID-19 related research projects. 

In this specific COVID-19 call, the BTB Program can provide up to $1 million in matched funding to support eligible organisations develop medical devices, diagnostics, prophylactic or therapeutic approaches that will achieve an impact on the global response to the pandemic in less than 12-months. Applicants must have demonstrated capacity to match the funding (cash) requested. 

If you are interested in this opportunity please contact nhmrc@flinders.edu.au to discuss your application by 25 May. Application information, guidelines and supporting documentation can be found on the BTB webpage.

As part of its ongoing efforts to promote naval safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG) is seeking innovative ideas, good practices, and collaborative opportunities in Australia.

It is the mission of ONRG to build relationships between the international scientific community and the Naval Research Enterprise and to identify new technologies to support the Naval Research and Development Framework.

Applications are sought from researchers with proposals to address the following topics:

• Science and technology efforts to improve cleaning, decontamination and general shore maintenance of Naval vessels
• Shore maintenance operational best practices
• Best practices for delivering supplies or equipment to ships and submarines 
• Any innovation to safeguard sailors at-sea and ashore

Any Australian research teams that are interested in pursuing this opportunity are requested to contact the Defence Science Institute at dsi.info@defencescienceinstitute.com and advise Tony Kyriacou, Defence Partnerships Director, Research Development and Support, of their interest.

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) at the Bloomberg School of Public Health is redirecting part of their Alan and Helene Goldberg In Vitro Toxicology Grants to help accelerate the discovery of mechanisms, medicines, and vaccines for COVID-19. 

This new initiative is a Fast-track grant for research on non-animal approaches to investigate mechanisms, medicines, and vaccines for coronaviruses. The application deadline is 30 April 2020. The Flinders internal closing date for a completed final draft application is 20 April 2020. For application advice and assistance, contact Lucy Sheehan-Hennessy, Research Grants Officer (NHMRC and Health).

The goal of this CAAT funding is to centralise information and stimulate funding of the development of non-animal, human biology-based models to help coordinate and accelerate response to current and emerging pandemics.

Applications for this grant will be screened by an advisory committee and will be funded as soon as possible. Up to USD $40,000 is available.

For more information, including the application kit and application form, visit the CAAT website.

The RACGP Foundation and HCF Research Foundation are coming together to fund research projects relating to COVID-19 and general practice. Expressions of interest are now open for high quality research projects relating to COVID-19 and general practice.

This may include (but is not limited to) research into the use of telehealth and telehealth item numbers and evaluation of COVID-19 clinics.

The COVID-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented challenge to general practitioners in Australia and internationally. GPs are playing a central role on the frontline of care whilst also managing the everyday needs of their patients and adapting to new ways of consulting. The evidence base around COVID-19 is evolving, and it is important to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on general practice.

Projects that are time sensitive, for example that require data collection during the pandemic phase, are preferred. Current research projects that can be adapted or expanded to include COVID-19 are also eligible. To be eligible for this grant, the principal investigator must be a general practitioner.

Applicants are asked to provide a short expression of interest of no more than one page addressing the following:

1. Name and contact details of Principal Investigator
2. Project title 
3. Funding amount requested
4. Duration of study
5. Expected time required to gain ethics approval
6. Description of research plan, using the following headings:

• Research question being addressed  
• Proposed methodology  
• Importance of the research
• Translation and impact
• Details of the research team
• Conditions of grant and selection process

The RACGP Foundation Terms of Grants and Awards 2020 will apply to this grant. These terms are set out on pages 9-11 of the following document: https://foundation.racgp.org.au/Foundation/media/Documents/InfoApplicants.pdf 

Please contact Denise Caretti, Flinders’ Trust and Foundations Coordinator, as soon as possible if you intend to apply. 

Expressions of interest close on Friday 24 April 2020 at 9.00pm AEST. Please submit your one page EOI in pdf format by email to foundation@racgp.org.au.

For more information, visit the RACGP website.

The Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation has decided to delay, and possibly cancel, the Project Grant round scheduled to open in August 2020 due to COVID-19.

Like other medical research funders, the Foundation understands there is a lot of uncertainty with regards to when full access to laboratory and clinical research facilities will again be available.

The Foundation will be closely monitoring progress to “research as normal” and they wish to assure researchers that at an appropriate time the Foundation will seek to recommence their funding at the highest possible level.

"On behalf of the directors and the Foundation, I wish you all the best through this difficult period and hope you stay safe," Leanne Arber, Executive Officer, Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation.

The 2021 Al & Val Rosenstrauss Fellowship from the Rebecca L Cooper Medical Research Foundation is currently open.

The Australia-Japan Foundation has postponed its 2020-21 grant round in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Australia-Japan Foundation (AJF) is Australia's oldest cultural council supporting people-to-people links underpinning this key bilateral and regional relationship.

Inspiring Research will provide updates related to future opportunities with the Australia-Japan Foundation.

For more information on the Australia-Japan Foundation, visit the Australia-Japan Foundation website.

The Council for Australia Latin America Relations has postponed its 2020-21 grant round in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Council on Australia Latin America Relations (COALAR) was established by the Australian Government in 2001 to enhance Australia's economic, political and social relations with Latin America.

Inspiring Research will provide updates related to future opportunities with the Council for Australia Latin America Relations.

For more information, visit the Council for Australia Latin America Relations website.

On 19 March 2020 the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of the US Federal Government issued Memorandum M-20-17 Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) due to Loss of Operations. The Department of Defense (DoD) also recently published Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

The United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) has provided the following revised supplement guidance on 25 March 2020 (Version 2, revised: March 25, 2020; Replaces FAQs dated March 16, 2020).

"The USAMRAA will apply, to the maximum extent possible, all the allowed exceptions to our financial assistance awards, including allowance of costs. The following exceptions, aligned with the format in Memorandum M-20-17 and guidance from the DoD, are time limited. OMB anticipates reassessing the exceptions within 90 days. 

1. Flexibility with SAM registration:

The SAM registration process will be relaxed as outlined in M-20-17.

2. Flexibility with application deadlines:

There are currently no plans to modify existing application deadline dates but please continue to monitor Grants.gov for any potential change(s) to an application deadline.

Please contact the CDMRP Help Desk at help@eBRAP.org or 301-682-5507 if you need further assistance.

This response may be updated at a later date depending on whether application review panel meeting dates are revised. Please check this page periodically for possible updates.

3. Waiver of Notice of Funding Opportunities Publication: 

USAMRAA has no immediate emergency Program Announcements for grants or cooperative agreements available at this time.

This response may be updated at a later date depending on whether application review panel meeting dates are revised. Please check this page periodically for possible updates.

4. No-cost extensions on expiring awards:

USAMRAA’s terms and conditions of award already allow for a one-time, no cost extension of up to 12 months, without need to request prior approval, when the recipient notifies the Grants Officer (GO).

Recipients may notify USAMRAA’s GO(s) of a blanket no-cost extension on all active awards(including grant numbers) covered under M-20-17 -- i.e., they do not need to be requested on an individual basis for each award.

However, please be aware that funding expiration statutes may prohibit extensions. Recipients should contact the USAMRAA GO for award-specific guidance.

5. Abbreviated continuation requests:

Not applicable for USAMRAA grants and cooperative agreements.

6. Expenditure of award funds for salaries and other project activities:

Recipients may continue to charge salaries and benefits to currently active awards consistent with the recipients' policy of paying salaries (under unexpected or extraordinary circumstances) from all funding sources, Federal and non-Federal.

USAMRAA will allow other costs to be charged to Federal awards necessary to resume activities supported by the award, consistent with applicable Federal cost principles and the benefit to the project. This may include allowing rent on equipment and facilities during this time frame.

However, to the maximum extent practicable, recipients must invoke or institute any and all reasonable mitigation actions and practices to lessen the cost to the Government during the crisis period. Such actions may be part of an existing program created by the recipient organization or may be created to respond to this crisis.

Recipients must maintain appropriate records and cost documentation as required by 2 CFR §200.302 - Financial management and 2 CFR § 200.333 - Retention requirement of records to substantiate the charging of any salaries and other project activities costs related to interruption of operations or services.

7. Allowability of Costs not Normally Chargeable to Awards.

USAMRAA will allow recipients who incur costs related to the cancellation of events, travel, or other activities necessary and reasonable for the performance of the award, or the pausing and restarting of grant funded activities due to the public health emergency, to charge these costs to their award without regard to 2 CFR § 200.403, Factors affecting allow ability of costs, 2 CFR §200.404, Reasonable costs, and 2 CFR § 200.405, Allocable costs.

USAMRAA will allow recipients to charge full cost of cancellation when the event, travel, or other activities are conducted under the auspices of the grant.

However, recipients should not assume additional funds will be available should the charging of cancellation or other fees result in a shortage of funds to eventually carry out the event or travel.

Recipients are required to maintain appropriate records and cost documentation as required by2 CFR § 200.302 - Financial management and 2 CFR § 200.333 Retention requirement of records, to substantiate the charging of any cancellation or other fees related to interruption of operations or services.

8. Prior approval requirement waivers:

OMB and DoD have authorized awarding agencies to waive prior approval requirements as necessary. Some prior approvals are already waived under the DoD General Research &Development Terms and Conditions and USAMRAA’s agency-specific terms conditions.

Recipients should consult their GO regarding other potential prior approval waivers based on project-specific circumstances.

All costs charged to Federal awards must be consistent with Federal cost policy guidelines and the terms of the award, except where specified in OMB Memorandum M-20-17.

9. Exemption of certain procurement requirements:

The procurement requirements contained in 2 CFR 200.319(b) regarding geographic preference and 2 CFR 200.231 regarding contracting with small and minority businesses, women’s business enterprises, and labor surplus supply firms are waved in order to expedite the procurement process for needed support during the period outlined in OMB Memorandum M-20-17.

10. Extension of financial and other reporting:

Recipients may delay submission of financial, performance and other reports on currently active award accounts up to three (3) months beyond the normal due date.
Contact the GO and Grants Officer’s Representative (GOR) for extensions on other milestones and deliverables required in the terms and conditions of the award. If warranted, the same three-month extension may be granted.

Recipients may continue to invoice for payment of Federal funds without timely submission of reports.

Reports must be submitted at the end of the postponed period. Additional extensions require prior approval of the GO.

11. Extension of currently approved indirect costs rates:

Recipients may continue to use the currently approved indirect cost rates (i.e., predetermined, fixed, or provisional rates) to recover their indirect costs on Federal awards.

Recipients may contact their cognizant agency for indirect costs to request an extension on the use of the current rates for one additional year without submission of an indirect cost proposal. The cognizant agency may also approve requests for an extension of the indirect cost rate proposal submission to finalize the current rates and establish future rates.

12. Extension of closeout:

Recipients may delay submission of any pending financial, performance and other reports required by the terms of the award for the closeout of expired projects, provided that proper notice about the reporting delay is given by the grantee to the GO.

This delay in submitting closeout reports may not exceed one year after the award expires.

13. Extension of Single Audit submission.

Implemented as stated in M-20-17.

14. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the conduct of my DoD-supported human subjects research protocol. What do I need to report to the USAMRDC Human Research Protection Office (HRPO)? 

For guidance, visit https://mrdc.amedd.army.mil/index.cfm/collaborate/research_protections/hrpo/faqs

15. ACURO Guidance During the COVID-19 Pandemic

For guidance, visit https://mrdc.amedd.army.mil/assets/docs/orp/acuro/ACURO_Guidance_for_COVID-19.pdf"

Dr Mike Lauer, Deputy Director for Extramural Research at the National Institute of Health released an update on 26 March 2020.

This update responds to further questions raised from their update that was covered in our previous article Databases and other information on COVID-19 from the World Health Organisation and the National Institutes of Health.

"The public health emergency due to COVID-19 is causing difficulties in many aspects of our lives. My colleagues and I here at NIH are well aware of the challenges being felt in the research community as institutions are closing, people are being asked to practice social distancing, and resources and attention are justifiably focused on public health needs. We are listening to your concerns and are working quickly to develop answers to your many questions.

We recently updated our Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Information for NIH Applicants and Recipients website with a slew of additional FAQs, new funding opportunities, as well as the video message from me, below, where I address some of the most common questions. 

Since yesterday’s recording of this video, in response to community concerns about their ability to submit applications in a timely manner, we have published a notice announcing that grant applications submitted late for due dates between March 9, 2020, and May 1, 2020, will be accepted through May 1, 2020. This notice applies to all relevant funding opportunity announcements, including those that indicate no late applications will be accepted. A cover letter providing a justification is not required. NIH will be extending the expiration date of most FOAs expiring between now and May 1. Be sure to read the notice carefully for details.

Things are moving quickly. Please continue to communicate with us. We are listening.

I encourage you to monitor our website frequently. To help you identify updated content, the page now includes a link to page update history so you can easily see what’s new."

The Department of Health and the Research Contracts team, Research Development and Support, Flinders University, have provided the following information regarding the Community Grants Hub "Population Health and Sport" Funding Arrangements. Specifically, this information is for funding recipients and the process to notify changes to project delivery following COVID-19.

This message is for researchers who received Commonwealth funding through a spending approval given by the Population Health and Sport Division in the Department of Health.

Population Health and Sport team acknowledges that the quickly emerging concerns regarding coronavirus are impacting researchers ability to plan, commit to and deliver projects, programs, activities and services in the upcoming months.

It is important that these projects, programs, activities and services continue throughout this period, where possible. However, there exists flexibility for you to adjust and cease or postpone plans that were in train. You do not need to seek approval ahead of making changes to previously agreed approaches and activities.

Please notify healthsportgrants@dss.gov.au of the decisions you make with details of the: (may need not be limited to)
* There is no need for you to write to the Department again – unless things have changed – if you have done so in the last fortnight.

• Significant changes being made;
• Impact on deliverables, and projected timeline for completion; and
• Where adjusted arrangements are not able to be put into place. 

Population Health and Sport team suggests that you use “key words” in the subject line to enable them to act on your notification. For e.g  Covid-19 Impact – [Org Name] – Activity ID – Activity Title. The Community Grants Hub has an established mechanism by which those managing Health grants report this information through to the Department of Health policy teams for their consideration and, if necessary, action.

We ask that you copy research.contracts@flinders.edu.au to your email.

The Department of Health COVID-19 health alert webpage is updated regularly with the most up-to-date public health information, prevention strategies and resources.  A COVID-19 Health Information Hotline (1800 020 080) is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation (NFMRI) has released an update for the research community in relation to COVID-19.

This includes information for new and existing research grants, online reporting and the transfer of presentations to online presentations/webinars. See below for more detailed information.

Response for new and existing research grants

NFMRI has sent a letter to researchers to re-assure them of their flexibility during these uncertain times. Being aware of the potential impact of COVID-19 to research around the country, NHMRI has informed grants recipients of their ability to offer time extension as required to alleviate anxiety or concern faced by the research community. Researchers are encouraged to communicate openly with NFMRI so that they can be of assistance and support them on a case-by-case basis.

Online reporting

Over the coming months, NFMRI will be introducing and implementing a new cloud-based, online progressive reporting system, where researchers will have the ability to log-in remotely and update progress periodically as it occurs. They remain committed to reducing the time researchers spend on administration whilst receiving the updates and progress information we require.

This expands upon their existing top-up form and will provide greater flexibility by allowing Chief Investigators to log into their personal dashboard and update progress as and when it occurs, making it easier to submit reports when due. It will also enable NFMRI to capture progress as it occurs and beyond the grant period as translation progresses and impact is realised.

Online presentations/webinars

As part of their grants program, NFMRI normally deliver presentations to educate researchers around translation and to address some of the factors that will increase their chances of success when applying for grants. 

Due to the current COVID-19, all presentations have been postponed and they are instead looking to offer complimentary webinar meetings. NFMRI welcome any topic suggestions researchers may have - please feel free to send these through via email (events@nfmri.org.au).

As webinars are planned, they will be announced via newsletter and on their website's event section.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has a dedicated COVID-19 section on their website that provides a database on COVID-19 related publications, resources and information. The WHO also provides detail on their Emergency Use Listing Procedure (EUL) and the International Clinical Trials registry platform.

The National Library of Medicine from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has created an open-resource literature hub known as LitCovid, that aims to curate the most comprehensive collection of international COVID-19 research papers.

As detailed in Nature, LitCovid has been developed with the support of the US National Institutes of Health’s intramural research programme, and is updated daily with newly published articles. The aim is to provide timely insight from the scientific literature into the biology of the virus and the diagnosis and management of those who have been infected.

LitCovid has a sophisticated search function that can identify roughly 35% more relevant articles than do conventional keyword-based searches for entries such as ‘COVID-19’ or ‘nCOV’. The articles are categorised by topic - overview, disease mechanism, transmission dynamics, treatment, case report and epidemic forecasting - as well as by geographic location for visualisation on a world map.

The NIH website on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Information for NIH Applicants and Recipients has a list of available resources for researchers and applicants. The resources include links to NIH Guide Notices and FAQs as well as information provided by the CDC and the WHO. 

The Deputy Director for Extramural Research, Dr Michael Lauer, has released a statement and video link on flexibilities needed for COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

Assistance and application advice is available from the Flinders' Grants and Tenders team.

Note other databases and resources may exist, but these two have been brought to our attention by members of Flinders’ research community who were keen to share these resources with colleagues. Please contact us if you wish to alert us to other COVID-19 related research news, information or resources.

The Australia-ASEAN Council has postponed its 2020-21 grant round in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australia-ASEAN Council (AAC) grants generate opportunities for Australian business, education, science and innovation and the arts to work with partners in Southeast Asia.

The AAC's mission is to increase knowledge and promote Australia's interests in Southeast Asia by initiating and supporting activities designed to enhance awareness, understanding and links between people and institutions in Australia and ten Southeast Asian countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Inspiring Research will provide updates related to future opportunities with the Australia-ASEAN Council.

Further information is available at the Australia-ASEAN Grants webpage.

The Australia-India Council has postponed its 2020-21 grant round in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Australia-India Council (AIC)'s mission is to advance Australia's foreign and trade policy interests by building awareness and understanding between the people and institutions of Australia and India.

Inspiring Research will provide updates related to future opportunities with the Australia-India Council.

For more information, visit the Australia-India Council grant webpage.

The Australia-Indonesia Institute has postponed its 2020-21 grant round in the context of the emerging COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Australia-Indonesia Institute (AII) was established in 1989 to foster links between Australia and Indonesia by increasing cultural awareness and mutual understanding, and promoting cooperation and exchange.

AII grants contribute to a more broadly based and enduring relationship between Australia and Indonesia and foster positive images of Australia and Indonesia in each other's country.

Inspiring Research will provide updates related to future opportunities with the Australia-Indonesia Institute.

For more information visit the Australia-Indonesia Institute grants webpage.

Future Leader Fellows are emerging leaders, the best and brightest in cardiovascular research. Being awarded a fellowship will allow a researcher to build their research capacity as they become leaders of research groups.

The fellowship funds a generous salary along with project funding, to facilitate high impact research outcomes and assist researchers in leveraging funds from further sources to help support their career.

Level 1 Fellowship must be 3–7 years post awarding of their PhD on the application closing date. Level 2 Fellowship must be 7–10 years post awarding of their PhD on the application closing date. Applicants must be involved in any area of cardiovascular health research including biomedical, clinical, public health and health service delivery.

Applications open on 2 March 2020 and will now close on 8 May 2020. The Flinders internal closing date for a completed final draft application is 24 April 2020.

For application advice and assistance, contact Mary Lyons, Senior Research Grants Officer (IGII).

For more information, including eligibility criteria, visit the Heart Foundation website. 

Heart Foundation Vanguard Grants are available to researchers for concept studies with the potential to improve cardiovascular health in the short term.

Designed to test the feasibility of innovative concepts, Vanguard Grants may lead to larger, more rigorous testing in the future. The projects will provide tangible outcomes with the potential to improve cardiovascular health. 

To be eligible, an applicant must be involved in any area of cardiovascular health research including biomedical, clinical, public health and health service delivery and only one application per applicant (Chief Investigator A only) is allowed.

Applicants can apply for funding for up to two years, with up to $75,000 of funding per year.

Applications will now close on 1 May 2020. The Flinders internal closing date for a completed final draft application is 24 April 2020. For application advice and assistance, contact Gareth Rees, Senior Research Grants Officer (NHMRC and Health).

For more information, including eligibility criteria, visit the Heart Foundation website.

The Heart Foundation Health Professional Scholarships are now open.

Health Professional Scholars are established health professionals who have become active in research through the undertaking of a PhD. Applicants will be encouraged to continue their cardiovascular health practice during their PhD, whilst being encouraged to develop evidence-based health practice and research translation. 

Health professionals who have a strong research background are uniquely placed to champion and lead the translation of research into practice, with the potential to produce immediate health outcomes. 

Applications open on 3 February 2020 and will now close on 1 May 2020.

For advice and application assistance on the Health Professional Scholarship, contact Gareth Rees, Senior Research Grants Officer (NHMRC and Health), Research Development and Support.

For more information, visit the Heart Foundation website.