Press Releases

Call for research grant applications

        The Health, Welfare and Food Bureau today (June 13) invited grant applications from researchers for the two research funds under its administration.

        The two funds are the Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases (RFCID) and the Health and Health Services Research Fund (HHSRF).

        A spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said the call for investigator-initiated grant applications underlined the importance attached by the Government to medical research.

        The knowledge and the best practice protocol generated through research evidence would benefit both the local and global community, the spokesman added.

        Since the inception of the two funds, a total of 349 investigator-initiated grant applications have been received. Following careful vetting and evaluation, the bureau endorsed 53 projects with a total grant of $32 million.

        The RFCID, with a fund of $450 million, was set up to encourage and support research on the prevention, treatment and control of infectious diseases.

        It considers applications for research projects relevant to the control of infectious diseases in the area of aetiology, epidemiology and public health, basic research, and clinical and health services research. Collaborative research with mainland China and overseas institutions is encouraged.

        The HHSRF, with a fund of $10 million, was established with the aim of maximising population health, improving the quality of life, and enhancing the standard and cost-effectiveness of the health system through the generation of new knowledge in areas of human health and health services.

        It has three broad themes centred on public health, health services and Chinese medicine. Funding preference will be given to research projects relevant to cancer, the healthcare system, healthy living and mental health.

        The closing date for applications for both funds is September 11 this year. All applications will be subject to a two-tiered peer review process, first by the Referee Panel and second by the Grant Review Board.

        Scientific merit, local relevance, research capacity of the administering institution, track record of applicants, "value for money" of the proposals and research ethics will be taken into consideration.

        Guidance notes and application forms can be obtained from the Research Fund Secretariat of the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, 18/F, Murray Building, Garden Road, Central or the website at www.hwfb.gov.hk/grants. Enquiries can be made by fax to 3150 8993 or by email to rfs@hwfb.gov.hk.

Ends/Sunday, June 13, 2004

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