Press Releases

Call for research grant applications

        The Health, Welfare and Food Bureau is inviting grant applications for the Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases (RFCID).

        A Health, Welfare and Food Bureau spokesman said today (November 7) that the call for research grant applications underlined the importance attached by the Government to medical research.

        The RFCID 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.

        "A new feature of this call is the adoption of thematic priorities. Applications addressing infectious respiratory diseases will be preferred," the spokesman said.

        Higher funding priorities will be accorded to the following areas:

*Epidemiological characteristics of the common type of infectious respiratory diseases;

*Role of rapid diagnostic tests in early detection;

*Cost benefit of different control strategies including vaccine deployment; and

*Improving the surveillance and diagnosis of respiratory viral infections and community acquired pneumonias.

        "Applications falling outside the above priorities will still be considered, although they will have a lower funding preference," the spokesman said.

        The $500 million RFCID was set up to encourage, facilitate and support research on the prevention, treatment and control of infectious diseases, in particular emerging infectious diseases.

        The closing date for applications is February 12, 2005. 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 records of applicants, "value for money" of the proposals and research ethics will be taken into consideration.

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

Ends/Sunday, November 7, 2004

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