Press Releases

Call for research grant applications

Two research funds under the administration of the Food and Health Bureau will be open to application from researchers tomorrow (August 15). The closing date for applications is November 15.

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 bureau said the call for investigator-initiated grant applications underlined the importance attached by the Government to both basic and applied research.

"Quality research can help the Government formulate health policies and prioritise major health issues relevant to Hong Kong," the spokesman said.

Higher funding priorities will be accorded to certain areas. In brief, they are:

RFCID
* Respiratory infectious diseases
- Avian influenza
- Tuberculosis
* Vector-borne diseases

HHSRF
* Public health theme
- Smoking
- Mental Health
- Healthy community
- Child nutrition
* Health services theme (especially cancer, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, respiratory disease)
* Chinese medicine theme (especially interactions between Chinese and Western medicines)

The spokesman said the theme of "child nutrition" was added to the current open call to reflect the growing awareness that good health in childhood may prevent long-term health problems.

The RFCID, with a fund of $450 million, was set up to encourage, facilitate 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.

This year, the RFCID will focus in particular on avian influenza, reflecting the current regional and global concern over the pandemic potential of this virus.

The HHSRF, with a fund of $76 million, was established with the aims 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.

Applications will be subject to a rigorous peer review process. Scientific merit, local relevance, research capacity of the administering institution, track records of applicants, "value for money" of the proposals and research ethics are the vetting criteria for a successful grant.

Details of the thematic priorities, application guidelines and application forms can be obtained from the Research Fund Secretariat, Research Office of the Food and Health Bureau at 18/F, Murray Building, Garden Road, Central, or downloaded from the Research Fund Secretariat's website at http://www.fhb.gov.hk/grants. Enquiries can be made by fax at 3150 8993 or by e-mail to rfs@fhb.gov.hk.


Ends/Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:04

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