Press Releases

Call for research grant applications

The Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases (RFCID) and the Health and Health Services Research Fund (HHSRF) under the administration of the Food and Health Bureau will be open to application from researchers next Monday (June 22).

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

RFCID
* Human swine influenza
* Viral respiratory pathogens
* Technology platforms for infectious disease
* Zoonotic diseases

HHSRF
* Public health theme
- Smoking
- Mental health
- Injury and poisoning
* Health services theme
- Enhanced primary care
- Reducing avoidable hospitalisation
- Chronic disease prevention and management
* Chinese medicine theme

In response to the current human swine influenza (HSI) pandemic, an expedited review of research proposals related to HSI is specially arranged and the closing date for submissions is July 31, 2009. The closing date for other research grant applications is November 17, 2009.

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.

The RFCID 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 areas 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 was established with the aims of maximising population health, improving the quality of life, and enhancing the standards and cost-effectiveness of the health system through the generation of new knowledge in areas of human health and health services.

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 (www.fhb.gov.hk/grants). Enquiries can be made by fax at 3150 8993 or by e-mail to rfs@fhb.gov.hk.


Ends/Friday, June 19, 2009
Issued at HKT 11:12

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