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 (FHB) will be open to applications for grants starting from tomorrow (July 23).

To encourage, facilitate and support research on the prevention, treatment and control of infectious diseases, the RFCID will consider 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 the Mainland and overseas institutions is encouraged.

As for the HHSRF, its objective is to maximise population health, improve quality of life, and enhance the standard and cost-effectiveness of the healthcare system through the generation of new knowledge in areas of human health and health services.

A spokesman for the FHB said: "Quality research can help us formulate health policies and prioritise major health issues relevant to Hong Kong.

"The call for investigator-initiated grant applications underlines the importance attached by the Government to both basic and applied research."

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

RFCID:
*Viral respiratory pathogens (including influenza)
*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

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 form the vetting criteria for grant applications.

The closing date for applications is November 16, 2010. Details of the thematic priorities, application guidelines and application forms can be obtained from the Research Fund Secretariat, Research Office of the FHB 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/Thursday, July 22, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:01

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