![](https://thelimbic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/AnneKelso.jpg)
Prof Anne Kelso
The NHMRC says it is delaying the schedules for 2021 Investigator Grants and Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies (CTCS) schemes to take into account COVID-19 pandemic disruptions this year.
The funding body says it will move its 2021 Investigator Grant round application period to February-March 2021 instead of the original closing date of November 2020. The application period for 2021 CTCS Grants will be delayed to July-August 2021.
In a statement, CEO Professor Anne Kelso said the changes are being made to provide applicants with as much time as possible to plan and prepare applications for the next round of funding, and to avoid scheduling clashes as a result of delays to the Ideas Grant and CTCS Grant schemes in 2020.
“NHMRC is aware that all researchers and support staff continue to be affected, to varying degrees, by the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.
“These effects include interruptions to research activities, increased workloads for front-line health care workers and public health researchers and increased caring responsibilities, particularly for those based in Victoria. The … changes have been made in response to these impacts.”
According to the NHMRC, the aim is minimise disruption by avoiding scheduling clashes caused by delays to the 2020 Ideas and CTCS Grant rounds wherever possible, limit overlap with national school holidays, the Christmas/New Year break and traditional conference periods, and harmonise key dates with the Australian Research Council 2021 schedule to spread the load on RAOs and applicants to both agencies.