The NHMRC is inviting public submissions to its consultation on the review its grant program.
Announcing the review earlier this year CEO Professor Anne Kelso said. “We have a vibrant, highly productive and internationally competitive research community. However, we are also aware that the increasing number of applications places a heavy burden on applicants and on the many members of the research community who peer-review applications”.
“Concerns have also been raised that opportunities for early and mid-career researchers and for exploration of new areas of research are being affected.”
“We are therefore commencing an over-arching review of the structure of NHMRC’s grant program to determine whether we can streamline the current suite of funding schemes, while continuing to support the best Australian research and researchers for the benefit of human health.”
Last week the NHMRC held public forums in several capital cities for researchers and organisations to hear from NHMRC and ask questions about the review.
You can watch a video summary here.
Keep reading for the NHMRC’s FAQs on the review and details on how to make a submission.
1. Why is the review being undertaken?
Feedback from the research sector indicates that the work required to prepare and evaluate the high numbers of grant applications that will not be funded is placing an unsustainable burden on applicants and peer reviewers. Concerns have also been raised that many researchers, especially those at early and mid-career stages, are also becoming discouraged from pursuing research and that there are disincentives to exploring new areas of research.
It is for these reasons that NHMRC is reviewing the structure of its grant program to determine whether it can be streamlined and adapted to meet these challenges, while ensuring that we continue to support high-quality research to achieve the best possible health outcomes.
2. Will the review consider submissions to NHMRC’s 2015 Fellowship Consultation?
Yes. Submissions to the Fellowship Consultation have been considered in developing the alternative models presented in the Review consultation paper.
The 148 submissions to the 2015 Fellowship Consultation were published on NHMRC’s website earlier this year. Click here for more information.
3. Why aren’t peer review processes being considered in the review?
The review is focussed on the structure of NHMRC’s grant program to ensure that the critical issues relating to the architecture of the program receive the attention they require. Once the review is completed and the structure of NHMRC’s grant program determined, NHMRC will consider changes to its application and peer review processes. The types of changes that could be explored will depend on the structure of the grant program. For example, if a new structure was introduced that led to a substantial reduction in application numbers, it may be feasible to hold more than one application round per year or continuous application rounds and/or iterative review of near-miss applications by the same grant review panel.
In 2016, NHMRC is trialling changes to the peer review process for its Development Grants scheme. The results of this trial will be considered with the outcomes of the review in discussions of future peer review processes. Click here for more information about the Development Grants scheme.
4. Will the review consider the relationship between support for health and medical research from NHMRC and the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)?
No. The review is focussed on how NHMRC could best structure its grant program to distribute research funds from the Medical Research Endowment Account (MREA).
Expenditure from the MRFF will be determined by the Minister for Health, guided by the strategy and priorities currently being developed by the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board and taking into account NHMRC’s strategy for health and medical research. The priorities guiding the MRFF’s expenditure are expected to be different and complementary to those of NHMRC.
5. Have international funding agencies been consulted?
Yes. There are a number of reforms taking place in other countries to address issues similar to those we are experiencing here in Australia. Accordingly, NHMRC is discussing the review with representatives from a number of international funding agencies to gain their insights into different grant program structures and their experience with reform.