The Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) administered by the Food and Health Bureau is open for applications from today (December 19).

     The HMRF aims to encourage and support health and medical research that helps formulate health policies, enhance clinical practices and improve population health.  

     Under the current round of applications, the HMRF invites research proposals with the following themes:

(a) Health and health services, including public health, health services and Chinese medicine;
(b) Infectious diseases; and
(c) Advanced medical research in specific areas, including clinical genetics, clinical trials, neuroscience and paediatrics.

     The fund invites applications from locally based academics, researchers, and healthcare practitioners from the public and private sectors. Collaborative research with non-local institutions is also encouraged.
 
     The grant ceiling is $1.2 million per project. Each principal applicant is allowed to submit one application (either a new application or a resubmission). The principal applicant shall be based in a Hong Kong institution throughout the project period and employed by the administering institution at the time of submission of application.

     Applications will be subject to peer review. The vetting will take into account scientific merit, local relevance and translational potential/value of the proposals, research capacity of the administering institutions, track record of applicants, value for money of the proposals and research ethics.

     Completed electronic application forms should be submitted via the electronic Grant Management System (eGMS) (https://rfs.fhb.gov.hk/eGMS) on or before March 31, 2017 (18:00 Hong Kong time). Briefing-cum-Grant Skills Training Workshops for the open call exercise will be held on January 7 and 14, 2017.

     Details of the research priorities and application-related materials are available at rfs.fhb.gov.hk. Enquiries can be made by fax at 2102 2444 or by e-mail to rfs@fhb.gov.hk.

Ends/Monday, December 19, 2016
Issued at HKT 11:00

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