Deadline for applications: midnight 14th February 2021

Background

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Australasian Clinical Trials (PACT) Network is a collaboration uniting the Centre for Research Excellence in Pulmonary Fibrosis, leading pulmonary fibrosis specialists, and Lung Foundation Australia to design and deliver high quality clinical trials and studies that will provide hope and improved outcomes for people living with pulmonary fibrosis.

PACT’s Mission is to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with pulmonary fibrosis and improve the quality of life for people living with pulmonary fibrosis, their carers and families through the facilitation and coordination of high quality clinical research.

Invitation

In 2021, there is ONE (1) Grant-in-Aid opportunity valued at up to AUD30,000 to assist investigator led pulmonary fibrosis clinical research. The objective of the PACT Grant-in-Aid is to facilitate high quality clinical research in line with PACT’s Mission Statement (https://pact.lungfoundation.com.au/about-pact/).

The PACT Grant-in-Aid Award is open to Health Professional PACT members (join here - https://pact.lungfoundation.com.au/pact-membership/). Members may apply individually or as part of a group, however collaborative studies are preferred.

Note that these funds can be used to support any stage of clinical research. Funds cannot be used for preclinical research. In most cases, the PACT Grant-in-Aid is not intended to provide sole support for the research activities. Instead it is designed to act as seed money to obtain pilot data to support attracting additional external funding; or as a top up Grant–in-Aid to assist with undertaking a currently funded research project. For example, the Grant-in-Aid funding may be used to support:

• clinical trial coordinator costs not funded by existing grant funding;
• technical staff costs not funded by existing grant funding;
• additional laboratory work directly related to a discrete clinical research project;
• post-hoc statistical or bioinformatic analysis of a large dataset derived from a recently completed clinical research project; and/or
• equipment/consumables directly related to a discrete clinical research project.

Information should also be provided on other sources of project funding and how the Grant would be used if the application were to be successful. Preference will be given to applications which demonstrate most clearly how the Grant-in-Aid will leverage existing funding or significantly enhance the attractiveness of a subsequent grant proposal.

Applications will undergo peer-review with the support of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ). If during the peer-review process the reviewing committee determine there are no applications of suitable merit, PACT has a right to decline to award the Grant.

Key Eligibility Criterion

The PACT Grant-in-Aid will be offered to an individual or group of individuals meeting the following eligibility criterion:

• The applicant(s) must be a health professional PACT member(s) (https://pact.lungfoundation.com.au/pact-membership/).
• The lead applicant must be a member of The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ; https://www.thoracic.org.au/membership-information/membership).
• The application must be for clinical research (i.e. involve study subjects and/or subject clinical samples).
• The application must be for pulmonary fibrosis research (IPF, other idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, sarcoidosis, pneumoconiosis etc).
• The research must be investigator-led. Sponsored research will not be funded.
• The application can relate to new research or research which is already underway, however preference will be given to applications where the impact of the PACT Grant-in-Aid is likely to be greatest. Research which is already completed will not be funded.
• Early career researchers (ECR) - defined as within 5 years of PhD or equivalent - are encouraged to apply (the track record component will be assessed relative to opportunity), but must identify a suitable mentor/supervisor, provide these details in the application, and attach a letter of support.

Conditions

1. The Grant will be competitive and open to Australian and New Zealand citizens/residents.
2. Applications should include a summary of the rationale for the study, the scientific design, intended duration and whether or not it has gained ethical approval.
3. Applications should include a letter from the lead applicant’s Head of Department, providing support for the project.
4. Applications should include a statement regarding current funding sources for the study.
5. Grantees are expected to commence their project within six (6) calendar months of being awarded. If the award is not taken up within this timeframe the monies will be forfeited.
6. In applying for research funding from PACT, applicants must confirm that they will:
   1. Ensure the ethical conduct of research under the Grant;
   2. Identify any applications to other organisations for the same project;
   3. Acknowledge the support of PACT and the CRE-PF in any publications (including scientific articles, press releases and abstracts) arising from work carried out under the Grant; and
   4. Provide a Final Report on the funded work within 24 months of commencement of the Grant, signed off by the lead investigator and supervisor if early career. Note that completion of the funded work may not coincide with completion of the project or trial in its entirety.
7. By virtue of the signature of the appropriate administrative officer on the application form, institutions confirm that they will ensure:
   1. That monies given by PACT will be administered by the institution only for the purpose designated by PACT and in accordance with any directions given;
   2. That physical facilities and infrastructure support will be provided and maintained to allow research under the grant to proceed; and
   3. That the applicant/s has/have the work time available to undertake the proposed study when existing commitments are considered.
8. Any Grant will be conditional upon the relevant institution and the applicant(s) entering into an appropriate form of agreement with PACT as to the disposition of the grant.
9. Recipients of Grants may be asked by PACT to present the results of the funded research at a public symposium, in media or other promotional activity organised by PACT, the Lung Foundation or TSANZ.

Applications will be assessed by an independent review committee. The judging criteria for the submitted applications will be:

Timeline

Application & Supporting Documents