NCCR: Applications for Research Project Support

NCCR: Applications for Research Project Support

Call for expressions of interest (EOI)

The National Critical Care Research Platform (NCCR) is a collaboration aimed at developing a Learning Healthcare System that improves patient and family outcomes and builds efficiencies in the critical care setting, with an initial focus on Sepsis. NCCR also aims to support the development of early to mid-career researchers (EMCR) researchers. The NCCR is now accepting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for project support, welcoming research project applications from a diverse range of investigators, and project teams, focused on ICU Sepsis care in Australia and New Zealand. Projects will be embedded within the Platform, so as to allow rapid, cost-effective assessment of sepsis questions and interventions. Additional study costs (for trial consumables and/or site remuneration) will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  Optimally, all such costs will be met by separate grant funding.

Project support may include:

·         Sepsis platform integration (electronic case report forms development and database integration)

·         Research personnel time

·         Financial support for study cost (case by case basis)

Eligible research projects must align with the NCCR mission:

·         To establish large-scale interdisciplinary research

·         Implementation of substantial improvements to health care and/or health system effectiveness

·         To support EMCR to transform health practice and/or policy

·         To conduct prospective observational or interventional research into sepsis, ideally with embedded benchmarking and knowledge translation

·         Project developed in collaboration with NCCR EMCR researchers

Our group has significant experience in executing such projects.

The research projects will be chosen based on how closely they align with any/ all of the NCCR objectives:

1.       development of patient and consumer centric outcomes

2.       undertake sepsis research of high importance to clinicians and consumers

3.       provision of benchmarking and outcome reporting

4.       undertake research that improves survivorship in post-sepsis ICU admissions

Review Process

Applications will undergo a peer review process with no conflicts of interest and will be ranked according to the eligibility criteria outlined below. The NCCR Management Committee will determine the application priority to maximise the achievement of our mission and the overall goals of our support program.

Calendar Deadlines

Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for project applications

Begins: 26/08/2024

Ends: 9/09/2024

Full project applications

Begins: 16/09/2024

Ends: 30/09/2024

Announcement of successful project

7/10/2024

Eligibility Criteria

Essential Criteria

·         The research project must closely align with the NCCR objectives.

·         Willingness to comply with NCCR marketing and promotional requests, as outlined in the funding agreement, e.g., photographs and quotes about the impact of your study.

·         Involvement of an EMCR NCCR investigator in the development.

·        Project feasibility is such that it can be completed within 18 months.

Desirable Criteria

·         Encouragement of interprofessional collaboration and diverse project teams.

·         Trials that use innovative designs, promoting early identification of effective therapies, will be given high priority.

·         Co-enrolment and assessment of multiple interventions in parallel maybe be prioritised, so as to generate clinically meaningful results within the shortest time-frame.

·         Projects that foster diversity and inclusivity. This may apply to the project team, topic or subjects, as well as how the project’s output will be applied.

·         Projects that promote fairness and equity, especially projects which include the first peoples of Australia and New Zealand.

·         Advancing early career researchers (ECRs).

Any potential EOI applicant who is uncertain if their project is eligible is welcome to contact the NCCR prior to the submission deadline contact@nccr.au or visit the website for further details www.nccr.au

Evaluation Criteria

EOIs for projects will be evaluated on their alignment with the NCCR objectives and will be judged in three domains:

1.       Merit (including significance and usefulness),

2.       Methods (including feasibility, budget, and capacity of the team to succeed), and

3.       Impact (of the project outputs).

How to apply

·         Download a copy of the 2024 Expression of Interest below

·         Submit your completed form to contact@nccr.au before 17:00 AEST on 9th September 2024