tri spore grants

APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 5.00pm 13 JULY 

THE 2018 ROUND OF GRANTS NOW OPEN

The TRI Spore Grants are for multidisciplinary teams of scientists and clinicians from a combination of academic, commercial and clinical backgrounds to test innovative ideas.  The TRI Spore Grants will be awarded to the applicant team with an important clinical question; a clear translational outcome identified and a commercial partner involved in the preparation of the application.

Funding Principles

TRI Spore Grants are intended to encourage the formation of new multi-party and cross discipline collaborations and partnerships with a common goal to drive innovations in translational research that aim to solve problems.

To date TRI has handed out seven Spore Grants. Applications for 2018 now open and up to four new Spore grants for 12 months up to a possible total of $90,000 each will be funded in 2018. 

Key Eligibility Criteria and Terms & Conditions

The TRI stakeholder institutions - The University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, Mater Medical Research Institute and Metro Health South - will provide $10,000 per Grant, if part of the multidisciplinary team.   TRI will provide $50,000 per Grant.   The Grants will be subject to the following conditions being met:

1. The Grants are open to all researchers and clinicians who are TRI members.
2. The proposal involves researchers belonging to at least two different TRI stakeholder institutions, one of these must be from a clinical discipline who is an active clinician.
3. The proposal constitutes a collaboration formed to test a new idea or innovation.
4. Each participating stakeholder institute must provide a letter confirming their role and funding commitment to the research program outlined in the grant application.
5. The proposal must include an expression of interest or commitment of support from a commercial partner.
6. The proposal must clearly outline the contributions and role of each of the participating researchers, clinicians from the stakeholder institutes and the lead Chief Investigator/s (CI) in the project.
7. TRI must be acknowledged on all publications and slide presentations.
8. All committed funding by the participating stakeholders must be paid upfront to TRI, as agreed between TRI and each stakeholder for each project.
9. The Grant will be milestone based and paid to the lead applicant's administering institute only.
10. For the purpose of this year’s Grants, as one of the key milestones, the applicant and the teams must be willing to:
    1. Provide a non-confidential, one to two page summary of the commercial potential of the project outcomes by addressing the value proposition of the project, key results, current position on the translational continuum, competition, market, IP position if any and areas of future use.
11. Upon being awarded, it is expected the lead applicant’s institute will
    1. Enter into a funding agreement with TRI as outlined in Spore grant terms & conditions agreement for the 2018 round
    2. Enter into relevant Inter Institutional Agreements with the participating partners
    3. Ensure relevant ethics and governance structures will be put in place with the participating partners to undertake the work
12. TRI recommends, the applicants and their institutions review the Spore grant terms & conditions and are in agreement with the proposed terms prior to applying.  Read the 2018 TRI Spore Grants Terms & Conditions agreement.
13. All key conditions and eligibility criteria listed in this application criteria must be met.

Key Assessment Criteria

1. Addresses a key clinical question
2. Meets the funding criteria objectives, specifically:
   1. Formation of a multidisciplinary team from at least two of TRI stakeholder organisations and an industry partner, has a clinician as one of the chief investigators
   2. Endorsement of the research program and/or Funding commitment from the participating shareholder organisations and industry partner
   3. Team’s willingness to access TRI resources and support in research translation
3. The scientific merit of the application:
   1. ​A well-defined and strongly developed program able to demonstrate or achieve the required proof of principle data
   2. The scientific achievements and research expertise of the team relative to the field of proposed research
4. The commercial potential of the application:
   1. Demonstrate how the results obtained through this project will be sustained, developed over the long term to a product, technology, process or solution
   2. Value proposition of the proposed research project in the long term i.e. the end product as the goal
   3. Target market and potential commercial benefits
   4. How funding from Spore grant will significantly increase the probability of successful translation, commercialisation or attract more funding to further develop the opportunity
5. The scientific and commercial expertise and achievements of the multidisciplinary team

Applications

1. To be considered, completed application forms, fully signed by the participating researchers along with supporting attachments must be sent in a PDF format by email to [email protected] by Friday 15 June 2018. Download the Application Form. Deadline extended to 5.00pm 13 July. 
2. The selection panel, at their discretion, may request further clarification of material if required.
3. It is an Applicant’s responsibility to keep TRI advised of any changes to their contact details during the selection process using the e-mail: [email protected]

Assessment and allocation of funding

1. The applications will be assessed according to the assessment criteria by an independent Selection Committee chaired by the TRI CEO.  Announcement of funding should be made by August 2018.
2. The decision of TRI is final and no correspondence will be entered into with unsuccessful applicants.
3. The Grant funding is milestone based payments, must be expended in total within 12 months of being awarded (unless otherwise agreed in writing with the TRI CEO) and for the purpose stated in the application form and as agreed in the 2018 Spore Grants terms & conditions agreement.

Miscellaneous 

1. TRI reserves the right, in its sole discretion to modify, suspend or cancel the Grants and not provide the funding.
2. Information received during the conduct of this grant will be dealt with in accordance with TRI’s Privacy Policy a copy of which can be viewed at https://www.tri.edu.au/governance

Submission Information

To download the 2018 TRI Spore Grants Terms & Conditions agreement.

To download the Application Form. 

Applications should be emailed by the first-named investigator as a PDF to [email protected] by Friday 15 June 2018.

For any further assistance with your application or if you have any specific questions, please contact Dr Nagaraj Gopisetty (07) 3443 7611 or email: [email protected]