TRI provides $50,000 per Grant. The TRI shareholder organisations – The University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, Mater Medical Research Institute and Metro South Health – provide $10,000 per Grant, if part of the multidisciplinary team. 

Key Eligibility Criteria and Terms & Conditions

1. The TRI Spore Grants are open to all researchers and clinicians who are based at TRI. The Lead Applicant must be a TRI based scientist or affiliated clinician, and a significant portion of the work must be undertaken within TRI facilities.
    
2. The proposal involves the formation of a partnership/collaboration to address the research question. The team must include:

• Researchers and/or clinicians from at least two different TRI shareholder organisations (one of them being identified as the applicant organisation)
• At least one Chief Investigator (CI) that is based at TRI.
• An active clinician.
• An industry/commercial partner.

3. The applicant must secure funding commitments of $10,000 AUD from each participating TRI shareholder organisation. The applicant must secure a letter of support from each participating shareholder organisation, confirming their role and funding commitment to the research program outlined in the Grant application.
4. The proposal must include an expression of interest or commitment of support (eg. Letter of Support) from an industry/commercial partner.
5. The proposal must clearly outline the contributions and role of each of the participating researchers, clinicians and (CIs) in the project.
6. The applicant agrees to acknowledge TRI and Spore Grant funding in all publications and slide presentations as specified in 2019 TRI Spore Grant Terms and Conditions.
7. It is considered favourable for Chief Investigators and Team Members to show a track record of clearly acknowledging TRI support and facilities in their previous publications and presentations, in instances where that work has been conducted at TRI or has utilised TRI support and/or facilities in any way.
8. All committed funding by the participating shareholders must be paid upfront to TRI, as agreed between TRI and each shareholder 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 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 2019 TRI Spore Grant Terms & Conditions agreement.
    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 applicant, members of the proposed team and their institutions review the 2019 TRI Spore Grants Terms & Conditions and are in agreement with the proposed terms prior to applying. 
13. All key conditions and eligibility criteria listed in the 2019 TRI Spore Grant application criteria must be met.

Application Process

1. Applicants are required to complete the TRI Spore Grant Application Form. The Form must be fully signed by the participating researchers.
2. It is the applicant’s responsibility to have read and determined their ability to satisfactorily meet and comply with the provided key funding rules and eligibility criteria for the 2019 TRI Spore Grants.
3. The completed TRI Spore Grant Application Form, along with supporting attachments, must be submitted in PDF format via email to [email protected]. This email should contain a statement  that  agreement  to  participate  has  been  gained  from  all  named  Chief  and  Associate Investigators.
4. The submitted applications will be reviewed by an Independent External Expert Peer Review Panel. The Panel will be appointed by and chaired by the non-voting TRI CEO. At their discretion, the Panel may request further clarification of material, if required.
5. It is an Applicant’s responsibility to keep TRI advised of any changes to their contact details during the selection process using the email: [email protected]
6. The Applications will be assessed against the TRI Spore Grant Key Eligibility Criteria and the Key Assessment Criteria. Based on this assessment, a recommendation will be made to the TRI CEO regarding award of the TRI Spore Grants.
7. 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 TRI Spore Grants Terms & Conditions Agreement.
8. Applicants will be notified directly by email if their application has been successful.
9. While we appreciate the effort that goes into drafting applications, please note that decisions by the panel and TRI are final, and appeals by unsuccessful applicants will not be considered.

Key Assessment Criteria

Applications will be assessed against the Assessment Criteria listed below. When preparing their application, applicants should consider how the proposal addresses each of these points.

1. The project addresses a key clinical question/s in an area of unmet need.
2. Applications should meet the following funding criteria:
   1. Applications should include a multidisciplinary team from at least two TRI shareholder organisations and an industry/commercial partner.
   2. The Lead Applicant must be based at TRI, one of the CIs is required to be an active clinician, and at least one CI must be based at TRI.
   3. The Lead Applicant must secure a funding commitment of $10,000 from each of the participating TRI shareholder organisations.
   4. The Lead Applicant must provide Letters of Support from the participating TRI shareholder organisations and the industry/ commercial partner, including details of their contribution to the project, and endorsement of the project.
   5. The team should demonstrate a willingness to access TRI resources and support in research translation.
       
3. Applications should clearly articulate the scientific merit of the application, and have a well-defined and strongly developed program able to demonstrate or achieve the required proof of principle data.
    
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 TRI Spore Grant will significantly increase the probability of successful translation, commercialisation or attract more funding to further develop the opportunity.
5. The scientific, research, clinical and commercial expertise and achievements of the multidisciplinary team, relative to the field of proposed research – articulating how the proposed team is well-placed to help progress the innovation along the translational pathway.

Miscellaneous

TRI reserves the right, in its sole discretion to modify, suspend or cancel the Grants and not provide the funding.

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

Download the Application Form and TRI Spore Grants Terms & Conditions Agreement. Refer to key eligibility criteria, funding rules, and assessment criteria when preparing your application.

Letters of Support from the participating TRI Shareholder Institutions and the Commercial partner must be provided as part of the completed application. The Letter of Support should include the details of the cash (where applicable) and in-kind support committed to this proposal, contact details of the authorising representative and a brief statement on the value and reason for collaborating.

Applications should be emailed by the Lead Applicant as a PDF (including attachments) to [email protected]