Translational Research Grants Scheme

Can I apply for Round 5 if I was successful in a previous round?
Yes, successful applicants in previous rounds can apply for Round 5.

Can I apply for Round 5 if I was unsuccessful in a previous round?
Unsuccessful applicants from previous rounds are welcome to apply. Applicants will need to address how their proposal has been improved and/or incorporated any feedback.

If any words or information in the application have been amended based on the feedback received then it is a requirement for host, co-host and partner organisation chief executives to sign off on the application again.

Can one individual apply for funding for more than one project?
Individuals may apply for funding for more than one research project. Consideration will be given to the workload (FTE) of individuals applying for funding for more than one project.

Do you accept grant applications from researchers at universities?
The Chief Investigator of the Translation Research Grants Scheme (TGRS) application must be employed by an approved host organisation in NSW (i.e. Local Health Districts, Specialty Health Networks, NSW Ambulance and NSW Health Pathology). However, collaboration with universities internal or external to NSW and Australia is encouraged.

Can applicants apply for funding for an existing research project, or for the NSW arm of an interstate or national project?
Possibly. The case would need to be made in the Expression of Interest (EOI) process. The EOI form requires applicants to list all submissions to other funding sources for the project, including both applications already submitted and planned submissions.

If you have already received funding, then an explanation should be provided in the application of how TRGS funding will leverage or value-add to the existing resources.

Can a PhD student work on the project?
In Round 5, TRGS applicants are encouraged to consider including a PhD student in their project. The PhD student must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident and be supervised by an academic supervisor from a partnering university. Further information regarding the arrangements for the PhD student will be provided at Full Application stage.

Does the Chief Investigator have to be an employee of NSW Health?
Yes, the Chief Investigator has to be an employee of an approved host organisation that is either a local health district, specialty network, NSW Ambulance or NSW Health Pathology. The Chief Investigator should be employed for the duration of the project.

Is the Chief Investigator required to have a permanent ongoing position in the host organisation?
No, the Chief Investigator may be a temporary employee of the host organisation. In this case the Chief Investigator needs to demonstrate that the term of their employment is at least as long as the time required to complete the proposed project.

Can a TRGS project be led by an honorary employee of a host organisation?
Yes, projects may be led by an honorary employee of an approved host organisation. Projects led by an honorary employee must demonstrate strong links with the host organisation, including the involvement of key stakeholders.

Can a project be co-led by two Chief Investigators?
Yes, two Chief Investigators may be nominated. Any additional investigators should be Associate Investigators.

If there are two Chief Investigators, do they both need to be employees of an eligible host organisation?
No, but one must be employed by an eligible host organisation.

Can a service director be a Chief Investigator as well as coordinate applications with clinical colleagues?
Yes, an individual may be both a Chief Investigator and a partner or Associate Investigator on different funding applications.


Does the Chief Investigator have to work in an area directly related to the proposed study?
The Chief Investigator will be responsible for leading the research. If the Chief Investigator does not work in an area directly related to the proposed study, they would be expected to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the issue being studied and capacity to manage the implementation of a research project to address that issue, including strong links with key stakeholders in the field.

What is a host organisation?
Host organisations for TRGS projects must be one of the following:

• a local health district
• a specialty health network
• NSW Ambulance, or
• NSW Health Pathology.


If my project has two host organisations do I submit two applications?
No, do not submit two applications. Identify one lead host organisation and submit the application with the other host organisation as a partner organisation.

If a project is being conducted in more than one local health district, which should be the host organisation(s) and which should be partners?
Decisions regarding choice of host organisation will depend on the nature of the project and the setting for practice change. Where the project will be conducted in more than one local health district, the host organisation should be the local health district that is driving the research. Partner organisations should be those local health districts that are enabling the research.

Can the research be conducted in one site only?
The project should not be specific to one site unless justified as a proof of concept study. Projects involving collaborations across multiple sites within a local health districts, or between one or more local health districts/speciality health network or across Ambulance NSW/NSW Health Pathology will be prioritised.

Can part of the research be conducted at a location outside of the host organisation?
Yes, as long as the eligibility and selection criteria are met. For example, the research may need to be conducted in particular settings, such as in the community or in high schools. Also, analysis and other activities can be conducted outside of the host organisation.

When will funding be provided to the host organisation?
Round 5 funding will be provided to the host organisation from January 2021. This will allow six months for project start-up including ethics processes and staff recruitment.

How many partners are preferred?
The critical issue is identifying the right partners, not how many.


Does the number of projects that a local health district co-hosts impact the cap of applications per local health district?
No, only the lead host organisation has to include the application in their count (capped at five applications per host organisation).

What is the difference between a ‘Partner’ and an ‘Associate Investigator’ in the Expression of Interest form?
Partners usually represent different organisations coming together. Associate Investigators might be a number of people from the same organisation. However, the proposal is not judged on how partners and Associate Investigators are defined within your proposal. The important thing is to ensure that the entire team has the right skills and expertise.

Are co-investigators from the NSW Ministry of Health allowed?
Yes, engagement of relevant partners is essential for the effective delivery of the research project, and implementation of the outcomes. These partners may include the NSW Ministry of Health. Individual staff members from the Ministry may also be Associate Investigators on the project.

Will applications that include a Primary Health Network as a collaborator be accepted?
The Translational Research Grants Scheme will accept applications which include a Primary Health Network as a collaborator, if the application meets the eligibility and selection criteria and the project is not primarily conducted at the Primary Health Network. Funding will be provided for the NSW Health component of the project only. The Primary Health Network should provide funding for their component of the research project.

Is collaboration with private hospitals encouraged?
The project must be conducted in a host organisation. Engagement of relevant partners that will support the effective delivery of the research project and implementation of the outcomes is encouraged. These partners may include private hospitals.

Is collaboration with non-government organisation encouraged?
Yes, if appropriate to the research question. The patient journey may include settings outside a local health district and/or NSW public health service. If the activities of the project are beyond the remit of the local health district, then support should be obtained from the relevant organisations e.g. Primary Health Network, non-government organisation, private hospital, aged care facility.

How do we provide evidence of partnerships in the expression of interest?
The evidence can be included as a sentence within the application. Do not attach proof of communication (email/letters) to demonstrate partnerships. Partner sites that will be affected by research or implementation activities will also need to co-sign the full application.

What type of research will be considered?
The proposed research may be relevant to clinical, health service or population health practice. Proposals will be considered for evaluation research, however a straight program evaluation is out of scope.

The following types of research are out of scope:
• basic science research
• commercially-sponsored clinical trials
• descriptive research (i.e. research that is ‘idea generation’ or ‘monitoring’ as described in the Translational Research Framework)
• research only occurring in a Primary Health Network,
• projects with a primary focus on cancer, and
• projects where the host LHD has not agreed to be responsible for implementation of the research findings.

Can I submit a project that does not address the priority theme or other TRGS priorities?
Successful proposals do not need to be aligned with the scheme priorities. However they do need to address a local or State priority, be system relevant, and have a strong research design.

Will TRGS funds be quarantined for different health areas (e.g. mental health)?
TRGS funds will not be quarantined for particular health areas. Proposed projects should focus on TRGS or local strategic priorities. The application guidelines list the priority research themes that will be considered favourably.

Can TRGS grants focus on training of clinicians?
TRGS provides funding for research projects, including costs associated with the research project and translation activities. The Scheme would not fund training of clinicians unless it was to enable the research project, or the nature of the intervention in the research project, and is consistent with the requirements of the scheme.

If it was proposed to evaluate the impact of a clinician training program, funding may be considered if it could be demonstrated that the project was likely to impact on disease prevention, patient care or health service delivery.

Will preference be given to any specific types of studies?
Preference will not be given to a particular type of study or study design. The most important consideration is to have the appropriate study design for the research question. Projects with fundamental flaws in the methodology will not be funded.

Do projects get judged differently if they are earlier stage and can’t address scalability within the funding period?
No. Ideally the project will take the body of evidence to the next stage on the Translational Research Framework. It is important to demonstrate where evidence currently exists and to identify the appropriate next step(s).

Is it expected that the whole Translational Research Framework is covered from end to end in one proposal?
No. Proposals should focus on one or two of the stages within the Translational Research Framework and project completion should be feasible in the two year project period. However, projects should have a view to developing an intervention that has the potential to be scaled up across a NSW public health setting and give consideration to those issues.

Will access to a health economist be available as part of the scheme?
No, the NSW Ministry of Health will not make a health economist available as part of the scheme. However, as part of stage two of the application process, applicants will be advised on how to access specialist skill sets they have not included in their Expression of Interest as required.

Will feedback be given to unsuccessful Expressions of Interest?
Yes, general feedback will be provided on the TRGS webpage on the Office for Health and Medical Research website.