AOA Research Foundation Ltd.

The AOA Research Foundation funds a "small grants" scheme to encourage the initiation or continuation of research projects by AOA fellows, associates and trainees.

As a guide to the appropriate size of budget to be submitted with your application you should be aware that the extent of funding available each year is determined by the earnings of the Foundation's capital in the preceding year.

The number of grants allocated through the years 1999 to 2007 in $5000 bands is given below:

Although grants in excess of $50,000 may be awarded, applicants should be aware that the funding pool is limited and most awards will fall below 30,000. The current total funding available annually is in the order of $150,000.

The AOA Research Foundation Fund performs an important role in providing support for short-term studies (in general up to two years) and initiating long-term studies carried out by members of the AOA. The fund is also an important backup source of money for established orthopaedic research groups who receive their major financial support from other funding organisations.

The Fund does not provide long-term support for projects or "top-up" funding for on-going studies. Research proposals must be a clearly identifiable segment of work, even though it may be part of a much broader-based research initiative. All grant applications will be treated confidentially and will only be viewed by assessors or interview committees.

Research projects may cover a broad range of clinical and laboratory investigations only if relevant to the field of orthopaedics. Special consideration will be given to applications which propose to open up new areas of research as well as to projects which cover areas which would not be expected to attract funds from other funding organisations. For the purpose of encouraging clinical research (defined below), this will be considered separately for funding from laboratory research. The best application for clinical research will be funded irrespective of its overall ranking. Clinical research may be funded over two years on application to the AOA Foundation Board.

Clinical research is a study in human volunteers to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of medications, biologics, diagnostics or medical devices by monitoring their effects on large groups of people.

Volunteers are recruited having obtained written informed consent to take part in the study. Subjects are generally divided into two or more groups, including a control group that does not receive the experimental treatment, receives a placebo (inactive substance) instead, or receives a tried-and-true therapy/diagnostic for comparison purposes.

prevention options
new treatments or new ways to use existing treatments
new screening and diagnostic techniques
options for improving the quality of life for people who have serious medical conditions

Clinical trials are conducted according to a plan called a protocol. The protocol describes what types of patients may enter the study, schedules of tests and procedures, drugs, dosages, and length of study, as well as the outcomes that will be measured. Each person participating in the study must agree to the rules set out by the protocol.

C. ELIGIBILITY

One of the Principal Investigators (PI) must be a Fellow of the Australian Orthopaedic Association. The first Principal Investigator will be deemed to be the Research Project Coordinator (RPC) who is responsible for communication between the AOA Research Foundation, the Research Institution, and the direction of the research. The Research Project Coordinator is responsible for the timely submission of the Application, and the Annual Audit Forms and Financial Statements to the AOA Research Foundation.The Research Project Coordinator is responsible for the subsequent presentation of the results of the research at the AOA Research Foundation Plenary Session of the AOA Annual Scientific Meeting within three years of receiving the grant.

This call for proposals is open to investigators at academic/university settings and others in the public and private sectors. All applications will be judged on a competitive basis, without regard to the academic rank or title of the investigator. The researchers involved in patient care must be certified to practice their profession at their institution and must obtain institutional ethical approval.

D. AOA FOUNDATION SUPPORT

In general, funds can be allocated for a part-time salary of a research assistant but not for salaried employees of research institutions, as well as for consumable items and inexpensive items of equipment. Expensive pieces of equipment (greater than $5000) cannot be funded unless it is shown they will be used by an orthopaedic research group over a long period. At least two quotes for the purchase of such items must accompany the grant application. In general, funds are not available for full-time secretarial assistance or personal computers, or items considered standard equipment for any research institution. Funds are not available for travel expenses.

E. SUPPORT FROM OTHER SOURCES

An applicant may not apply for, use or accept Foundation funds for a research project or part of a project already supported by the Foundation or supported by funds from another public or private source. Accordingly, full disclosure of all available and pending funds for research support must be made in the grant application. If funds from other sources become available to the applicant during the review or tenure of a Foundation research grant, the Research Project Coordinator must inform the Foundation in writing. The award will terminate and the unexpended balance will be returned to the AOA Research Fund.

F. HUMAN AND/OR ANIMAL SUBJECTS/TISSUES

When human subjects or tissues are to be used in a research project, it is the responsibility of the grantee and the institution to ensure that the institution has a complete copy of the research protocol approved by the Institution’s Human Subject Review Board, a copy of that Board’s current approval notice, and a copy of the patient informed consent form(s). A copy of these documents also must be submitted with the application or when available. If awarded a grant, these documents must be submitted before funding can begin.

The AOA Research Foundation observes the NHMRC Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Experimental Purposes. Applicants for Grants must accept the NHMRC animal experiment guidelines. All applications must be accompanied by an Institutional Ethics Committee Report whenever studies are to be carried out using humans or animals. Institutional Ethics Committees must be constituted according to the guidelines of the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. Applications should also be signed by the Head of the Department and of the Institution.

All entities that receive funding from the AOA Research Foundation must adhere to the following principles:

1. Animals shall be used in biomedical research only when no other means of obtaining scientifically sound, valid and useful results are available.

2. The minimum number of appropriate animals required to obtain and validate results shall be used.

3. The acquisition, care and use of animals must be in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.

4. Certifications must be received from research facilities prior to being approved for a research grant that the facility, its researchers and employees adhere to the guidelines of the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.

5. In cases requiring the death of an animal, only the most appropriate and humane form of euthanasia shall be used consistent with the purpose of the research.

G. APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Executive Secretary of the AOA or downloaded - Research Grant Application Form. The abstract and text of the application should be clear and readily legible, standard size, which is 10 to 12 points with constant spacing and single line spacing. Figures, charts, tables, figure legends, and footnotes may be smaller in size but must be clear and readily legible. Applications not meeting these requirements will be returned without review.

An original hard copy, plus the application on CD in MS Word format should be submitted by the 3rd March or at other times specified by the AOA Research Foundation Advisory Committee. Clear guidelines for preparing the application are provided with the application form. Care is required in preparing the applications so that the objectives, background and methods are clearly stated. Four copies of reprints, submitted papers or other material relevant to the application may be included. A realistic budget should be prepared and written quotations are needed for items of equipment or service charges. A statement should be made regarding other applications that have been made or that will be made for support of that same project. Applicants are encouraged to have their applications reviewed by experienced research workers in their institution before submitting them to the AOA Research Foundation Advisory Committee.

1. Applications must be made on the appropriate form - All applications are due by March 3, 2008 for funding to begin July 1, 2008.

2. Applications must be typewritten.

3. An original hard copy, plus the application on CD in MS Word format. The application must be submitted by the advertised closing date to:

Australian Orthopaedic Association
Ground Floor, The William Bland Centre
229 Macquarie Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000

4. Applications will be submitted to assessors for comment.

H. SELECTION

Applications are evaluated based upon the scientific quality of the research plan, relevance of the proposed research to program goals, the applicant’s qualifications, and the adequacy of the facility where the research will be conducted. The applications are assessed by expert external reviewers accredited by the NH&MRC and by the AOA Research Foundation (Assessment Criteria for Referees). Applicants may also be interviewed by the Committee. Final recommendations regarding funding of projects will be made by the Committee and submitted to the Board for final consideration.

A decision to fund or not to fund a project is made by the AOA Research Foundation Ltd at the Meeting of the AOA Research Foundation Ltd Board in May. If successful applicants have made applications to other funding organisations, the AOA Research Foundation Ltd will not commit funds to the project until the outcome of the other applications are known. If after receiving payment from the AOA Research Foundation Ltd Fund the investigator receives support for the same person or project from other sources, the award will terminate and the unexpended balance will be returned to the AOA Research Fund.

I. COMMENCEMENT OF RESEARCH

It is expected that the project will commence within six months after notification of the grant is received. The AOA Research Foundation Board is to be notified of any delay in commencement. If the responsible investigator leaves the Institution or the project before the expiration of the grant, the grant will terminate unless arrangements satisfactory to the AOA Research Foundation Board have been made.

J. FUNDING AVAILABILITY

Grants to individuals will be made only through a recognised institution and grants will usually be made in July. In special circumstances payment may be made at other times. A grant for the acquisition of major items of equipment will be made available on request when payment for the equipment is due. Any major variation in the programme from that outlined in the application must first be referred to the AOA Research Foundation Board. A transfer of expenditure from one cost heading to another, for example salaries to supplies, is permissible within reasonable limits. However, any desired transfer of funds of a substantial amount should be referred to the AOA Research Foundation Board for approval.

K. OBLIGATIONS OF THE GRANT RECIPIENTS

During the currency of the grant, the applicant (or other approved responsible person) is required to submit to the AOA Research Foundation Board, at least one month before the October Board meeting of the AOA Research Foundation Ltd, a report on the prescribed e-mail form detailing the work carried out on the project and the results achieved in the previous twelve months. During the currency of the grant and at the termination of the grant, both the Annual Progress Report Form and AOARF Expenditure Form should also be completed and submitted detailing the appropriation and expenditure of grant monies during the preceding year and including a refund of any surplus of unexpended funds at completion of the research. The applicant is required to complete an Annual Report Form – Completed Research of publications (full articles and published abstracts) and meetings at which the results of the research has been presented in the period up to 5 years after receipt of the grant.

Successful applicants are required to present the results of the research funded by the AOA Research Foundation at the Research Foundation’s Plenary session of the AOA Annual Scientific Meeting no later than 3 years after receiving the grant. The results achieved from research supported by the AOA Research Foundation Ltd Fund should be submitted to scientific journals and be presented at other orthopaedic and scientific meetings. Acknowledgement should be given to the AOA Research Foundation Ltd for its support.

The applicant (or other responsible officer) must immediately notify the Australian Orthopaedic Association Research Foundation of any patentable discoveries, inventions, processes or improvements arising from AOA Research Foundation Funds supported research. The AOA Research Foundation Advisory Committee reserves the right to negotiate royalties if these developments prove commercially successful.

In accordance with the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Bill 2000, individuals, investigators or research institutions associated with the AOA Research Foundation grants shall abide by the NHMRC Guidelines Under Section 95 of the Privacy Act 1988.

L. SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS

In order to guarantee review, complete the prescribed application form MUST BE RECEIVED (not postmarked) by the deadline date – 3rd March 2008.
All assurances regarding animal and human subjects should be included with the completed application, if available. If awarded, failure to provide the required documentation in a timely fashion may result in the award being rescinded.
All institutional signatures and approvals must be included on the application form. All original institutional signatures must be included at the time of submission for an application to be considered complete.
Please note that all sections of the application must be filled out completely. “See Attached” does not constitute completion of a section.

NO additional information for an application will be accepted after the due date including supplemental data to the Research plan and letters of recommendation.