Procedure and Assessment of

Medical Research Grant

Application

Yousef M Abdulrazzaq
Faculty of Medicine & Health
Sciences
UAE University
Procedure and Assessment of
Medical Research Grant
Application

Attributes of a good researcher is

the ability to find a good question
to answer
 Procedure and Assessment of
Medical Research Grant Application

Success of grant application depends on

Production of clear evidence of a good
question
Capacity to make a promising attempt
at finding an answer
Reasonable opportunity to do the
work within a defined a period
Need for specific finances for the
stated purposes
Procedure and Assessment of Medical
Research Grant Application

A good question is one for which the

answer
Matters
Clarifies fundamental issue of medical or
pure science
Affects medical practice in some
appreciable manner
Must advance knowledge or understanding
Should usually convey positive information
Procedure and Assessment of Medical
Research Grant Application

Not sufficient to give account of new

methods without showing results mean
something
Identify question to be answered and
specify it in clear & understandable way
Inspirational ideas drawn out of thin air
seldom appeal to skeptical assessors.
 Procedure and Assessment of
Medical Research Grant
Application

Applicants should
Allow plenty of time
Find out best date for applying
Complete standard application form-
clear and fit for photo copying
Submit appendices for answers that do
not fit in space provided
 Procedure and Assessment of
Medical Research Grant
Application

Assessment of Grant application

By experienced knowledgeable
scientists
Time period from application to
response 3-6 months or more.
depends on clarity of application
Depends on dates of committee
meetings
 Procedure and Assessment of
Medical Research Grant
Application

Asking for things like microscopes, centrifuges

and furniture are liable to cool the welcome for
an application
Specialized apparatus & highly qualified
technical help may be given as part of the grant-
only to known scientists
Fully and accurately costed preferably with
manufacturers specifications and quotations
 Procedure and Assessment of
Medical Research Grant
Application

Grant giving bodies prefer to reinforce success

They seldom give money hoping some armchair
strategy will lead to real advance
Assessors also look at motivation, initiative and
capacity to work
Beginners may be asked for full CV, + for what
problems are and how they would tackle them.
Proof of availability of facilities is often
required
 Procedure and Assessment of
Medical Research Grant
Application

Sensible planning as to duration of project

Plan to show results in a specified time
Sensible plan may lead to extension being
granted
Nothing is more terrible for a grant giving
body than to support a never-ending
sojourn into nowhere.
 Procedure and Assessment of
Medical Research Grant
Application

The Sheikh Hamdan Award Foundation

Administrative Structure is as follows:
Council of Trustees
General Secretariat
Scientific Committee
Grants Review Committee
 Procedure and Assessment of
Medical Research Grant
Application

The Award is cyclical occurring

every 2 years
For every round 3 topical subjects
are selected
Prospective grant holders apply to
be funded in subjects related to
selected subjects (priority) or other
subjects
 Procedure and Assessment of
Medical Research Grant
Application

Time Scale
Information is posted on Award site about
2 months after the previous award
ceremony
Deadline for receipt of grant applications
is usually 31st December of the year before
the year in which award ceremony is held
 Procedure and Assessment of
Medical Research Grant
Application

All grant applications are received at the

Awards office, coded and dispatched to the
Grants Review Committee
Grants Review Committee (GRC) is chaired by
a member of the Scientific Committee
3-4 other members of GRC.
All members of GRC are of proven research
track record, considered experts
 Procedure and Assessment of
Medical Research Grant
Application

All grant applications are carefully

scrutinised by GRC
Obvious poor applications are
rejected outright
The rest are sent to a panel of
recognised international experts,
each receiving applications on
subjects within his own expert area.
 Procedure and Assessment of
Medical Research Grant
Application

The assessors are provided general

instructions on what aspects of a grant he
should be assessing
A standard assessment form is also
provided for each assessor to complete
The GRC then reassesses each application
and with the comments of international
experts decide on which grant to accept
 Procedure and Assessment of
Medical Research Grant
Application

By June of the year when awards will be

distributed, results are known and
conveyed to the applicants
Most grant giving bodies follow almost
similar procedures
Sheikh Hamdan Foundation also expects
and insists on receiving regular reports of
progress
 Procedure and Assessment of
Medical Research Grant
Application

In conclusion
Process of assessment of grants is vigorous
with multiple steps
A grant application with a good question with
achievable positive answers in a definable
period of time with reasonable budgetary
demands presented by a known researcher
has the best chance of being funded
Procedure and Assessment of
Medical Research Grant
Application