REMINDER FOR MSC-SEED GRANT CALL

The Mind-Science Centre (MSC) is an academic research centre at the Department of Psychological Medicine under the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. The Centre aims to be a knowledge centre of excellence for psychological research, education and service with a non-drug approach.  The Centre also aims to focus its research to the local context with community-based translational programmes that can be scaled nationally.

(A) Aim

  • The Mind-Science Centre Seed Grant (MSC-Seed) aims to bring exceptional and novel research ideas into fruition to prove their value, efficacy and feasibility. The focus of the research should be translational in nature.

(B) Eligibility Criteria

  • The Principal Investigators (PIs) must be a staff under NUS/NUH, defined as a minimum of 6 months employment with the institution.
  • Funding requested should be for new research ideas and not for supplementing existing projects/ collaborations.
  • For proposals involving patients, the PI or co-I should be SMC registered (if applicable); or should be able to demonstrate ability to access patients through SMC registered collaborators.
  • Only one PI is allowed per application.
  • Each PI is allowed to submit up to two applications.
  • MSC Seed Grant only funds research conducted in Singapore, but can involve overseas collaborators.

(C) Funding Quantum and Duration

Award Categories

Capped Amount

Maximum Duration

A

S$ 100,000

B

S$ 50,000

24 months

C

S$ 30,000

Capped Amount: S$100,00

Maximum Duration: 24 months

Capped Amount: S$50,000

Maximum Duration: 24 months

Capped Amount: S$30,000

Maximum Duration: 24 months

  • The number of awards to be given out will be flexible and not pre-determined.
  • A maximum of S$300,000 will be awarded in total for the MSC-Seed Grant Call 2017.
  • The final approved budget will be administered and managed by the main applicant (PI) and his/her respective Department.

(D) Research Themes

  • The MSC-Seed is open to application on all research themes with translational value. However, there will be strategic consideration for applications which focus on the following priority areas:

    • Cognitive Enhancement (e.g. subjective cognitive complaints; biomarkers linked to cognitive decline; sleep)
    • Emotional Resilience (e.g. therapies including art therapy, sensory reminiscence therapy, exercise)

(E) Review Process

  • All MSC-Seed applications will be evaluated by the Mind-Science Centre Academic Board. The review process will take about 3 months after the application closes.
  • Projects will be evaluated largely based on scientific merit, research value, impact and relevance to both the Asian society and MSC’s goals.
  • Successful candidates will be notified via email.
  •  

(F) Reporting Requirements

  • Recipients are required to provide a progress report to MSC at the midpoint of the estimated project duration.
  • Recipients are to submit a final report of the project to MSC within 3 months from the project completion date.
  • All publications and presentations of this project must acknowledge “NUS Mind-Science Centre” as the funding body.
  • Please refer to document MSC Guidelines for Managing Grants section 7 and 8 for more details.

(G) Use of Funds

  • The funds can be employed for the purposes of Manpower, Equipment and Other Operating Expenses (Publications, Equipment Usage Charges etc.)
  • Please refer to document MSC Guidelines for Managing Grants section 10 for list of non-fundable items.
  • The PI is responsible for obtaining all the necessary approval from the appropriate Board/Office (where applicable).

(H) Schedule and Deadline Details

  • The MSC-Seed Grant Call will be held in November 2017.
  • The outcome would be made known in March/April 2018 and projects are expected to start by August 2018.

Grant Call Schedule and Process

Date

Deadline

Call for Proposal

01 May 2021

01 August 2021, 5pm

Announcement of Results

September 2021/October 2021

Application for Approval/ Preparation

November 2021 - January 2022

Commencement of Project

February 2022 or earlier

Submission of Progress Report

Midpoint of the estimated project duration

Final disbursement, or 1 year from first disbursement, whichever is earlier

Submission of Final Report

Project completion

Within 3 months of project completion

Date: 01 May 2021

Deadline: 01 August 2021, 5pm

Date: September 2021/October 2021

Date: November 2021 – January 2022

Date: February 2022 or earlier

Date: Midpoint of the estimated project duration

Deadline: Final disbursement, or 1 year from first disbursement, whichever is earlier

Date: Project completion

Deadline: Within 3 months of project completion

    • All applications should be submitted online to Mr. Jonathan Wong (pcmwyzj@nus.edu.sg) by 31st January 2018, 5pm. Please ensure that all online submissions are endorsed by the corresponding host institution’s Research Director/Head of Department by the closing date.
    • Late or incomplete submissions will not be entertained.

    Click here to download the MSC-Seed Application Form and Guidelines for Managing Grants.