JOINT COUNCIL OFFICE GRANT CALL
Application Form
Joint Council Office
1 Fusionopolis Way
#20-10 Connexis (North)
Singapore 138632
Tel: (65) 6826 6356
Fax: (65) 6478 9587
A*STAR JOINT COUNCIL OFFICE
13th JCO PROJECT GRANT CALL
Application Form
IMPORTANT NOTES FOR GRANT APPLICATION SUBMISSION ON IGRANTS:

In view that internal approvals / processes for grant application vary from RI to RI,
applicants are requested to seek prior internal approval / clearance before submitting
an application on iGRANTS. Proposals which are rejected during the endorsement
phase and are not re-submitted by the grant call closing date will be deemed ineligible.

Please ensure that all people involved in the proposal (Project Director, Lead
Investigator, Collaborators) have a registered account with iGRANTS. The application
on iGRANTS must be submitted by the Project Director.

The Project Director is responsible for ensuring that all relevant parties endorse the
application before the Grant Call End Date. JCO reserves the right to reject an
application if the fully endorsed proposal was not submitted before the Grant Call End
Date via iGRANTs.

Please note that once the application has been submitted by the Project Director, the
electronic endorsement sequence will be as follows:
1. All Lead Investigator(s)
2. RI EDs of all participating RIs
3. Collaborator(s)
4. Head of Department of Host Institution
5. RI ED of Host Institution
CLOSING DATE: 30th June 2014
JOINT COUNCIL OFFICE GRANT CALL
Application Form
OVERVIEW OF JCO PROJECT GRANT CALL
A*STAR’s Joint Council (A*JC) Project Grants support bottom-up investigator-led
multidisciplinary collaborative research at A*STAR. To be considered for the A*JC
Project Grants, the proposal must present a multidisciplinary plan that brings together
capabilities in the biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering.
Applicants can apply for grants up to 3 years with a maximum quantum of S$1
Mil.
The JCO grant provides for pro-rated manpower support for A*STAR researchers.
Please refer to “JCO Project Grants 13th JCO Grant Call - Guidelines for Budget
Proposal Preparation” for further details.
All grant applications should involve at least two separate entities within A*STAR (i.e
must be from different RIs) and must have at least one (1) Lead Investigator with BMS
expertise and one (1) Lead Investigator with S&E expertise.
There shall be only ONE (1) Project Director for each application. In the context of this
grant, the Project Director is one of the intellectual drivers of the project and is
responsible together with the Lead Investigators for the milestones and deliverables
associated with the grant. The responsibility includes ensuring that the JCO grant is
appropriately apportioned to the participating RIs / Consortia.
A Lead Investigator is a researcher who makes significant contributions to the
intellectual content and is responsible for the milestones and deliverables associated
with a specific component(s) of the proposed research work. For the purposes of this
grant, it has no reference to a particular RSE Grade. Lead Investigators must have an
appointment with an A*STAR RI / consortium.
To ensure that only high quality proposals are funded, all proposals received are
subject to a competitive peer review process, which includes evaluation by
independent referees from the international and local community. The key funding
criteria include the following:

Collaborative nature of the project (multidisciplinary research, and good balance of
technical and scientific contributions from all participating entities)

Importance of the problem (prevalence, inadequacy of existing approaches)

Technical merit and innovation of the project

Track record of the PD and research team

Intellectual property history and opportunities, translational potential of the research

Appropriateness of budget
CLOSING DATE: 30th June 2014
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JOINT COUNCIL OFFICE GRANT CALL
Application Form
The following guidelines may assist you in the grant application process:
Browser Compatibility
Please note that iGRANTS is compatible with Internet Explorer and Firefox only as
indicated on the website. Inability to submit proposals due to the use of an incompatible
browser will not be considered as a valid reason for late submissions. Applicants are
strongly encouraged to familiarise themselves with the system a few weeks prior to the
grant call closing date and to contact JCO early should they need technical assistance.
Prior Internal Approval/Clearance
1. Project Director / Lead Investigator(s) MUST seek prior internal approval / clearance
before submitting applications on iGRANTS.
2. Proposals rejected at the endorsement phase by any of the following personnel
(Collaborator / Lead Investigator / Head of Department / Executive Director of host
and participating institutes) must be re-submitted with full endorsements by the
grant call closing date.
3. Proposals which are not re-submitted with full endorsements by the grant call
closing date will be deemed as late submissions and will be rejected automatically
by iGRANTS.
Endorsements
Applicants are strongly advised to:
a. Inform all the relevant endorsers (Collaborator / Lead Investigator / Head of
Department/ Executive Director of host and participating institutes) early,
b. Check their travelling schedule and
c. Ensure that they are aware of the requirement for all endorsements to be completed
by the grant call closing date.
d. Should the endorser(s) be going overseas, prior arrangements should be made:
e. For the endorser(s) to obtain internet access while overseas to endorse the
proposal online via iGRANTS.
f.
Alternatively, prior to the endorser(s) leaving for their overseas trips, the respective
RI Research Administrators can assign officially appointed acting designate(s) on
iGRANTs to endorse the proposals on behalf of the endorsing personnel or
authority who will be travelling.
JOINT COUNCIL OFFICE GRANT CALL
Application Form
This document contains seven (7) separate sections.
Please complete ALL sections following the instructions carefully.
Incomplete submissions would be rejected.
SECTION
DESCRIPTION
I.
MAIN DETAILS
II.
DETAILS OF RESEARCH
III.
WORK CONTRIBUTION
IV.
CURRICULUM VITAE
V.
OTHER FUNDING SUPPORT
VI.
REVIEWERS
VII.
ENDORSEMENT
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I. MAIN DETAILS
1. OVERVIEW
Title of Project
In no more than 30 words; be
descriptive rather than general.
Duration of Project (Years)
Indicate the number of years
funding support is requested for
Main Research Area
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2. PEOPLE INVOLVED
The Project Director shall be one of the Lead Investigators who will be responsible for coordinating
the project team and managing the grant award. The responsibility includes ensuring that the JCO
grant is appropriately apportioned to the participating RIs / Consortia and consolidating progress
reports for submission to JCO. Please refer to page 2 of the application form for more details.
A Lead Investigator is a researcher who makes significant contributions to the intellectual content
and is responsible for the milestones and deliverables associated with a specific component(s) of
the proposed research work. For the purposes of this grant, it has no reference to a particular RSE
Grade.
A “Collaborator” means any company, institution, incorporated body or other industry or academic
collaborator, which is not an Institution or an Investigator but is to be engaged in the Research in
collaboration with the Institutions or any of them For avoidance of doubt, collaborators are not
entitled to receive (directly or indirectly) any portion of the Funds.
Project Director (PD)
Organisation
E-mail
Lead Investigator (LI)
Organisation
E-mail
Lead Investigator (LI)*
Organisation
E-mail
Collaborator*
Organisation
E-mail
Collaborator*
Organisation
E-mail
*Please add/remove where appropriate
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3. DECLARATION OF ETHICS CONSIDERATION
Please note that the approval of the grant is subject to ethics approval. Please tick if your study
involves the following ethics categories. Kindly indicate the expiry date of the ethics approval (if
known) and attach the ethics approval documentation.
Please note that approval of grant is subject to ethics approval.
Please tick, where appropriate, if your study involves the following:
Ethics Category
Involve?
(tick if yes)
Ethics Approval
Required?
(tick if yes)
Human subject
Use of Human Tissues or Cells
Animal Experimentation
Use of Animal Tissues or Cells
Requirement for containment
Class 2 and above
A copy of the ethics approval is attached?
Yes
No
Ethics Approval
Expiry Date
(dd/mm/yyyy)
Comments
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4.
LAY ABSTRACT OF THE PROPOSAL
In no more than 300 words, please provide a general description of the proposal that can be understood by
a non-scientific audience. Please include its importance to science or medicine and society at large, and
where appropriate, the approach of the research proposal..
.
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5.
SCIENTIFIC ABSTRACT OF THE PROPOSAL
In no more than 300 words, please provide a succinct and accurate scientific description of the proposal to
include the specific aims, hypotheses, methodology and approach of the research proposal, including its
importance to science or medicine.
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II. DETAILS OF RESEARCH
6.
DETAILS OF RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Word limit: 4000 words
Instructions and Guide for details of research proposal
Give a description of the research within the word limit specified above. Information SHOULD
include specific aim(s) of the project, scientific significance, preliminary studies/progress reports,
methods, and publications/patents related to the research proposal. Please emphasise the novelty
and innovative aspects of the proposed work. References should be provided on a separate page.
a.
Specific Aims
State concisely and realistically what the research described in this application is intended to
accomplish and/or what hypothesis is to be tested.
b.
Scientific Significance
Briefly sketch the background to the current proposal, critically evaluate existing knowledge
and specifically identify the gaps which the project is intended to fill. State concisely the
importance of the research described in this application by relating the specific aims to the
longer term objectives. State the significance of the research to scientific applications and
tangible improvements in physical or life sciences that may result from the study. Highlight all
cross-council interactions that would result from the proposal. Relevant references should be
appended.
c.
Preliminary Studies/Progress Reports
Please provide an account of the Lead Investigator’s preliminary studies (if any) pertinent to
the applications and/or any other information that will help to establish the experience and
competence of the investigator pursuing the proposed project.
d.
Methods
Discuss in detail the experimental design and the procedure to be used to accomplish the
specific aims of the project. Describe the protocols to be used and the tentative sequence of
the investigation. Include statistical justification and the means by which data will be analysed
and interpreted.
Describe any new methodology and its advantage over existing
methodologies. Discuss the potential difficulties and limitations of the proposed procedures
and alternative approaches to achieve the aims. Point out any procedures, situations or
materials that may be hazardous to personnel and the precautions to be exercised. Make
every attempt succinct.
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Details of Research Proposal
Print information using Arial Font 10, single-spaced and within the specified word limit.
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7. REFERENCES
Please list in chronological order the titles and complete references to recent representative
publications pertinent to this research proposal and the applicants’ publications and patents held
related to this research proposal. Highlight Scientific Award(s), if any, of the applicant(s).
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III. WORK CONTRIBUTION
8. WORK CONTRIBUTION OF TEAM MEMBERS AND COLLABORATION PLAN
Please provide detailed descriptions of the work contribution of each of the team members.
Include the plans for fostering interaction amongst the team members in achieving the research
objectives.
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9. CONTRIBUTION DETAILS
Please provide the detailed work contribution breakdown for researchers in the Proposal
Submission Excel Template, which should be available at the same location in iGrants where this
document was downloaded.
IV. CURRICULUM VITAE
In no more than 1 page per applicant, please provide the following information on the Project
Director, and all Lead Investigator(s)

Name and institution

User identification number of the personal homepage at the Singapore Researchers Database
(SRDB) (https://researchers.a-star.edu.sg).
* Please create the CV profiles of each applicant at the SRDB if this has not been done.

Selected publications (not more than 10 relevant publications)
Attention to applicants:
Please note that the grant reviewers will be referring to the Singapore Researchers
Database (SRDB) for the CV of grant applicants. Hence, please ensure that the SRDB
homepages are comprehensive and up to date.
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10. CURRICULUM VITAE - 1 page per applicant
Print information using Arial Font 10 and within the given area. Please replicate this page for
more CVs.
Name: ______________________________
Institution: ___________________________
ID number at Singapore Researchers Database: ________________ (e.g. 9876)
Selected publications (not more than 10 relevant publications)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Attention to reviewers:
Please use the following steps to read the full CV of the applicant:
1. Go to the Singapore Researchers Database website at https://researchers.a-star.edu.sg
2. Type in either the full name of the applicant, or the ID number specified above.
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V. OTHER FUNDING SUPPORT
Provide the following details for grants currently held or being applied for by the PDs/LIs.
11. GRANT SUPPORT
Provide details for all currently held or applied grants by the PD and/or LI(s). These include
those supported by / applied to BMRC, SERC, NMRC, Universities, Clusters, International and
Local public agencies and other Foundations. Attach the scientific abstract for each grant listed
below for JCO's reference.
1.
Grant ID / Project Number
Grant Title and Title of Supported Project
Funding Agency
Status
Total Amount Awarded / Applied for (S$)
Funding Awarded to
Years of Support
Expiry Date of Grant (dd/mm/yyyy)
2.
Grant ID / Project Number
Grant Title and Title of Supported Project
Funding Agency
Status
Total Amount Awarded / Applied for (S$)
Funding Awarded to
Years of Support
Expiry Date of Grant (dd/mm/yyyy)
3.
Grant ID / Project Number
Grant Title and Title of Supported Project
Funding Agency
Status
Total Amount Awarded / Applied for (S$)
Funding Awarded to
Years of Support
Expiry Date of Grant (dd/mm/yyyy)
4.
Grant ID / Project Number
Grant Title and Title of Supported Project
Funding Agency
Status
Total Amount Awarded / Applied for (S$)
Funding Awarded to
Years of Support
Expiry Date of Grant (dd/mm/yyyy)
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12. ALL OTHER RESOURCES
Provide details on funding, drug(s), sample(s) or other resources provided by any participating
industry/clinical partner(s) for the applied grant.
Type of Resource
Funding Organisation
Duration of
Support
(Years)
Expiry Date
(dd/mm/yyyy)
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VI. REVIEWERS
13. SUGGESTED NAMES OF LOCAL AND OVESEAS REVIEWERS
Please suggest names of at least 5 reviewers who may be suitable to review the proposed
project, and state the relationship with the PD/LI(s). Reviewers who are co-authors with the
PD/LI(s) in publications are generally not to be included.
Please note that reviewers must not have conflict of interest or involvement (direct and indirect)
with the proposed project. The JCO has the final discretion whether to select the suggested
reviewers for the evaluation of the grant proposal.
No.
Name
E-mail
Organisation
Research
Area
Relationship to PI
and/or Co-I(s)
Organisation
Research
Area
Relationship to PI
and/or Co-I(s)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
14. PEOPLE NOT TO SEND TO
No.
1.
2.
3.
Name
E-mail
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VII. ENDORSEMENT
15. UNDERTAKING BY PROJECT DIRECTOR, ALL LEAD INVESTIGATOR(S) AND
ALL COLLABORATOR(S)
In signing the Grant Application, the Project Director, all Lead Investigator(s) and all Collaborator(s)
UNDERTAKE, on any Grant Award, to:

Not send similar versions or part(s) of this proposal to other agencies for funding

Submit supporting documents of ethics approval obtained from the relevant Institutional Review
Board (IRB) and Animal Ethics Committee for studies involving human subjects/human tissues or
cells, and animal/animal tissues or cells respectively.

Be actively engaged in the execution of the research and comply with all laws, rules and regulations
pertaining to animal and human ethics, including the Singapore Good Clinical Practice guidelines

Ensure that A*STAR JCO funding is acknowledged in all publications

Ensure that all publications arising from research wholly or partly funded by A*STAR JCO will be
forwarded to A*STAR JCO

Co-operate with A*STAR JCO to foster interactions amongst researchers from BMRC and SERC

Obtain approval from A*STAR JCO before engaging in any commercial activity that will exploit the
findings of the research funded by A*STAR JCO
Signing of the grant application is to be done electronically via i-GRANTS system
(http://igrants.a-star.edu.sg/) by the following personnel:
1. Project Director
2. Lead Investigator(s)
3. Collaborator(s) (if any)
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16. UNDERTAKING BY A*STAR INSTITUTIONS / CONSORTIA
In signing the Grant Application, the Institution UNDERTAKES, on any Grant Award, to:

Provide appropriate support during the grant period

Ensure that the funds provided are used for the appropriate purposes

Ensure that the study complies with all laws, rules and regulations pertaining to animal and
human ethics, including the Singapore Good Clinical Practice guidelines

Ensure that all necessary licenses and approvals have been obtained or are being sought

Ensure that approval from A*STAR JCO has been obtained before engaging in any
commercial activity that will exploit the findings of the research funded by A*STAR JCO
Signing of the grant application is to be done electronically via i-GRANTS system
(http://igrants.a-star.edu.sg/) by the following personnel:
1. Chairman/ Executive Director of Host Institution
2. Chairman/ Executive Director of LI’s Institution(s)
3. Head of Department of Host Institution