Hamdan Award to Support Medical Research In the UAE

Research puts the very latest discoveries in the life sciences and the award supports to those who need the funding to carry on the research. The foundation has honoured and awarded to more than 60 researching scientists to support their projects since 2000 till date. To encourage development of the distinctive medical research in UAE, this grant has been introduced with a total sum of AED Two million (AED 2,000,000) for the 7th biennial awards for the years 2011-2012.

The categories listed below have been selected as priority areas for the year 2011-2012:

• Genetics and Epigenetics
• Metabolomics and Nutrition
• Children & Women’s Health

DOWNLOAD THE MEDICAL RESEARCH GRANT APPLICATION FORM. (PDF | MS Word)

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTION FOR COMPLETING THE FORM. (PDF | MS Word)

This opportunity may encourage you, the new generation scientists & researchers from United Arab Emirates to avail this facility to enhance your research work without any financial hurdles.

The last date for submitting the nominations is February 29, 2012.

Guidelines for Applicants

• Background :

  Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences’ Medical Research Grant is intended to support research conducted in UAE in order to enhance medical knowledge or technology and promote improvement in the health of the community. Grants will be awarded biannually and the total number will depend on the total amount allocated to grant for that cycle, the quality of grant applications and the amount of funding requested by applicants.

  Requests for funding can include the cost of chemicals and drugs, consumables, equipment and salaries for support personnel. Funds are not to be used for salaries of primary investigators or other indirect costs. Travel reimbursement is allowed for local and foreign travels for research purposes and travel to locations with pertinent resources for the proposed project.

• Eligibility:

  All researchers working in the University and other health institutions in the UAE are invited to apply (Please note that the grants for selected projects will be through the institution of the principal investigator concerned)

• Area of Study:

  Projects can be submitted in areas of research interest as stipulated in the mission of the award. The submitted studies may be basic, clinical, educational or epidemiological research pertaining to the broad area of health care and delivery. The grants submitted for the selected topics in the cycle will be given priority.

Application Procedures

• Application Form:

  Each project should be submitted on a completed application form that includes a detailed budget. Details required in the application form should include the following:

  1. Project Title
  2. Hypothesis
  3. Specific aims and objectives
  4. Rationale
  5. Background (literature review)
  6. Experimental Design and Method
  7. Selection of study population
  8. Study Interventions
  9. Data analysis and results

  The submission including references and appendixes should not exceed 10 to 15 pages.

• Curriculum Vitae

  The application should include a CV of the principal investigator as well as key personnel engaged in the project. A computer template is included in the application form as an example of the CV is to be submitted. It should not be more than one page.

• Ethical Committee approval

  For research involving human and animal subjects, investigators will be expected to obtain and demonstrate approval of the Ethical Research Reviewing Committee before funds will be released. A copy of the consent form for the study must be submitted.

• Institutional Support:

  A brief letter from the Director of the Institution supporting the plan and assuring the feasibility of the study should accompany each application.

• Funding and Reporting Procedures:

  Funds will be released after the agreement has been signed using the appropriate requisition form. Request for more funds shall include a brief report of funds already expended to date. A brief progress report will due to the General Secretariat within 6 months of receipt of funds. The final detailed report of the study results and expenditure will be due six months after completion of the study.
  
  A non-funded extension may be approved by the General Secretariat. The principal investigator may present his or her results at regional or international meetings. The General Secretariat should be notified of any presentations or publications of results and Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences must be acknowledged in any presentations or publications.

Terms & Conditions

• Detailed information on the proposed study, duration of study and co- investigators should be provided by the investigators
• A letter from the employing authority approving the proposed study.
• Research & Ethical Committee approvals should be attached.
• A periodic report (every 6 months) on the progress of the work, and the financial details during that period should be provided.
• The General Secretariat reserves the right to reject any research proposal without giving any reasons.
• The General Secretariat reserves the right to stop the financial support at any time if conditions are not fulfilled and also if the Project is not started within three months from the date of announcement of the successful winners unless the delay is justified with satisfactory evidence.

Nomination Process

• Eligible nominations will be accepted if all the above documentation process is completed.
• The accepted nominations will be sent to the SHMRG committee under Scientific Committee for evaluation of the proposed project.
• All Principal Investigators of the accepted proposed projects’ nominations will be asked to submit 3 potential referees (contact address, tel.no. fax no. & email address) for their project.
• After the first round of evaluation by the internal referees of the SHMRG committee the successful nominations will be sent to the external referees for further evaluation.
• After the second round of evaluation by the external referees appointed by the SHMRG committee the SHMRG committee will recommend the Scientific Committee to accept the successful nominations including the amount of grant, which can be allotted to the proposed projects, duration of the project,etc based on the recommendations by the external referees.
• The successful nominations will be further recommended by the scientific committee to the General Secretariat & subsequently to the Board of Trustees for approval.
• The approved projects will be awarded for funding.

Criteria for Nomination Process

1. Significance
2. Methodology
3. Scientific Merit
4. Track record of applicants
5. Feasibility of Project
6. Adequacy of the budget

Contact Address:

The Executive Office
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences
P.O.Box: 22252
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +9714 3986777
Fax: +9714 3984579 / 3980999
Email: shhaward@emirates.net.ae