1. 2023 Explorer Grants opening soon plus update on Feasibility Study Grants

Registrations and full applications will open for our 2023 Explorer Grants on 10 October 2022.

Our Explorer Grants provide seed support for researchers with transformative, innovative, exploratory or unconventional research ideas that have a good chance of making a revolutionary change to how we manage health in Aotearoa New Zealand. These grants are worth $150,000 for a term of up to 24 months.

Please note that this year we have introduced Māori Health Advancement criterion into our Explorer Grant assessment process. Further details will be provided in the 2023 Explorer Grant Application Guidelines on HRC Gateway from 10 October.

Feasibility Study Grants
HRC Feasibility Study Grants are not being offered this year, while we continue to consider how we can best support this type of funding in the future.

2. Call extended for nominations for Pacific members of the HRC's Biomedical Research Committee

In July we put out a call for nominations to help strengthen Pacific health expertise on the HRC's Biomedical Research Committee (BRC). We have now extended the closing date for nominations by a week to 1pm on Friday 7 October 2022.

The HRC is seeking nominations (including self-nominations) of individuals with the following attributes:

Understanding of and experience working within Pacific worldviews and protocols and their application in research.
Expertise in the biomedical field of health, either as a clinical practitioner or as a biomedical health researcher.
Optionally or additionally, the member may have expertise with health policy where it intersects with the biomedical field.

There are two potential vacancies on the BRC:
1). A full member with a 3-year term (with the possibility of serving a second 3-year term), for which:
The appointee will be an established researcher with a recent record of relevant high-quality research in the field. Preferably, the appointee will be an established researcher within the basic to clinical research spectrum, with experience as a peer reviewer and/or science assessment committee member for the HRC or equivalent agencies.

2). A co-opted member for a 1-year term, for which:
The appointee will be an emerging researcher with a developing track record of relevant high-quality research within the basic to clinical research spectrum. This position will allow the appointee to be mentored while gaining experience in peer reviewer and/or science assessment for the HRC.

We encourage you to please circulate and put forward potential candidates who may be suitable for consideration of appointment.

Please contact Dr Miguel Jo-Avila with any questions and nominations.

3. Heart Research Institute's NZ summer scholarship programme now open

The Heart Research Institute (AU) is offering multiple summer undergraduate scholarships to New Zealand's talented young researchers.

The 7-week undergraduate scholarship provides high-achieving and promising students the opportunity to work on a medical research project directly related to cardiovascular disease, expand on their skills and knowledge, and be mentored in a world-class research institute.

Scholarship recipients will be required to write a report on their work experience and will have the opportunity to make a presentation to their peers and supervisors at the end of the scholarship period. Following the 7-week summer scholarship period, students are expected to stay on with the HRI in 2023 to undertake Honours study with the University of Sydney. Placements are full-time and will begin in early January 2023.

Scholarships are open to New Zealand students currently enrolled full-time in the final year of an undergraduate degree. Students currently enrolled in graduate entry medical degrees can also apply.

Applications close 5pm on Sunday 23 October 2022.

For more information and to apply, go to the HRI (NZ) website.

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4. Recent health news

Report calls for action for Māori Vietnam veterans - The Beacon (Shane Solomon, HRC Ngā Kanohi Kitea Full Project Grant)

Study offers hope for preventing cerebral palsy - University of Auckland (Professor Alistair Gunn, HRC Programme Grant)

Saving millions of lives but some resources squandered: emerging lessons from health research system pandemic achievements and challenges - Health Research Policy and Systems

Cancer-killing virus shows promise in patients - BBC

About Update

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Update is a fortnightly e-newsletter about the health research sector, compiled and distributed by the Health Research Council of New Zealand. Short, topical items about health research funding, policy, activities, consultations, and publications are welcome. Please contact Suzy Botica, the HRC's senior communications adviser, for more details.

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