The calls are open to academics in the UK research organisations only.
Each call invites proposals addressing important issues related to orthopaedics and musculoskeletal research.
No individual project shall receive more than 10% of the total annual budget.
There should be a limit on the amount of funding allocated to any given organisation.
How to Apply?
The process for each call are as follows:
Submitting Your Expression of Interest
1. The Expression of Interest (EoI) Application Form is a 1 page document, outlining the summary of the research proposal, name of the academic supervisor(s), type of study stream (i.e. PhD, Post-Doc, Clinical Fellowship, MD), duration and total cost of running the project.
2. The management committee of FRCF shall determine those EoIs within the remit of each call. Successful applicants will then be contacted to submit their full proposal.
Submitting Your Full Proposal
3. The Full Proposal Application Form should consist of detailed information about the research proposal including:
- Title of the project
- Goal of the study (research aims, objectives and deliverables)
- Background to investigation (relevant literature and work already conducted by the applicant related to the topic of research interest)
- Plan of investigation (Materials & Methods, research timetable)
- Existing facilities:
- Scientific, technical and clinical expertise support
- Laboratory space available for research project
- Access or availability to existing equipment
- Additional funding (obtained or applied for) from other research grant awarding bodies
- Possible beneficial outcome:
- Principal applicant: summaries the educational outcome which you expect to achieve in terms of knowledge, research skills and techniques. Explain why this field of research is relevant to your professional development and career
- Clinical outcome
- Cost breakdown of the project (please note FRCF does not pay toward overheads/full economic costing/equipments such as: computer, microscope, robotic arms, etc.)
- Declaration of interest/commercial interest
- CV of the applicants (principal investigator, co-investigator, researcher)
- Names and contact details of at least 3 qualified reviewers who would be happy to critically review your proposal. They must not be affiliated with your proposal or your institution
- A blind version of the proposal should also be submitted to FRCF
- A summary of the proposal in layman’s terms
- Minimum font size: 11
- Document type: Microsoft Word only (please do not convert to pdf)
4. The full proposal (blind version) is sent to at least two external reviewers. Those proposals approved by the external reviewers will be forwarded to the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) of the FRCF, which acts as the internal review panel.
5. The SAC then convenes and views the full proposals and the opinions of the external reviewers. The SAC ranks those approved proposals and provides recommendation to the Board of Trustees.
6. The Board of Trustees agrees the funding for successful applicants, subject to terms and conditions of FRCF contract.
Key Dates (2010 – 2011):
| 1st Call (PhD/MD Projects) |
|
|---|---|
| Closing date for submission of EoIs | 1st April 2010 |
| Decisions on EoIs | 12th April 2010 |
| Closing date for submission of full proposals | 23rd April 2010 (17:00 PM) |
| SAC meeting | 5th July 2010 |
| Recommendation subject to FRCF contract | 15th July 2010 |
| 2nd Call (Clinical/Research Fellowships) |
|
|---|---|
| Closing date for submission of EoIs | 30th July 2010 (17:00 PM) |
| Decisions on EoIs | 6th August 2010 |
| Closing date for submission of full proposals | 20th August 2010 (17:00 PM) |
| SAC meeting | 3rd November 2010 |
| Recommendation subject to FRCF contract | Mid November 2010 |
| 3rd CALL (Clinical/Research Fellowships) |
|
|---|---|
| Closing date for submission of EoIs | 30th November 2010 (17:00 PM) |
| Decisions on EoIs | 10th December 2010 |
| Closing date for submission of full proposals | 7th January 2011 (17:00 PM) |
| SAC meeting | Mid March 2011 |
| Recommendation subject to FRCF contract | Late March 2011 |
Important Notes:
1. 1st Call is for PhD and MD proposals only (to accommodate for September/October start):- The duration of a typical PhD research project is 3 years. The maximum amount that can be requested for this call is £60K, which means that we are able to fund £20K per year.
- The duration of a typical MD research project is 2 years. The maximum amount that can be requested for this call is £60K, which means that we are able to fund £30K per year.
2. 2nd and 3rd Calls are for Clinical and Post-Doc Fellowships only:
- The maximum amount that can be requested for these calls are: £80K for two years or £40K for 1 year.
3. The principal investigator (or the respective institute) is obliged to agree to the terms and conditions of FRCF standard contract and return a signed copy of the contract, no later than 3 months after the recommendation stage. Contracts received after this period will not be approved for funding and subsequently, the proposals will be treated as void.
FAQs
1. Am I able to apply if I still have not recruited my student/researcher?A: Yes. If you still have not recruited the student/researcher for your project please state “to be recruited” in your application form.
2. How do I submit my EOI/Full Proposal?
A: You should submit an electronic copy of your proposal via e-mail to: furlong@frcf.org.uk
3. What is the acceptable submission format?
A: Your proposals must be of a Microsoft Word document format. PDF files will not be accepted.
4. I am a researcher/PhD student. Can I submit the grant application form on behalf of my supervisor?
A: Yes, provided that you have been granted the permission by your supervisor to do so.
5. Can I apply for a project that will not start within the 4 months following grant approval?
A: No. It is the Foundation policy to ensure that projects starts immediately. If an approved project fails to start within 4 months, the Trustees reserve the right to cancel the funding.
