Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund

The expected outcomes of the VMRAF are that:

• medical research is moved to proof-of-concept stage faster and the benefits of health and medical research are delivered to the public faster (Tier 1)
• research collaborations improve the targeting of early-stage research to likely end-users (Tier 1)
• research collaborations support the translation of research into more commercially attractive products (Tier 2).

Eligible applicants must:

• be an organisation in the health service, education or research sectors (Eligible Sectors) or an organisation that has a commercial relationship with an organisation in one of the Eligible Sectors (as determined by DJPR)
• hold an active ABN
• have current insurance policies: Public Liability (of at least $20 million) and Professional Indemnity (at least $5 million)
• be one of the following entity types:
  1. a company incorporated pursuant to the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and registered with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission
  2. an incorporated association incorporated pursuant to the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (VIC) or equivalent legislation of another Australian jurisdiction
  3. education body established by statute
  4. a public health service established under the Health Services Act 1988 (Vic)
  5. other incorporated entity approved by the department

Applicants must attest that:

• they can comply with the Co-Contribution Funding requirements specific to their application and provide evidence of this capability in the application
• they will participate in future VMRAF Program evaluation activities
• they will deliver the funded project in collaboration with a Collaborative Partner
• research activities will predominately be led from and conducted in Victoria

Applicants must provide proof of their legal status. The department can only enter into a legal agreement/contract with a legal person.

The following entities are not eligible to apply:

• a Commonwealth department, agency or body
• a State department, agency, entity or other body established under the Public Administration Act 2004 (VIC) or equivalent legislation of another Australian jurisdiction
• unincorporated associations
• partnerships
• individuals/sole traders

Projects should meet a current need or gap in a field of medical research or public health inequalities research. This could be, but is not limited to:

• innovative approaches to treatment and/or prevention of disease
• development of new pharmaceuticals, diagnostics or devices
• studies into current health practices to guide future research targeted at solving weaknesses in current practice

Eligibility of projects will be determined at the sole discretion of the department.

Applicants are only able to submit a project to one tier of the VMRAF, and the same project will not be eligible to be submitted to the other tier of the VMRAF or Round Three of the mRNA Victoria Research Acceleration Fund.

Eligible projects under the two tiers should be as follows (to be used as a guide only):

• Tier 1 – Early-stage innovative health and medical research projects, including discovery research, clinical research and/or health service research.

• Tier 2 – Health and medical research projects that can demonstrate a clear pathway to translation and can secure development and commercialisation opportunities

Eligible expenditure and eligible in-kind co-contribution items are:

• regulatory and intellectual property fees and charges associated with registering domestic or international patents or other intellectual property enforcement expenses
• equipment, consumables and services required for the research activity as outlined in the project description provided that such equipment, consumable or service is not listed as an ineligible expense
• staffing costs that relate solely to either:
  1. new employees
  2. the expansion of hours for current part-time employees, provided these employees are working on the funded projects or
  3. the extension of contracts for staff whose contracts would otherwise end within the period of the agreement.

Grant funding received from the VMRAF must not support the following expenditure items:

• usual operational expenditure, including existing staff costs, communications, travel, entertainment, vehicles, accommodation, and office computing equipment
• routine replacement or minor upgrade of plant and equipment
• printing, stationery, postage, and bank charges
• basic and routine professional services including legal and accounting fees
• any amount paid on account of GST
• costs related to preparing the grant application, preparing any project reports and preparing any project variation requests
• building routine websites, sales and promotional activities, marketing or communications campaigns
• retrospective funding of projects that have already
  1. been completed prior to receiving an offer of grant funding under this VMRAF round; or
  2. commenced prior to receiving an offer of grant funding under this VMRAF round, except in circumstances where the application of the grant funding can be demonstrated to effect a change of scope or acceleration of a project commenced prior to any funding approval and
• any other expenditure as determined by the department in its sole and absolute discretion

See the guidelines for full details of expenditure eligible for VMRAF support.

1. The quality of the research project proposal and the extent to which it aligns with the program objectives (30% )

• Tier 1
  1. supports early-stage research and delivers value
  2. health and/or clinical need clearly articulated
  3. strength of partnership collaboration in supporting the project
• Tier 2
  1. articulates how the grant will ‘fast track’ research translation
  2. health and/or clinical need clearly articulated
  3. strength of partnership collaboration in supporting the project

2. The extent to which the proposal could meet the outcomes of the program (30% )

• Tier 1
  1. value of outcomes to Victoria and its research capabilities
  2. articulates potential future pathways to translation/commercialisation
• Tier 2
  1. value of outcomes to Victoria and its research capabilities
  2. articulates speed of delivery to the public
  3. articulates how research translates into practice or products

3. Demonstrated project feasibility and delivery (25% )

• Tiers 1 and 2
  1.  clear implementation strategy and resourcing to be able to deliver the project
  2. appropriate organisational commitment to the project
  3. commitment from Collaboration Partner/s demonstrating support from industry, philanthropy, health service, education or research institute
  4. Co-Contribution Funding has been identified and committed to the project
  5. identified appropriate technical resources, skills and capabilities, including where appropriate a strong track record of key personnel
  6. a well-developed and suitable budget for the project
  7. evidence of agreed and suitable environment in which to undertake the proposed research and
     identified project risks and mitigation strategies.

4. Ability to deliver within timeframe and need for government support (10% )

• Tiers 1 and 2
  1. timely delivery and realisation of outcomes
  2. impact of funding on timing, resourcing and level of risk

5. Promotion of gender equality 

• Tiers 1 and 2
  1. the project team will consist of at least 50% members who identify as women (2.5% )
  2. project is led by a Chief Investigator who identifies as a woman (2.5% )

See the guidelines for full details of the assessment criteria.

You should read and understand the guidelines.

You need to ensure you are eligible for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria outlined above will not be considered.

Successful applicants will demonstrate:

• a clearly defined health and/or clinical need to be addressed by the research project
• the translation potential – into practice, products or commercialisation pathways – of the research
• clear benefits to the health of Victorians and the Victorian economy, including expanded health and medical research capabilities
• the strength of collaborations and of partner commitments, including co-contributions
• an appropriate budget relative to outcomes that demonstrate the need for grant funding
• a sound risk management plan
• a research team with the capacity, capability and experience to deliver the project in full within the agreed timeframe

Evidence of co-contribution funding

This may include evidence of:

• written confirmation from the Board or business owner that the business can undertake the project and meet the required co-contribution amount
• an approved loan facility (including loan amount)
• sufficient cash in a bank (current bank statement)
• management accounts demonstrating satisfactory cash flow or liquid assets

Evidence of Collaborative Partner

Applicants must provide evidence of an agreed Collaborative Partner or arrangement for the project, including a copy of any agreement, letter or memorandum of understanding entered into between the Applicant and Collaborative Partner or letter of support from the Collaborative Partner, in relation to the proposed project or activities.

Additional documents

• If requested by the department, the Applicant must provide copies of organisation’s last two financial statements or annual reports for the purposes of financial accountability requirements.

Applicants are required to submit a project budget summary, detailing how the grant funds and the Applicant’s required co-contribution funding will be spent.

Applications are submitted online via the Business Victoria website.

Register your interest here with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this program and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.