The Health, Welfare & Food Bureau calls for application from researchers for two research funds under its administration starting tomorrow.

The two funds are the Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases, and the Health & Health Services Research Fund.

The bureau said that the knowledge and best practices protocol generated through research evidence would benefit both the local and global community.

The $450 million infectious-diseases fund was set up to encourage, facilitate and support research on the prevention, treatment and control of infectious diseases, in particular emerging diseases such as SARS.

The fund's scope of research projects covers etiology and epidemiology of infectious diseases, public health, basic research, clinical investigations and health services research.

Research projects to be supported will cover researcher-initiated projects focusing on aspects of infectious diseases.

The $10 million Health & Health Services Research Fund was introduced as one of the new initiatives in the 2001 Policy Objective to promote the advancement of research-generated knowledge in the areas of human health and health services. 

Research projects, which are relevant to the health and healthcare needs of the people of Hong Kong, are guided by three themes: public health, health services and Chinese medicine.

The two funds are open to applications by researchers from the public or private, academic or service sectors in Hong Kong. 

For the fund on infectious diseases, collaborative research with Mainland China and overseas institutions will also be considered. 

The closing date for this batch of applications is November 29, 2003.

All applications will be subjected to a two-tiered peer review process, first by the Referee Panel and second by the Grant Review Board. 

The Grant Review Board is a working committee which has brought together experts with technical skills and experience in a wide spectrum of health sciences to support the work of assessing grant applications and reports.

Individual members of the Referee Panel, according to their specific areas of expertise, are recruited to review grant applications and assess the outcomes of funded projects.

Scientific merit, local relevance, research capacity of the administering institution, track records of applicants, "value for money" of the proposals and research ethics will be taken into consideration.

The Research Council is responsible for determining the two funds' research agenda and funding control mechanism. 

The results will be announced in the first quarter of 2004.

The Research Council is chaired by Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food (or the Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food in the absence of the Secretary). 

Members are drawn from the public, private, academic and service sectors.

In extending an invitation to interested parties, advertisements are placed in local newspapers and a notice with promotional materials will be sent to all relevant institutions and organisations contributing to the delivery of healthcare services.

Guidance notes and application forms are available at the Research Fund Secretariat, Health, Welfare & Food Bureau, 20/F Murray Building, Garden Road, Central or its website. 

For questions, call 2973 8264 or email hhsrf@hwfb.gov.hk.