NMRC Singapore Translational Research (STaR) Investigator Award

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Background

The STaR Investigator Award is a prestigious award to recognise and support internationally renowned and outstanding investigators in Translational and Clinical Research (TCR), Health Promotion, Preventive Health, Population Health and Health Services Research (HPHSR), and/or Health Technology.

The STaR Investigator Award is a talent award for an individual. A large collaborative project involving themes not driven/led by the same investigator would be deemed unsuitable for this programme. The proposed research should also have sufficient scientific depth.

Areas of Research

This programme is open to applications on all research areas. Applicants focusing on translation of research and innovations into healthcare in the following strategic areas will be prioritised:

• Healthy Longevity and Population Health
• Precision Health
• Epidemic Preparedness and Response
• Artificial Intelligience (AI) and Data

Funding Details

Funding quantum of up to $7M is awarded for up to 5 years, comprising:

• PI’s salary support of up to $3M (up to S$600K per annum)
• $4M in grant support, inclusive of 30% indirect costs

* Institutions are encouraged to co-fund; Applications with co-funding would be considered favourably during review.

Eligibility Criteria

1) Applicants should have a strong track record of scientific achievement, conduct cutting edge translational and clinical research (TCR) or research in Health Promotion, Preventive Health, Population Health, Health Services Research (HPHSR) or Health Technology, and produce outstanding research output with clinical and health impact.

2) Qualificationsⁱ

• Medical/Dental applicants should hold medical qualifications (e.g. MBBS, MD, BDS or equivalent), and with specialty training beyond medical or dental school. ⁱⁱ Those without specialty training may apply if they are in clinical practice, excluding House Officers, Medical Officers, and Residents.
• Healthcare professionals with non-medical qualifications, such as nurses, pharmacists, optometrists and other allied healthprofessions listed on this website in clinical practice and hold PhD (or equivalent) or a postgraduate qualification listed in Slides 119 and 120 (non-exhaustive list) are eligible.
• Other applicants (e.g. non-clinically qualified or non-practising healthcare professionals) may be considered on a case-by-case basis, if the proposed work is in human clinical research (i.e., research involving direct interaction with human subjects, excluding laboratory-only studies without clinical application), and they hold PhD (or equivalent).

3) Applicant must hold the following appointments:

• A primary appointment in a public healthcare institution (PHI) or autonomous university in Singapore and be salaried by the institution; and
• A regular-rank faculty/academic appointment in one of the Academic Medical Centres or medical schools within 3 months of award conveyance. Applicant not holding/pledged such an appointment can be considered if there is a support letter from the PHI Chief Executive Officer, and co-signed by the cluster Group Director (Research) or equivalent authority.^iv

Note:

ⁱRecipients of NMRC Human Capital Awards (i.e., STaR, (Senior) CSA, (Senior) HCSA, (Senior) CIA or CIDA) and Transition Award are exempted.

ⁱⁱ Clinicians with recognised specialty training are:

1. Clinicians who are accredited by the MOH Specialists Accreditation Board (SAB), Dental Specialists Accreditation Board (DSAB) and Family Physicians Accreditation Board (FPAB).
2. Clinicians who do not fulfil the above but are able to demonstrate completion of specialist training in countries which do not have specialist boards/colleges and are holding consultantpositions as a specialist may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

^iv The support letter should highlight the existing framework and governance within the PHI that allow sustained research career and opportunities available to the applicant, as well as the availability of a conducive and facilitation structure where high quality research can be undertaken

Submission

• All applications must be submitted and endorsed by:
  • Institution's Head of Department online via Research Grants Portal (RGP) (internet accessible link) and
  • Institution’s Director/ CEO / Dean of Medical School on 'Other Attachment Template’ [if Duke-NUS is selected as the Academic Institution (AI)] through Host Institution Research Office
    • Letters/emails of support from the applicant’s respective ACP chairs for the putting up of applicant for a regular-ranked faculty/ academic appointment at Duke-NUS is required (if applicant do not have any regular ranked appointment)

Note

• SingHealth PIs are to please refer to your respective Institutional Research Administrators for guidance on internal deadlines and submission procedures set by your institutions.

• AI’s endorsement is now required under ‘Other Support template’ of the application form from the Application package instead.

Contact Person

Ms Joefina Lim

Email: joefina.lim@mohh.com.sg

Additional Information

• For more information on STaR, please visit NMRC's website where you can download the Application package here (internet accessible link).