Grant Proposals

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As a researcher in this current research climate, the request to receive grants is a forefront challenge. This is partly because grants are essential to run an experiment yet they are a limited source. Understandably, the competitiveness is eminent to maximise the use of the fund of grant so the money is awarded and prioritised to researchers with the most promising projects. Since the establishment of these government-funding bodies, the process is highly regulated to ensure fair assessment on the worth of a scientific proposal. However, two years ago Australian Research Council’s financial support to biomedical research came to an end. Now with only one primary public sector to distribute the grant, competition soared amid rise in the number …show more content…

The request for grants prompts researchers to write successful proposals, which entail clearly communicating the scientific significance and innovation of their research projects to the judging panel. Such rigorous practice solidifies the valuable scientific skills such as stringency, critical thinking and finance management. On the other hand, the current regime of tough and limited grant procedure fails to reward all excellent research proposals. The current situation is also unfavourable to upcoming new scientists as they pale in comparison to veterans.
In contemporary biomedical research, scientists invest much of their time writing grant applications yet the success rate was low as twelve per cent in 2015 (NHMRC 2015). With the cessation of Australian Research Council’s support for biomedical research, NMHRC is the primary public grant provider for the biomedical researchers and NHMRC predicts that the success rate will tumble to eight per cent in 2016. In combination of increasing profession in this field and limited revenue, competition between labs is higher in a bigger pool of …show more content…

From the pockets of taxpayers, how and where politicians for the country assign tax money will be influenced by public opinion. In order to maintain the streamline of public funds, producing works that are deemed worthy of investment by the voters is a reconcilable act that can be carried on by researchers. Unless Australia does not find gratification of using public spending on biomedical research, Australian biomedical researchers will lose the support and will need to find other sources such as private institutions. Although researchers could rely on private sector funds and satisfy the objective of obtaining financial support, they must be aware of the return of service, and terms and conditions of agreement could severely interfere the duties of scientists and deteriorate the quality of literature. Clash of values between industrial companies and researchers will hinder the true aims of research and fail to adhere to ethical research integrity of transparency. It may be argued that in a decade’s time private sectors may form appropriate regulations and guidelines to safeguard the interest of the researchers. However, it is an unlikely occurrence because the nature of the company requires investment that has economic value. Australia will also lose their biomedical

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