NZMSRT Grant Guidelines
About the Trust
The New Zealand Multiple Sclerosis Research Trust (NZMSRT) was established in 2015 to stimulate and support New Zealand-based research into all aspects of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and to disseminate research findings to inform New Zealanders about MS.
1-Funding Support
Applications may be submitted in the following categories:
- Research Projects – support tenable for one or two years.
- Fellowships / Scholarships.
- Support to attend national & international conferences or MS Research Units.
Miscellaneous: Other support considered by the Trustees to promote MS research, or to disseminate information about MS in NZ
a) Research Projects
General Points:
- The Lead Investigator on a project application must be based in New Zealand and employed by a New Zealand host organisation.
- Collaborating researchers from outside New Zealand can be included as named investigators on a project but the NZMSRT will not contribute to the overheads of the overseas investigator.
- Secretarial assistance may be provided in some cases, if essential, but this must be justified in the application.
- Consideration will also be given to small exploratory projects, and bridging support for specific purposes.
The main assessment criteria are:
- The scientific merit of the project.
- The relevance of the project to the aims of the NZMSRT.
- The demonstrated ability of the investigators to carry out the project.
- The sum requested in relation to funds available in the Trust.
Format for Project Applications:
- Summary: A brief synopsis in plain English covering the aims, and research design. No more than 150 words in length.
- Aims: Basic thrust of the research.
- Background: Relevant current knowledge.
- Research Design: Include specific objectives, hypotheses, methodological detail, and sample size calculations (where relevant) with proposed statistical analyses.
- References
- Significance – relevance to ongoing research locally or in the overall research field.
- Timeline – Planned staging of the research over the duration of the award, if appropriate.
- How results will be disseminated – Describe how research findings will be disseminated.
- CVs of the Investigators – Limit to 4 pages.
- Ethics Approval – In any research project involving experimentation on human or animal subjects, the applicant should submit an approval by an appropriate independent ethics review committee or indicate that this process is in progress.
- If possible, the application should include contact information for at least two referees who can be approached to evaluate the scientific merit of the proposed research.
2-Budget:
The budget for each year requested, and the total, should be shown in a table under the following headings:
- Staff – Details of all staff (including names where known) who will be associated with the research should be included and whether or not a salary is being requested. Indicate the percentage full-time equivalent (% FTE) for each staff member.
- Equipment – Written quotations should be supplied. Quote GST inclusive amounts.
- Misc costs should be itemised under appropriate headings such as: Materials and Consumer Items; Computer Charges; ACC Levies; Transport Costs; Telephone; Stationery; Postage and Freight, etc. Include, if appropriate, conference costs for presentation of research. Quote GST inclusive amount.
b) Fellowships / Scholarships
Applications may be submitted in the following categories:
- Clinical Fellowship: Support for a graduate health professional (clinician) in training, to undertake research training related to MS in a NZ or overseas MS Unit, with the aim of furthering a career in MS research in NZ. A stipend for one year may be extended for a second year.
- Post-graduate Fellowship: Support for a science graduate, recently awarded a postgraduate research qualification, who plans to undertake research related to MS in NZ. A stipend for one year may be extended for a second year.
- PhD Scholarship providing a tax-free annual stipend and payment of university fees plus GST each year, tenable for a maximum of 3 years.
- Masters Scholarship providing a tax-free annual stipend and payment of university fees plus GST each year, tenable for a maximum of 2 years.
PhD and Master’s Scholarships are intended to attract well-qualified New Zealand science graduates into research pertinent to Multiple Sclerosis.
Awarding of a scholarship does not necessarily include research funding for the nominated projects comprising the PhD or Masters degree, although applicants are eligible to apply separately to the Trust for such projects, which would be evaluated on merit independently.
Applicants must provide a letter of support from their primary supervisor, as well as evidence of the steps taken to obtain a conditional place in an appropriate PhD or Masters programme.
c) Travel Support
Financial assistance to attend national and international conferences related to Multiple Sclerosis. Preference will be given to applicants who will be attending a conference to present their research. Proposals should include a budget.
3-Administration of Grant Funding
Grants will be managed by NZMSRT
- All grants will be paid on receipt of an invoice. The invoice should state the following:
- Address of the organisation or individual.
- The full contact details of the grant beneficiary.
- Grant name & details.
- Clearly show whether the total is GST inclusive.
- Full bank details – Name, account number, bank
- Annual reports will be requested at the end of each year. Reports should include evidence of ongoing ethics approval of the project.
- NZMSRT will issue an agreement including the terms and conditions of the grant. The agreement should be signed by both parties.
General Points:
All awards are to be taken up within one year from the date of the approval letter, or funding will lapse. Take up is signalled by receipt of the first request for payment of expenses. In exceptional circumstances the Trustees will consider an application in writing from the principal investigator for deferment of funding for one year, such an application being received before the 12-month take-up period has expired. Furthermore, if the timeline of actual expenditure differs appreciably from that submitted in the application, the Trustees reserve the right to request a report, and to review ongoing funding.
Extension of Research Support
The Trust will review existing awards annually. If an applicant wishes to apply for an extension, it must be clearly stated in the annual report, submitted to the Trust at the end of the calendar year. A new administrative agreement is not required unless requested by the Trust. If the original completion date has passed and no extension has been approved, then the award will be closed.
Presentation of Research Findings
Recipients of research funding may be asked at the conclusion of their research to present their findings at webinars and/or other academic forums related to the work of the NZMSRT. Publications should carry an acknowledgement of the Trust’s support. The acknowledgement should be in the following form: “This research was supported by an award from the New Zealand Multiple Sclerosis Research Trust”
Should you require NZMSRT branding, email info@msresearch.org.nz for access to our logo, colour palette, and brand guidelines. This ensures consistency across all platforms and helps us build a strong visual identity.
Contact us
New Zealand Multiple Sclerosis Research Trust: CC51849 – For inquires contact – Development Officer – info@msresearch.org.nz
