NMRC Young Individual Research Grant (Singapore)

The OF-YIRG is provided to support the conduct of research proposals in basic, translational and clinical research that are relevant to human health and potential, including research that looks at the causes, consequences, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases.

Research Themes

• The following seven disease areas have been identified as national priorities for research:
  • Cancers and neoplasms
  • Cardiovascular
  • Eye
  • Infection
  • Mental health
  • Metabolic and endocrine
  • Neurological

Funding Information

• The OF-YIRG will provide a funding quantum of up to $325,000 (inclusive of up to 30% indirect costs^) and up to 3 years.

Eligibility Criteria

• Only one Principal Investigator (PI) is allowed per application. Applicants applying as Principal Investigator are required to fulfil the following criteria at the point of application:
  • Holds a primary appointment in a local publicly funded institution and salaried by the institution from time of award.
  • PIs should have PhD or MD/MBBS/BDS qualifications. (Exceptions would be made on a case-by-case basis).
  • Has a laboratory or clinical research program that carries out research in Singapore
  • Holds a minimum of 9 months employment (per calendar year) with local Singapore institution(s). Upon award, the PI must agree to fulfil at least 6 months of residency in Singapore for each calendar year over the duration of the grant award.
  • Has no outstanding report from previous BMRC, NMRC grants, and other national grants
  • For proposals involving patients, the PI should be SMC registered; or should be able to demonstrate ability to access patients through SMC registered Co-Is or collaborators.
• Additional Eligibility Criteria for Young IRG:
  • Applicants who are applying for the Young IRGs are strongly encouraged to work with a mentor for guidance in their research. This mentoring will provide support for a period of supervised research leading eventually to the investigators conducting larger scale research projects independently. Please note that the OFYIRG is intended to fund a new investigator’s independent project, and not to provide additional funding for the supervisor’s and/or mentor’s project.
  • Applicants must have completed their PhD or MBBS/MD/BDS within the past 7 years and past 10 years respectively (whichever date is later).
  • Exceptions would be considered on a case-by-case basis to grant a one-year extension to the 7-year post-PhD and 10-year post-MBBS cap eligibility criterion for applicants who declared that their productivity have been affected by COVID-19
  • PIs are required to submit DOR-endorsed request with justifications through the HI ORE at least 3 weeks before grant call closing deadline for NMRC’s assessment on eligibility.
  • Applicants must not have received external competitive funding exceeding $500,000 (direct costs only) within the last 5 years to conduct their own research project as the PI.

• Awardees of the following grants will not be eligible for YIRG:
  • A*STAR Investigatorship
  • NRF Fellowship
  • MOE Tier 2 and 3 grants
  • MOH/NMRC IRG-equivalent grants
• Applicants must indicate how the proposed area of work would be distinct from their current supervisor’s existing research.The applicant’s current supervisor should not be a co-investigator on the proposal.
• Upon the award of the YIRG, the Office of Research will be required to provide written confirmation from either the applicant’s Head of Institution or supervisor to describe the steps the institution will take to demonstrate its commitment to his/her career development. This must include provision of appropriate space to carry out the work proposed, but may also include investment in the equipment necessary to establish the laboratory, access to shared institutional resource, provision of mentorship and career development support etc.

For more information, visit National Medical Research Council.