Grants

CIS has extensive experience in securing grants. There is typically over $40 billion and 4,000 government and non-government grants available to provide assist support to individuals, businesses and communities for both commercial and not-for-profit ventures. Grants typically range from as little as $1,000 to upwards of $40 million. Our experience with grant applications includes NH&MRC, MRFF and RDC’s.

Complying with the guidelines and requirements of grant programs such as completing the budgets, undertaking a cost benefit analysis, engaging with partners, detailing the major risks and mitigation strategies, and developing the relevant governance and management arrangements is a complex and time consuming process. It is important to ensure that every element of the application points towards a compelling business case.

Improving and managing medical research grant submissions

CLIENT: MRFF AND NHMRC

PROJECT OVERVIEW

CIS has worked with some of Australia’s leading medical research institutes including the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, The George Institute for Global Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Baker Institute, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Melbourne Health; and supported the development of the successful bids to launch the Cancer Therapeutics CRC and Biomarker Translation CRCs.

The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) granting schemes present significant funding sources for medical research. CIS has been engaged to support the development of grants for both of these major funding pools.

MRFF

The MRFF regularly releases calls in line with its strategic priorities, however, the timelines for these submissions are often limited. CIS recently project managed and provided strategic insight into the development of a submission for the Frontiers program, supporting the development of an in-depth Project Plan for Stage One of the scheme.

CIS worked with the project sponsors to manage the overall bid process and business case development. This included the planning and facilitating a workshop to engage the prospective bid partners to achieve alignment in terms of bid direction and scope. CIS worked to synthesize this partner engagement into the project plan developing the governance arrangements, project timelines, detailed budget, key activity plans, and risk mitigation strategies.

NHMRC

CIS has previously been engaged to support technical elements for major NHMRC grants, including a successful application to the Targeted Call for Research in Genomics, which was awarded $25 million to establish the Australian Genomics research consortium.

The NHMRC has increasingly emphasised a need for research to deliver impact, and have introduced new elements into the Investigator Grant scheme for the demonstration of impact. Due to CIS’s extensive experience in working with researchers to develop program logic models for their research activities and quantify the downstream economic impact, CIS was engaged to develop a process for writing and refining statements of impact.

CIS worked with 17 medical researchers at an ATN university, ranging from early and mid-career fellows through to Professoriate, to develop their impact statements. CIS worked closely with the researchers to refine their impact statements for submission, with positive feedback received from the project sponsor and the researchers involved and delivered easy to follow guidance and template that the university could use for future Investigator Grant rounds.

OUR SERVICES

We provide the following grant application support services:

Application management and
participation engagement

Grant applications require the collation and integration of information, thoughts and ideas of all the parties and partners involved. Applications can take between one week to one year to develop. Our services include:

Interim CEO
We are increasingly being asked to lead major grants including acting as the CEO of these new ventures. In this role we provide independent expertise, expert advice, lead and project manage the bid and take carriage for the engagement of key stakeholders.
Strategic advice
We assist bids positioning and compliance, interpret application guidelines selection criteria, review draft applications and assist in interview preparations.
Project management
We assist project plan development, guide timeframes, identify key activities and oversee partner and participant activities.
Participant engagement
We assist in negotiating contributions and returns, liaise with partners, guide expectations and develop business cases.

Application reviews and feedback

An outsider’s perspective on a grant application can provide guidance on how to structure the application, identify areas of strengths and weaknesses to improve the competitiveness of the application and provide feedback on how the application is assessed for funding. Our services include:

Reviewing the application against selection criteria and guidelines to ensure it is compliant and competitive
One on one feedback sessions to train staff and build grant writing capability within the organisation. Sessions include a review of the application, identification of strengths and weaknesses and a feedback session to discuss areas for improvement
Identifying application strengths and weaknesses within an organisation and providing feedback on how to structure the application to ensure competitiveness

Budgets, financial and impact modelling

Competitive applications have well developed quantitative and financial components that directly address the selection criterion. We assist with:

Budgeting and guidelines to ensure it is compliant and competitive
Financial Modelling to support cost benefit analysis, sensitivity analysis, scenario analysis and detailed project and program budgeting
Impact Modelling to undertake a comprehensive analysis of the potential benefits achieved from the funding support provided