Emerging Clinician Scientist Awards (ECSA) 2024

The main objectives of this scheme are to:

1. Support talented health and social care practitioners at a career transition stage to establish themselves as independent investigators while retaining their clinical practice in the Irish health services.
2. Develop collaborative researchers who can facilitate actionable knowledge by:
   a.    Translating knowledge generated through research into the health care system, policies, or practice.
   Or
   b.    Generating research findings informed by policy and practice.

The call will be open to health and social care practitioners involved in the delivery of patient or social care, who have a PhD (or PhD equivalency) and who are ready to become independent investigators.

Lead Applicants eligible for this scheme are health and social care practitioners from any professional background who are involved in the delivery of patient or social care and are typically research active. This scheme targets individuals who have already consolidated their research knowledge, skills, methodologies, and capabilities through a period of mentored postdoctoral research and who are currently progressing towards becoming independent researchers.

Health and social care professionals, who are currently engaged in research only or research and other academic activities but not involved in delivering clinical or social care should apply to the Emerging Investigator Awards 2024.

Lead Applicants can be:

• Working in Ireland.
• Working overseas.
• On a career break.

Lead Applicant must

• Have a PhD or have been granted PhD equivalent research experience by the HRB (at least four years of ‘fulltime’  research experience post-primary degree).
• Be able demonstrate they have the skills, knowledge and supports necessary to direct the proposed research and to carry the research through to completion.

Please note that MD degrees are not accepted as equivalent to a PhD for this round of ECSA. Any prospective Lead Applicants (inluding those with MD degrees)  who have not been awarded a PhD may submit a request to claim HRB PhD equivalence. The form for doing so in available on the right hand side of this page.

Lead Applicant must hold (or will hold if their application is successful):

• A clinical post either in the Irish health service or social care organisation which covers or will cover the duration of the award, if successful.

Or

• A clinical post in private practice providing inclusive care to the public

Or

• A post in a health and social care organisation (e.g. Tusla, Section 38 or Section 39 agencies).

Or

• A joint clinical and academic teaching/education position within a Higher Education Institution and the Irish Health Services or other social care organisations.

Or

• If not currently working in Ireland, have the support of a HRB approved Host Institution and have already obtained or are negotiating a clinical post in the Republic of Ireland.

Additionally, Lead Applicants must dedicate a minimum of 0.2 FTE to clinical practice for the duration of the award.

Lead Applicants must not have:

• More than 0.2 FTE protected time already dedicated to research.
• Be as yet recognised as an independent investigator.

All applications must be submitted using the HRB Grant Electronic Management System (GEMS) https://grants.hrb.ie. GEMS will close automatically at the submission deadline.

The Emerging Clinician Scientist Awards scheme will use a two-stage application process consisting of:

1. An open call for Pre-applications (Stage 1).
2. Invitation of selected applicants to submit a Full Application (Stage 2).

The application must have been reviewed and approved by the signatory approver at the research office (or equivalent) in the host institution before it is submitted to the HRB. Therefore, applicants should ensure that they give the signatory approver sufficient time before the scheme closing date to review the application and approve it on GEMS. Please note that many host institutions specify internal deadlines for this procedure.

https://grants.hrb.ie

Dr Brian Nolan

Email: ECSA@hrb.ie

Salary of the Lead Applicant up to a maximum 0.5 FTE; research-related costs up to a maximum of €300K, and overheads.

Previously approved ECSA awards