What is Researchfish being used for?
Researchfish is a web-based platform designed to systematically track evaluation metrics in the form of output, outcome, and impact data linked to HRB funded awards. Researchfish enables the longitudinal tracking of Health Research outcome and impact information, from the time an award is approved up to 5 years after it has ended.
Researchfish is being used to better track important outcome and impact information, to enable evidence-informed decision making, balanced resource allocation and outwardly communication of the impact of HRB funded projects. Examples of outputs and outcomes captured by Researchfish include:
- Publications supported by the HRB award
- Further funding leveraged by the award
- New collaborations and partnerships established as a result of the award
- Impact on policy and practice etc.
Researchfish does not collect any information on the grant related to grant deliverables or funding spend.
Why are Annual Reports still required as a separate process?
Annual reports play a crucial role in the monitoring of research grants awarded by HRB. They are an opportunity for researchers and host institutions to update HRB on the scientific progress of their grant, vis-à-vis their original application forms, and to provide a financial update on spend. The Annual Reports process takes place on the HRB’s Grant Management System, GEMS and is not linked to Researchfish in any way. It is important to note that there is no overlap between annual reporting and Researchfish data collection.
Is the HRB End of Grant Outcome Tracker Survey still relevant?
Researchfish has replaced the End of Grant (EOG) Outcome Tracker previously utilised by the HRB. The difference between the EOG Outcome Tracker Survey and Researchfish is that the former was a survey completed by grant holders after the conclusion of their award whereas with Researchfish we ask grant holders to provide annual updates on their projects’ outputs, outcomes, and impacts.
Researchfish facilitates more comprehensive and timely reporting, wherein researchers can enter outcome and impact information related to their HRB award as and when it occurs, instead of reporting in bulk at the time of award conclusion.