The Centre for Behavioural and Implementation Science (BISI) aims to improve population health and well-being by accelerating the implementation of evidence in public policy and practice through the use of behavioural and implementation science.

BISI is giving a seed-funding grant to support the development of behavioural and implementation science capabilities in Singapore. This grant is designed to support smaller scale studies with the potential for growing into large scale research projects.

As this is a developmental grant, applicants must note the following:

• 1. Applicants are required to attend a Behavioural and Implementation Science Grant Workshop to be eligible to apply for the grant.
  2. Once in-principal approval is obtained, a research mentor from BISI will be assigned to work with the study team for the duration of the project.

Successful awardees are strongly encouraged to consider how to scale up their projects for wider implementation. They are also encouraged to use the study findings to apply for a larger grant or to scale up the study to be implemented on a wider scale. Awardees will be given the opportunity to present their project findings at a BISI webinar or other BISI-related dissemination platform.

Each grant award will support up to a cap of S$75,000 per project, over a 12-month period. Funding starts after waiver or approval of IRB is obtained. Indirect funding will not be provided in this grant.

Each research team should comprise members with the following roles:

• Principal Investigator (PI): Each team is led by 1 Lead PI;
• Co-Investigators (Co-Is): Each team may include any number of Co-Investigators;
• Collaborators: Each team may include any number of collaborators;
• Mentor: The award committee will assign a mentor upon notification of successful grant application.

Letter of Intent Stage

Interested applicants can submit a 1000-word letter of intent (LOI) detailing the proposed research plan, team members and estimated budget. The LOI template can be downloaded at the link below.

BISI Grant Workshop Stage

Investigators who have LOIs accepted will be invited to attend the Behavioural and Implementation Science Grant Workshop. The purpose of the workshop is to introduce participants to behavioural and implementation science concepts, including frameworks and tools to effectively design, plan and conduct their studies for implementation research. There will be two half-day sessions of the workshop. Participants will only be required to attend one session.  Applicants are encouraged to submit a research question to optimise their time spent in the workshop. The main grant call will commence after the conclusion of the workshop. Details on the workshop will be shared with successful applicants after LOI selection process has been completed.

Grant Call Stage

The grant call officially starts after the last workshop is conducted and will stay open for 3 months. Applicants will have to submit the finalised proposal (including reflecting HOD's and Research Office's endorsement) before it closes. Details of the grant application will be shared at the grant workshop itself.

Award Process

Upon closure of grant call, the Secretariat reviews the grant proposals for completeness. Incomplete proposals will be automatically rejected. Only applicants who have successfully completed the BISI Grant Workshop will be eligible to apply. Grant proposals will be assessed by primary and secondary reviewers before submission to a selection committee for the award decision. The selection committee will assign a mentor to each successfully awarded project.

The role of the mentor in this grant is to help guide the research team with planning the conduct of research, executing the proposed plan and evaluating the research process at the end of the study. The mentor will also guide the PI when they encounter problems related to the conduct of the study. To ensure that the PI contacts the mentor regularly, the mentor's endorsement must be sought for any changes made to the study and for the submission of any progress report.

Post Award

Upon award of the grant, shortlisted PI will be given a letter of award and informed of assigned mentor. The mentor will meet with the PI to discuss project plan and if any modifications are needed before IRB application. IRB approval will need to be obtained before the letter of funding is issued for the drawdown of funds.

Applicant Eligibility

The grant call is open to researchers and staff from NUHS/NUS. NUHS/NUS staff are defined as full-time staff of NUHS/NUS, staff with joint primary employment in NUHS or NUS, research fellows salaried by NUHS/ NUS or affiliated appointments.

PI must possess a PhD and/or MBBS/BDS/PharmD/MD and/or other appropriate postgraduate qualification (at least a Master's Degree).

Applicants should also fulfil the pre-grant requirements of submitting LOI and if successfully selected, attending the BISI grant workshop.

Proposals will be evaluated on scientific excellence and factors such as the potential to achieve outcomes aligned to the aims of the grant.

Studies that include the following are particularly encouraged:

1. 1. Studies that explicitly test effectiveness of behavioural and/or implementation strategies or frameworks and/or quality improvement strategies;
   2. Studies that specify and test mechanisms of change;
   3. Studies that clearly describe the behavioural and implementation problem to be addressed and how the research is grounded in the local context and aligned with local health priorities;
   4. Studies that apply a systematic approach in implementing research findings and evidence-based practices to improve quality and effectiveness of health or clinical services;
   5. Studies that are based upon a conceptual framework, theory or model that informs the design and variables being tested;
   6. Studies that identify barriers and facilitators to achieving effective implementation across multiple levels, including patient, provider, stakeholder, clinic, facility, organisation.

PI and study team will be encouraged to submit applications to larger grants to further support scaled-up implementation.

Interested applicants will submit the LOI to the assessment committee by Friday, 8 October 2021, 2359hrs (Singapore Standard Time).

Hard-copy submissions are not required. Late and incomplete submissions will not be accepted.

All files should be submitted in PDF format and emailed to bisi@nus.edu.sg with the following title: LOI_PI name.

For enquiries related to the BISI Seed Grant call, please email Ms Mary Ng or Mr. Tong Shao Chuen at bisi@nus.edu.sg.