NUHS Clinician Scientist Programme (NCSP 3.0)

To nurture promising young clinicians, NCSP3.0 is now launched to support growing talent with seed funding to embark on their research, build their research portfolio, with aims of eventually competing and clinching a national level competitive research grant or talent award, en route to a successful clinical academic research career. The next NCSP3.0 Grant Call will open on 1 May and 1 November, every year until 2027.

3 Year Award

  • Total Funding: $350K, components include:
    • Grant Funding: Manpower, Equipment, Consumables, Training, & Overseas Travel
    • Salary Backfill: Up to 0.8FTE
    • Award to Mentor*: Up to $40K
  •  PI has the flexibility of allocating the $350K among the 3 components with the above cap.
  • The start of the grant may be delayed by up to 6 months from the recommended start date, but the grant duration will remain unchanged.
  • The review panel reserves the right to adjust funding quantum or award partial funding component to selected awardees.
  • PIs may face a cessation of funding if their progress is found inadequate.
  • Upon successful award of the NMRC Talent Award (i.e. TA and above), funding from NCSP will cease. This applies to all 3 components of the award – research grant, salary backfill and mentor award.
 
Eligibility Criteria
  • All locally registered NUHS clinicians from Alexandra Hospital, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, National University Hospital, National University Polyclinic, NUS Medicine, NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, NUS Faculty of Dentistry, NUS Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies.
  • Senior Residents entering NUHS employment, Associate Consultants or Consultants.
  • Applicants who are locally registered health science or healthcare professionals with non-medical degrees – such as nurses, pharmacists and other allied health professions listed on MOH’s website – who are in clinical practice and are either PhD holders or currently pursuing a PhD, are eligible to apply.
  • Faculty on NUS tenure-track will not be eligible for NCSP grant. Any exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • NCSP project can either be included as part of the PI’s PhD project or serve to enhance their PhD project.
  • Previous NCSP award recipients may apply for a renewal for a period of up to a further 3 years. Renewals are subject to rigorous evaluation, requiring recipients to undergo yearly reviews.
  • Committed to fulfill the following KPIs:
    • Complete formal research training:
      • Successful application or completion of MBA/MPH/MCI/PhD/MSc(Nursing)/PhD(Nursing).
    • Progress in research career over a 5-year period, as demonstrated by at least one of the following: 
      • Progress to National CS, secure NMRC Talent Awards (i.e. minimally a TA)
      • Secure NMRC Competitive Grants* (i.e. NIG, CS-IRG)
    • Ensure successful publication:
      • At least 1 publication in the NUSMed Journal Whitelist (first author) within 1-year post grant end date.
        1.  
Submission Requirement
  • NCSP 3.0 Application Form
  • Mentor’s signed letter of support
  • Any other relevant documents you feel will strengthen your application
  • Please submit the completed application form, along with the necessary documents as stated in the form to April Sim at aprilspy@nus.edu.sg, with the subject stating ‘NCSP Application – <Your Name>_<Hosting Institution>’.
 
Grant Call

NCSP 3.0 Grant Call will tentatively open on 1 May and 1 November every year until 2027.

 
Timeline for November 2025 Grant Call

  • Open for submission: Interested candidates to submit their applications from 1 November 2025 – 5 January 2026. Please use application form dated November 2025. Please note that there are major changes in the NCSP 3.0 application form. Applicants who submit their proposal using the old application forms will not be considered.
  • Oral Presentation: You are required to attend an oral presentation, if shortlisted. We will notify you of the session details 1 week before the presentation. Applicants who are invited but unable to attend the oral presentation will not be considered. Oral Presentation Sessions:
    • 3 February 2026, Tue, 2pm – 5pm
    • 4 February 2026, Wed, 2pm – 5pm
  • Outcome: Announcement will be made by 27 February 2026. Award letter will be issue before 1 April 2026.

* The above timeline is indicative.

 
NCSP Grant Finance Regulations – For Research Grants under PI *
  1. PI are required to keep their expenses within allocated budget for each financial year under their Research Grant. Any excess in overspent amount will not be reimbursed.
  2. PIs are expected to utilize at least 95% of the research grant by end of grant.
  3. PIs are expected to utilize at least 50% of the research grant allocated for the financial year before seeking budget variation. Any variation of the budget or extension should be submitted for review and approval. Please refer to the following regarding timeline for variation/extension requests.
    a. Budget variation within research grant is permissible with the approval from HOD and mentor. Any budget variation is subjected to review and approval by the CS Academy Head. Not more than 2 budget variations are allowed for the entire grant period (including those in extension requests). 
    b. Project extension request is capped at 12 months and such approvals are limited to 2, subjected to review and approval by the CS Academy Head. No extension will be considered upon receipt of any NMRC competitive grant. Please submit extension requests at least 6 months before project end date.
  4. PIs who allocated overseas travel expenses for conferences must be a speaker or presenting a poster at the conference on a topic relevant to the research project under the award. Please submit proof as speaker or the abstract when you claim conference expenses under your research grant.
  5. For clinical trials, PIs are encouraged to approach Investigational Medicine Unit (IMU) for clinical trial management (if required), e.g., budgeting and costing preparation/negotiation for trials/observational study, or to factor study monitor, database cost, mode of randomisation, etc. Please contact imu@nuhs.edu.sg.
  6. Tuition fees are not permitted under NCSP grants.
 
NCSP Grant Finance Regulations – For Mentor Award *
  1. Mentors are required to keep their expenses within allocated budget for each financial year. Any excess in overspent amount will not be reimbursed.
  2. EOM Related Expenses:
    a. Allowable – EOM cost and related benefits for research manpower.
    b. Not allowable – Salaries of Lead PI/ Investigators /Collaborators/ general administrative support staff, Research scholarship / stipend top-up for existing post-graduate scholarship holders, Undergraduate stipend and tuition support, and Unconsumed leave, etc.
  3. Equipment Related Expenses:
    a. Allowable – Equipment for mentor’s lab.
    b. Not allowable – General infrastructure, general purpose IT and communication equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fittings.
  4. OOE Related Expenses:
    a. Allowable – Research-related consumables, services, software and courses/trainings
    b. Not allowable – Expenses that are not directly related to research. Examples include entertainment & refreshment expenses, catering, staff retreat, overhead expenses such as telephone charges and/or internet charges, etc.
  5. Overseas Travel Related Expenses:
    a. Allowable – Conference and training expenses for NCSP project and research team. Only economy fare is reimbursable.
    b. Not allowable – Non-NCSP-related travel expenses will not be approved.

* CS Academy has the right to reject any claims which are deemed not research-related.

 
Frequently Asked Questions
  • For FAQ, please refer to the document here.
  • For the list of NUHS non-fundable direct cost, please refer to the appendix here.
 
Application
  • Download the application form here.
  • Download the flyer for November 2025 Grant Call here.
  • E-mail the completed application form to Ms April Sim at aprilspy@nus.edu.sg.