The Health Bureau (HHB) has long supported local health and medical research, as well as health promotion projects. Through the generation of scientific knowledge derived from local research, as well as translating these knowledge into clinical practice, the Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) administered by the HHB is able to provide more and better evidence to support cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship, as well as formulation of evidence-based health policy, to reduce cancer incidence, morbidity, mortality, and to improve the quality of life of patients. Studies on cancer-related areas will be given priority for funding under the HMRF.
The Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) was established by the HHB in 2011 by consolidating the former Health and Health Services Research Fund and the former Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases, with a broadened scope for funding health and medical research in Hong Kong. In 2017, the HMRF further expanded its scope by incorporating the former Health Care and Promotion Fund in order to create synergy and provide more flexibility in supporting both health and medical research and health promotion efforts.
The HMRF aims to build research capacity and to encourage, facilitate and support health and medical research to inform health policies, improve population health, strengthen the health system, enhance healthcare practices, advance standard and quality of care, and promote clinical excellence, through generation and application of evidence-based scientific knowledge derived from local research in health and medicine. It also provides funding support to evidence-based health promotion projects that help people adopt healthier lifestyles by enhancing awareness, changing adverse health behaviours and creating a conducive environment that supports good health practices.
The HMRF provides funding support for the following types of projects:
a. Investigator-initiated Projects (funding ceiling: $1.5 million per project; project period: 3 years) – to support research studies and health promotion projects from individual applicants in response to "HMRF Open Call" invitations for grant applications guided by reference to the thematic priorities, including detection, treatment and management of the top ten cancers in Hong Kong (by incidence or mortality).
b. Government-commissioned Programmes – to support specific programmes commissioned to, inter alia, build research capacity, fill knowledge gaps, support policy formulation, address specific issues, assess needs and threats, etc. Funding may cover research projects, facilities, infrastructure and other capacity building initiatives as appropriate.
c. Research Fellowship Scheme (funding ceiling: $1.2 million per award; award period: 2 years) – to enhance research capability and build research capacity to facilitate the translation of knowledge into formulation of health policy and clinical practice. Research fellowships will be awarded to eligible candidates covering a range of research areas and specialties on the advice of the Research Council. Higher priority will be accorded to applications that address cancer and the preventable or modifiable risk factors for non-communicable diseases, namely unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol.
Please visit the Research Fund Secretariat’s website (https://rfs.healthbureau.gov.hk/) for details of Open Calls for Investigator-initiated Projects and Research Fellowship Scheme, and information of the approved projects.