Research Scholarship

Support guidelines and application information for local clinical studies.

Application Guideline and Form

Background

Clinical research, particularly research involving novel laboratory techniques and treatments, often has resource implications. Conceivably, some worthwhile local research projects in dermatology or venereology are abandoned due to resource limitations. A research scholarship is therefore established by The Hong Kong Society of Dermatology & Venereology (HKSDV) in order to assist Members and Fellows in conducting clinical studies.

Application

  1. Any Full Member (Ordinary Member or Fellow) of the HKSDV who is the principal investigator of a dermatology or venereology research project is eligible to apply.
  2. The applicant shall submit a properly written research protocol, which shall include the research title, issue date or effective date, protocol and amendment version number, authors, investigators and their affiliations, other funding sources, sponsor, background and rationale of the research, data collection and analysis, study assessments and procedures, timeline of the research, expected form of output and, where appropriate, informed consent, ethical considerations or approval, and a description of investigational product(s) and resource implications.
  3. A scholarship in the amount of HK$50,000 will be offered for each research project.
  4. Each applicant may be awarded a maximum of two scholarships over a period of two years. Nevertheless, to maximize the number of successful applicants, priority will be given to applicants who have not previously received a research grant from the HKSDV.

Reviewing Process

  1. Two Council Members shall be nominated to form a Research Scholarship Review Committee and shall review the project based on the following considerations: (1) scientific merit, (2) study design, and (3) feasibility and effective use of resources. Each item shall be rated on a five-point scale.
  2. At the discretion of the Council, the research protocol may also be referred to a maximum of two external reviewers who are experts in the relevant research field.
  3. The two nominated Council Members shall monitor the progress and output of research projects from time to time.
  4. In general, a favourable vote shall be based on the following considerations:
    1. Scientific rigour
    2. Benefit to patients
    3. Benefit to quality of service
  5. On the other hand, the following considerations may lead to an unfavourable vote:
    1. Administrative unfeasibility
    2. Potential harms outweighing potential benefits
    3. Inability to obtain ethical approval due to concerns raised by local authorities or institutions
    4. Unsound scientific principles
  6. The two reviewers shall assess the research proposal and provide comments in the technical review report. After reviewing the reports, the Chairman of the Society shall decide whether the scholarship is to be granted. The final result and the reviewers' comments shall be communicated to the applicant by the Secretariat Office.

Research Progress

  1. The investigator/applicant shall provide the reviewers with a project timeline, including the project start date, project duration and expected completion date. The investigator/applicant shall report on the research progress at least every six months and upon request by the reviewers. This is intended to ensure that the research remains actively in progress and to monitor the stage that the project has reached. Any amendment to the protocol shall be promptly reported to the reviewers.
  2. The investigator is reminded that the approved protocol must be strictly adhered to. "On-the-field" adjustments, such as the collection of additional data or the administration of additional tests, shall not be made without proper approval. Any deviation from the informed consent is also unacceptable.
  3. If the progress of a study is unsatisfactory, for reasons such as lack of resources, suboptimal recruitment, serious adverse events, or other significant concerns, and if the reviewers determine that the continuation of the study would be contrary to the interests of patients, consideration shall be given to terminating the scholarship.

Output

  1. Research output may take various forms, such as a dissertation or other peer-reviewed publications. The maximum period allowed for the study shall be three years.
  2. Upon completion of the study, the investigator shall submit a brief report of the study to the Research Scholarship Review Committee for documentation purposes, and an article concerning the research shall be submitted to the Hong Kong Journal of Dermatology & Venereology (HKJDV).

Payment

  1. The investigator/applicant shall provide justification for the project costs and resource implications, such as the costs of laboratory kits, tests or instruments. Supporting documents shall be provided.
  2. The research scholarship shall be paid to the principal investigator when the reviewers are satisfied with the research output, brief report and submission to the HKJDV.
  3. The research scholarship shall be reimbursed upon submission of supporting documents and payment receipts, up to a maximum of HK$50,000.
Download Application for Research Scholarship Form