Open Fund – Large Collaborative Grant (Singapore)

Deadline: 12-Aug-2026

The Open Fund – Large Collaborative Grant (OF-LCG) by the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) supports large-scale collaborative research programmes focused on patient-centric translational research that improves human health and creates economic value. The programme provides funding of up to S$10 million or S$25 million for projects lasting up to five years.

The grant encourages multidisciplinary collaboration among public institutions and supports research areas including cancer, cardiovascular disease, infection, mental health, precision health, artificial intelligence, cell therapies, and other emerging health technologies. Eligible applications must be led by experienced Principal Investigators from local public institutions and undergo a competitive two-stage review process.

National Medical Research Council Open Fund – Large Collaborative Grant (NMRC OF-LCG)

The National Medical Research Council (NMRC) Open Fund – Large Collaborative Grant (OF-LCG) supports ambitious collaborative research programmes designed to advance human health and wellness.

The programme focuses on patient-centric translational research that connects scientific discoveries with real-world healthcare applications.

The grant aims to:

• Improve health outcomes.
• Develop innovative healthcare solutions.
• Encourage large-scale research collaboration.
• Create economic value through biomedical innovation.
• Strengthen research capabilities across public institutions.

Purpose of the Open Fund – Large Collaborative Grant

The OF-LCG is designed for large research programmes that require collaboration across multiple disciplines and institutions.

The programme supports research that combines:

• Basic research foundations.
• Applied research approaches.
• Translational pathways leading to patient benefit.

The grant does not support:

• Pure basic science research.
• Pure clinical research.
• Pure applied research without translational components.

Funded programmes should demonstrate a clear pathway from research discoveries to improvements in healthcare, patient outcomes, or health-related innovation.

Research Focus Areas

The OF-LCG supports research across major health and biomedical priority areas.

Priority areas include:

• Cancers and neoplasms.
• Cardiovascular diseases.
• Eye diseases and vision-related research.
• Infectious diseases.
• Mental health.
• Metabolic and endocrine disorders.
• Neurological conditions.
• Multi-morbidity.
• Population health.
• Precision health.
• Immunological approaches.
• Advanced healthcare technologies.

Cross-Cutting Technology Areas

The programme also encourages research involving emerging technologies and innovative approaches.

Examples include:

• Artificial intelligence (AI).
• Nucleic acid therapies.
• Cell therapies.
• Advanced biomedical platforms.
• Technology-enabled healthcare solutions.

High-quality proposals outside the listed priority areas may also be considered if they demonstrate strong scientific value, translational potential, and national relevance.

Funding Amount and Project Duration

The OF-LCG provides funding under two grant tiers:

Large Collaborative Grant Funding Options

• Tier 1 funding: Up to S$10 million.
• Tier 2 funding: Up to S$25 million.

Funding details:

• Maximum project duration: Five years.
• Funding includes indirect costs.
• Indirect costs are provided at 30% of qualifying direct project costs.

The funding is intended to support large-scale research programmes involving multiple investigators, institutions, and research themes.

Research Programme Structure

Each OF-LCG application must have a structured leadership model.

The programme must include:

• One Corresponding Principal Investigator (PI).
• Multiple Theme Principal Investigators (Theme PIs).
• Maximum of five research themes.

The Corresponding PI provides overall leadership and coordination, while Theme PIs lead individual research components within the broader programme.

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants must be researchers based at local public institutions.

Applicants include researchers from:

• Public universities.
• Public research institutions.
• Public healthcare institutions.
• Other eligible local public-sector research organisations.

The application must be submitted and endorsed by the Corresponding PI’s Host Institution.

Principal Investigator Eligibility Requirements

The Corresponding PI and Theme PIs must meet specific eligibility criteria.

They must:

• Hold a primary salaried appointment at a local public institution.
• Have a PhD or MD/MBBS/BDS qualification unless an exemption applies.
• Demonstrate an established research track record.
• Maintain at least nine months of employment per calendar year with local public institution(s).

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Strong scientific leadership.
• Previous research achievements.
• Ability to manage collaborative research programmes.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams.

Role of the Host Institution

The Host Institution plays an important role in the application process.

The institution must:

• Endorse the application.
• Submit the proposal on behalf of the Corresponding PI.
• Support programme governance.
• Ensure compliance with funding requirements.

How the Application Process Works

The OF-LCG follows a competitive two-stage evaluation process.

Stage 1: Letter of Intent (LOI)

Applicants first submit a Letter of Intent outlining:

• Research vision.
• Programme objectives.
• Scientific importance.
• Translational potential.
• Collaborative structure.
• Expected health and economic impact.

The LOI is reviewed to identify proposals suitable for full application.

Stage 2: Full Proposal Submission

Shortlisted applicants are invited to submit a detailed Full Proposal.

The Full Proposal should include:

• Detailed research plan.
• Programme structure.
• Research themes.
• Methodology.
• Team expertise.
• Budget justification.
• Expected outcomes.

International Expert Review and Evaluation

Full proposals undergo further assessment through:

• International expert review.
• Applicant rebuttal process.
• Interview stage.
• Final funding recommendations.

The review process evaluates scientific quality, feasibility, impact, and leadership capability.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are assessed based on several key factors.

Scientific Excellence

Reviewers consider:

• Research innovation.
• Scientific quality.
• Methodological strength.
• Translational potential.

National Relevance

Assessment includes:

• Alignment with healthcare priorities.
• Potential benefit to population health.
• Importance to national research goals.

Research Team Capability

Reviewers evaluate:

• Expertise of investigators.
• Track record.
• Collaborative ability.
• Leadership capacity.

Programme Governance

Assessment considers:

• Management structure.
• Coordination mechanisms.
• Research oversight.
• Risk management.

Research Capacity Building

Projects should demonstrate potential to:

• Train researchers.
• Build institutional capability.
• Strengthen future research capacity.

Health and Economic Impact

Reviewers assess:

• Potential patient benefits.
• Healthcare improvements.
• Innovation outcomes.
• Economic value creation.

Multi-Party Project Agreement Requirements

Projects funded under the RIE2030 OF-LCG must complete required multi-party project agreements.

Important requirements:

• Applicable agreements must be submitted within four months of in-principle approval.
• The Letter of Award will only be issued after completion of required agreements.

These agreements help establish responsibilities, collaboration arrangements, and governance structures among participating parties.

Why This Grant Matters

The OF-LCG supports major collaborative research programmes that can transform healthcare outcomes.

The programme helps researchers:

• Develop patient-focused innovations.
• Translate discoveries into healthcare solutions.
• Build large research networks.
• Address complex health challenges.
• Strengthen biomedical research capabilities.
• Create economic value through innovation.

Large-scale collaborative funding enables researchers to tackle challenges that cannot be addressed through smaller individual projects.

Common Mistakes Applicants Should Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

• Submitting research that lacks a clear translational pathway.
• Proposing purely basic, clinical, or applied research without integration.
• Failing to demonstrate collaboration across disciplines.
• Selecting research themes without strong scientific justification.
• Providing weak evidence of investigator expertise.
• Ignoring governance and programme management requirements.
• Underestimating the importance of patient impact and national relevance.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants should:

• Clearly explain how research will benefit patients.
• Build a strong multidisciplinary team.
• Define clear roles for Theme PIs.
• Demonstrate previous research achievements.
• Highlight innovation and technology opportunities.
• Provide a realistic governance framework.
• Explain long-term healthcare and economic impact.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the NMRC Open Fund – Large Collaborative Grant?

The NMRC Open Fund – Large Collaborative Grant supports large-scale collaborative research programmes focused on patient-centric translational research that advances health outcomes and creates economic value.

How much funding is available?

The grant provides up to S$10 million or S$25 million, including indirect costs, for projects lasting up to five years.

What type of research does the grant support?

The grant supports patient-centric translational research combining basic and applied research approaches. Pure basic science, pure clinical research, and pure applied research are not supported.

Who can apply for the OF-LCG?

Researchers holding primary salaried appointments at local public institutions can apply. Applications must be led by a Corresponding PI and supported by Theme PIs.

How many research themes can an application include?

Each application can include up to five research themes led by multiple Theme Principal Investigators.

What areas of research are prioritised?

Priority areas include cancer, cardiovascular disease, infection, mental health, neurological conditions, metabolic disorders, precision health, population health, AI, cell therapies, and other advanced healthcare technologies.

How are applications evaluated?

Applications undergo a two-stage process involving a Letter of Intent, Full Proposal review, international expert assessment, rebuttal, interview, and final funding recommendation.

Conclusion

The NMRC Open Fund – Large Collaborative Grant provides a major opportunity for research teams to develop ambitious, patient-focused translational research programmes that address important healthcare challenges.

With funding of up to S$25 million and support for multidisciplinary collaboration, the programme aims to accelerate biomedical innovation, strengthen research capacity, improve patient outcomes, and create long-term health and economic benefits. Eligible research leaders should develop proposals that demonstrate scientific excellence, collaboration, strong governance, and clear pathways to impact.

For more information, visit NMRC.