The Victorian Neurotrauma Initiative (VNI) is pleased to announce that it will be offering project funding in conjunction with the 2010 NHMRC Project Grant funding round.

Researchers applying to NHMRC will be able to pre-select if they would like their application to be automatically considered by the VNI if they are unsuccessful in receiving funding from NHMRC.

To be eligible for consideration for VNI funding, applicants must be ranked as fundable (Category 4 or 5) and meet the following criteria:

1. The application is in a research area relevant to the objectives of the VNI including brain injury, neurotrauma, neuronal injury, spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury.

2. The application includes Victorian involvement: at least one CI must be based in Victoria

3. The applicant is not seeking funding from other partner agencies named in the Project Grants Funding Policy.

Eligible applications will then be assessed by the Victorian Neurotrauma Initiative against the VNI strategic goals and research priorities.

This is an exciting step in the next phase of VNI project funding. It allows applications from Victorian neurotrauma researchers to be considered simultaneously by Australia's peak health research body and by the VNI.

Cooperation with NHMRC will allow the VNI to take advantage of NHMRC's considerable expertise. Moreover, one application process will minimise the amount of time researchers spend completing applications and maximise their time completing valuable neurotrauma research.

The VNI looks forward to the next phase of this process.

See the NHMRC Project Grant Funding Policy for funding commencing in 2011.