Jul 16, 2025, 20:01

NMRC Open Fund – Young Individual Research Grant (OF-YIRG)

The NMRC Open Fund – Young Individual Research Grant (OF-YIRG) supports early-career investigators conducting basic, translational, or clinical research relevant to human health. This stepping-stone award provides up to S$325,000 over three years to help new investigators establish independent research programs in Singapore.

Eligibility Criteria:

Principal Investigator:
- Holds a primary appointment and salary at a Singapore public hospital, Academic Medical Centre, public university, or public health institution.
- PhD or MD/MBBS/BDS (exceptions on a case-by-case basis).
- Completed PhD within the past 7 years or MD/MBBS/BDS within the past 10 years (with one-year COVID-19 extensions considered).
- Has not received > S$500,000 direct-cost external competitive funding as PI in the past 5 years.
- No prior awards as PI/Co-PI of national-level grants (A*STAR Investigatorship, NRF Fellowship, MOE Tier 2/3, NMRC IRG-equivalent).
- Employed ≥ 9 months/year locally and commits to ≥ 6 months’ Singapore residency per grant year.
- No outstanding reports from previous national grants.
- For patient-based studies: PI or Co-I must be SMC-registered or demonstrate patient access via SMC-registered collaborator.
- Applicants must work with a mentor—this grant funds the junior PI’s independent project (not the mentor’s).
- Proposals must clearly distinguish from the mentor’s research; the mentor may not be a Co-Investigator.
- Host Institution must provide a written career-development plan and lab/infrastructure support upon award.
Research Themes: Open to all health areas; for prioritization, seven national domains:
1. Cancers & neoplasms
2. Cardiovascular
3. Eye
4. Infection
5. Mental health
6. Metabolic & endocrine
7. Neurological

Funding Details:

Quantum: Up to S$325,000 total (inclusive of up to 30% indirect costs^) over 3 years.
Allowable Costs: Personnel, consumables, equipment, assay fees, and up to 30% indirect costs (not applicable for scholarship budgets).

Deadline:

Submit your DOR-endorsed application through IGMS by August 1, 2025, 5 PM SGT. Late or unendorsed submissions will not be accepted.

Where to Go for Further Information & Submission:

Application Guide: Download the OF-YIRG Application Guide from the NMRC website under “Grants → Competitive Research Grants → Open Fund – Young Individual Research Grant.”
Online Submission: IGMS portal (requires Host Institution DOR endorsement).
Queries: Contact the NMRC Secretariat via the IGMS helpdesk or refer to the OF-YIRG FAQ on NMRC’s site.