Discovery & Innovation Grants
Supporting innovative and exploratory research that pushes the boundaries of our understanding and treatment of dust diseases.
Funding Allocation
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Project Funding Available | $500,000 per year |
| Project Funding Duration | Up to 3 years |
Purpose
These grants are designed to support innovative and exploratory research that pushes the boundaries of our understanding and treatment of dust diseases. They are intended to foster novel approaches that have the potential to lead to significant advancements.
Scope
Funding is available for:
Basic and Translational Research: Aimed at building foundational knowledge and transitioning laboratory research to patient care.
Innovative Studies: Designed to foster pioneering research that proposes new theories, extends existing discoveries, or applies novel methodologies and technologies.
High-Risk High-Reward Projects: Supports projects with the potential to revolutionise the field through groundbreaking findings.
Epidemiological Research: Funds studies that analyse the patterns, causes, and impacts of dust diseases within populations, providing vital data to inform public health strategies and preventive measures.
Requirements
Innovative Approach: Applicants must demonstrate a clear break from traditional research methods, proposing novel hypotheses or employing emerging technologies.
Potential for Scalability: Projects should show potential for scalability or further development beyond the initial research phase.
Interdisciplinary Teams Encouraged: Proposals from interdisciplinary teams that combine expertise from different scientific backgrounds are highly encouraged, fostering holistic and innovative research outputs.
Sustainability Focus: The DDB encourages applicants to develop solutions with effective long-term sustainability. The durability of innovations is paramount.
Technology Integration: The DDB strongly advocates for the integration of advanced technology to enhance the efficacy and speed of research.
Diversity and Inclusion: DDB encourages proposals that consider the diversity of affected populations, ensuring that research and interventions are inclusive and applicable to a wide range of demographics affected by dust diseases.
Open Access: The DDB encourages, and may require, that all outputs of research be made available through open access channels, ensuring that findings are accessible to the wider research community and public.
Alignment with the DDB Strategic Priorities 2025-2029
Engage with the research community and refresh principles for funding allocation: This grant type supports the strategy's objective to engage more actively with the research community by funding innovative and exploratory research that encourages new directions and methodologies.
Increase agility and responsiveness to emerging needs: By supporting high-risk high-reward projects, these grants align with the strategic goal of adapting quickly to new and evolving research opportunities that could lead to significant breakthroughs in dust diseases research.
Alignment with the DDB Grant Strategy Guiding Principles
Worker and Family Benefits: Encourages innovations that could lead to breakthrough treatments and improve daily living for workers with dust diseases and their families.
Innovation and Early-stage Support: Strongly supports the exploration of new ideas, techniques, or technologies that are in the early stages but show potential for significant impact.
Novel Research and Pilot Programs: Focuses on funding cutting-edge benchtop research, experimental treatments, and pilot programs that could redefine care standards and outcomes.
Capacity and Capability Building: Aims to cultivate the next generation of researchers with skills in innovative and high-risk research areas related to dust diseases.
Collaboration and Impact: Encourages collaborative efforts that can leverage additional resources and expertise, amplifying the impact of the research and interventions funded.
