Application Requirement
Requirement for Applicants
Basic research or clinician PIs with a PhD and/or MD should hold an academic title of professor or associate professor and be the official PI of an on-going or completed government-supported research grant with a duration of at least three years. Young investigators as assitant professors are also encouraged. Each applicant is limited to submit one proposal application.  

Criteria for evaluation
· Scientific quality 
· Potential impact
· Originality or innovation 
· Feasibility
· Translational potential
· Unmet need that will be addressed
· Potential to drive new drug development

Important Dates
The FIRM online portal (http://firm.ioz.ac.cn/home/Application/an/) opens for Pre Application submission between 2st – 31st March, 2020. Successful applicants will be informed with an invitation to submit the full proposal no later than 20th April 2020.
 
Fundamental Rules
The grants are for three years subject to progress review after year 1 and 2. Applicants should not request funds for this proposed study from any other sources. Upon approval of the proposal by the joint steering committee of FIRM, the PI is responsible for signing a collaboration research agreement that clearly defines the scope of the research, the confidentiality terms, and the intellectual property rights of the research outcomes. The PI and his/her parent institution is fully responsible for a complete and legally sound ethics review of the proposed study in their parent institution.