Research Grants

The SMILE Foundation will fund exceptional Australian research projects which, although worthwhile, have difficulty gaining funding through the usual sources.

Following consultation with experts in the medical research field, we have decided that our initial focus will be rare childhood diseases. This focus will be expanded over time as SMILE grows in profile and funds.

Applications for SMILE’s inaugural grants (funding to commence 1 January 2008) have closed.

Applications for funding in 2009 will be sought in early 2008. Prior to that time, SMILE will consult with experts in the field to decide on focus research areas. We will advertise for applications through this website as well as Research Australia’s member database.

If you would like to be advised of SMILE's next call for applications, please email us.

Selection and Review Process

The SMILE Foundation prides itself on applying a thorough and rigorous process to select deserving medical research projects to support.

SMILE’s Research Advisors, Dr’s Margaret Jones and Susan Maastricht have compiled a scoping report to ascertain the current Australian ‘landscape’ in terms of medical research into rare childhood diseases. Their discussions have encompassed an extensive range of scientists and clinicians within the Australian paediatric research community. More than 30 potential areas of research have been identified in this scoping study. This scoping report provides the basis for SMILE’s selection of areas of research to support.

For the next round of funding, leading clinicians and researchers will be brought together to discuss the research areas identified in the scoping report and narrow the field using evaluation criteria. Recommended research areas will then be put to the SMILE Board.

Once research areas have been agreed, a call for applications will be published on this website and sent out via the Research Australia member database.

Applications will be peer reviewed by an expert panel, and recommendations made to the Board for its final decision.

Inaugural Grant Recipients

The SMILE Foundation has now announced its inaugural research grant recipients...more