The NSFC has initiated application for Original Exploratory Program of "Innovative drug research based on the common mechanism of coronavirus infection and pathogenicity" 2021. Details of application requirements are as follows:

1. Funding fields

※ Please refer Annex 1-Guide for more information.

2. Eligibility of applicants

Applicants shall have the experience of undertaking basic research projects or doing basic research.

3. Funding amount and duration

Average funding intensity for one project is about 1 million yuan per year with maximum three years. Applicants shall plan the period of funding and the funds requirement in line with the actual needs of research.

The start time in the application form should be 1 Jan. 2022 and finish time should be 31 Dec. 202*.

4. Procedure of application

Pre-application

Applicants shall fill out application forms in Chinese and submit online via the application system (https://isisn.nsfc.gov.cn/) .

※ For applicants who have no application account, please send your name, academic title, email address, telephone number to kevingao@cuhk.edu.cn by Sep.7,2021 to open account.

Formal application

Applicants shall fill out the formal application forms online via the application system in accordance with the outline of “Special Fund for Research on Original Exploratory Program " when the pre-application is approved after review. Meanwhile, the core research content shall be consistent with the pre-application.

5. Other requirements

A. Application limit

•    Each applicant shall only submit one application in the same year;

•    At the stage of application, the Original Exploratory Program is not counted into the total number limit, but is counted after approval(excluding the program with a term of 1 year or less).

B. The collaborative institutions involved shall not exceed 2 in number;

C. Applicants shall first read Annex 1 carefully before application.

6. Deadline

Pre-application: Applicants shall submit online application by 16:00 on Sep. 29, 2021(will submit to NSFC directly), without submitting any hard copies.

Formal application: Shall be waiting for the further notice by NSFC and RAO.

Contact information

Gao Shang      kevingao@cuhk.edu.cn