ACEM - ACEM Research Project Endorsement Process

Before submitting your application, it is important that you identify what level of support you are seeking from ACEM. Are you:

Requesting that ACEM become a partner in your research project and/or provide cash or in-kind support for your project?
Seeking endorsement of a clinical research project(s) or a project(s) using routinely collected health data?
Requesting advertisement for research project participation?

Requests for ACEM to partner with you in your research project and/or provide cash or in-kind support for your project

All requests for ACEM to partner with you in your research project (including providing a letter of support) and/or provide cash or in-kind support need to follow the process outlined below.

1. Determine if your support request meets ACEM’s eligibility requirements

ACEM’s mission is to promote excellence in the delivery of quality emergency care to all our communities through our committed and expert members. As such, your project must meet all of the essential criteria listed below:

The research involves emergency medicine care and is aligned with at least one of ACEM’s Strategic Priorities.
The investigators (collectively) have a demonstrated research track record.
An appropriate reason for ACEM partnership and/or for seeking cash or in-kind support is provided.
The research is well designed, meaning that it:
- Clearly defines the research question(s)
- Clearly describes the importance and aims of the project
- Has well described and appropriate methodology for the research question.
- Includes information on the resources required to complete the project and outlines a plan to obtain these.
- Includes a plan for how consumers are involved in the research design and project.
When completed, the results of the study are likely to be of:
- Regional significance
- National significance
- International significance
The project is novel or appropriately replicates previous research to determine its applicability to our health system.
Funding for the project has already been obtained, or the project is likely to be competitive in future funding applications.
As appropriate, a plan for knowledge translation is included in the protocol.

Projects that do not meet the criteria will not be considered.

2. Initiate project review by the ACEM Research Committee

3. Contact the ACEM Research Coordinator to organise a review of your request

Please email the following documentation to ACEM’s Research Coordinator at [email protected]:

A final and detailed project protocol with background, clearly stated research question(s), full description of methodology and proposed approach to analysis (partially developed projects will not be accepted for review);
All ethics approvals, if obtained; and
A letter addressed to the Chair of the ACEM Research Committee addressing the relevant essential criteria in step 1.

Your email should state that your project meets ACEM’s eligibility requirements and whether cash and/or in-kind support requested. Your request needs to be received by the Research Coordinator at least two weeks prior to a scheduled meeting of the ACEM Research Committee.

Unless there is an extraordinary situation (for example, a rapid call for research projects with submissions required less than one month after the open date), requests for support will only be reviewed at a scheduled meeting.

ACEM Research Committee Meetings 2024
MONTH	DAY/DATE	DETAILS
February	Wednesday 14 February 2024	Meeting
March	Wednesday 13 March 2024	eVote*
April	Wednesday 10 April 2024	eVote*
May	Wednesday 22 May 2024	Meeting
June	Wednesday 19 June 2024	eVote*
July	Wednesday 17 July 2024	eVote*
August	Wednesday 14 August 2024	eVote*
September	Wednesday 18 September 2024	Meeting
October	Wednesday 16 October 2024	eVote*
November	Wednesday 13 November 2024	eVote*

* Videoconference or eVote will only proceed if requests for research support have been received at least two weeks prior to the scheduled date.

Note that there will be no meeting in December and January. Applications for cash and/or in-kind support of research from investigators intending to apply for NHMRC grants in the February-March funding rounds must be submitted two weeks prior to the last meeting of the Research Committee for the calendar year, for consideration by the Committee, or the request may not be considered prior to funding application deadlines.
Applications for in-principle support of research projects in extraordinary circumstances (for example, a rapid call for research projects with submissions required less than one month after the open date) will be considered at the discretion of the Research Committee Chair.

4. Decision from the ACEM Research Committee

You will receive an email and letter from the Chair of the ACEM Research Committee once a decision on your request has been made. If your request for ACEM to partner with you in your research project and/or provide cash or in-kind support was not approved, the reason(s) for this decision will be outlined in the letter. However, please note that all decisions are final.

5. Decision from the ACEM Board (only for requests approved by the ACEM Research Committee)

If your request for ACEM to partner with you in your research project and/or provide cash or in-kind support was approved by the ACEM Research Committee, you will receive an email from the Chair of the Research Committee informing you that your request has proceeded to the ACEM Board for a decision on the cash or in-kind support request.

Unless there is an extraordinary situation (for example a rapid call for research projects with submissions required less than one month after the open date), the ACEM Board will only review requests at a scheduled meeting.

ACEM Board Meetings 2024
MONTH	DAY/DATE	DETAILS
February	Monday 12 February 2024	Meeting
March	Monday 25 March 2024	Meeting
May	Monday 27 May 2024	Meeting
August	Monday 5 August 2024	Meeting
October	Monday 14 October 2024	Meeting
December	Monday 9 December 2024	Meeting

No more than two weeks following the ACEM Board meeting, you will receive an email from the Chair of the ACEM Research Committee advising if your request for ACEM to partner with you in your research project and/or provide cash or in-kind support was approved. Please note that, in the event that a request is not approved by the ACEM Board, the decision of the ACEM Board is final.

Seeking endorsement of a clinical research project(s) or a project(s) using routinely collected health data

All requests for endorsement of a clinical research project(s) or a project(s) using routinely collected health data need to follow the process outlined below.

1. Determine if your request meets ACEM’s eligibility requirements

The research involves emergency medicine care and is aligned with at least one of ACEM’s Strategic Priorities.
The investigators (collectively) have a demonstrated research track record.
An appropriate reason for ACEM partnership and/or for seeking cash or in-kind support is provided.
The research is well designed, meaning that it:
- Clearly defines the research question(s)
- Clearly describes the importance and aims of the project
- Has well described and appropriate methodology for the research question
- Includes information on the resources required to complete the project and outlines a plan to obtain these.
- Includes a plan for how consumers are involved in the research design and project.
When completed, the results of the study are likely to be of:
- Regional significance
- National significance
- International significance
The project is novel or appropriately replicates previous research to determine its applicability to our health system.
Funding for the project has already been obtained, or the project is likely to be competitive in future funding applications.
As appropriate, a plan for knowledge translation is included in the protocol.

Projects that do not meet the criteria will not be considered.

2. Initiate project review by the ACEM Research Committee

All clinical research projects, or projects using routinely collected heath data that are to be carried out with ACEM endorsement must first be reviewed and approved by the ACEM Research Committee. Note that this does not include advertisement requests for research project participation. If you are requesting ACEM to advertise your research project to members, please click here.

Prior to submitting your project(s) for ACEM endorsement, please read ACEM’s Policy on Endorsement of clinical research studies and projects using routinely collected health data to ensure you understand the expectations and conditions of ACEM endorsement.

If you meet the project endorsement requirements, please fill out our application form for ACEM endorsement of research projects.

IF YOU ARE NOT A MEMBER OF ACEM, please explain why you are seeking ACEM endorsement in your cover letter.

IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF ACEM and have a new project idea, the Research Committee is happy to discuss this with you. Please contact the ACEM Research Coordinator at [email protected], providing further details about your proposed research.

3. Review of your endorsement request

Your request for endorsement of a clinical research project(s) or a project(s) using routinely collected health data needs to be received at least two weeks prior to a scheduled meeting of the ACEM Research Committee.

Unless there is an extraordinary situation (for example, a rapid call for research projects with submissions required less than one month after the open date), requests for endorsement will only be reviewed at a scheduled meeting.

ACEM Research Committee Meetings 2024
MONTH	DAY/DATE	DETAILS
February	Wednesday 14 February 2024	Meeting
March	Wednesday 13 March 2024	eVote*
April	Wednesday 10 April 2024	eVote*
May	Wednesday 22 May 2024	Meeting
June	Wednesday 19 June 2024	eVote*
July	Wednesday 17 July 2024	eVote*
August	Wednesday 14 August 2024	eVote*
September	Wednesday 18 September 2024	Meeting
October	Wednesday 16 October 2024	eVote*
November	Wednesday 13 November 2024	eVote*

* Videoconference or eVote will only proceed if requests for research support have been received at least two weeks prior to the scheduled date.

Note that there will be no meeting in December and January. Applications for endorsement of research from investigators intending to apply for NHMRC grants in the February-March funding rounds must be submitted two weeks prior to the last meeting of the Research Committee for the calendar year, for consideration by the Committee, or formal endorsement may not be considered prior to funding application deadlines.

Applications for in-principle support of research projects in extraordinary circumstances (for example, a rapid call for research projects with submissions required less than one month after the open date) will be considered at the discretion of the Research Committee Chair.

4. Decision from the ACEM Research Committee

No more than two weeks following the meeting, you will receive an email and letter from the Chair of the ACEM Research Committee advising if your request for endorsement of a clinical research project(s) or a project(s) using routinely collected health data was approved.

If approved, you will be required to sign a statement acknowledging that you understand the conditions of ACEM endorsement.

Requesting advertisement for research project participation

It is the role of the ACEM Research Committee to review and approve applications to advertise for research project participation. Advertisements may be contained in the ACEM Bulletin, Trainee News, Faculty Updates, or other relevant College electronic direct mail distribution. Direct emailing/mailing to request participation is not available.

The ACEM Research Committee will assess requests to advertise for research project participation on a case-by-case basis, and any such request should follow ACEM’s Standard Operating Procedure on Advertisement for Research Project Participation. Please contact the ACEM Research Coordinator at [email protected], for more information.