Initiating an electronic Research Administration (eRA) proposal approval request

Preliminary and full grant applications to national and international funders that include a budget breakdown requires internal approval  through UCT’s electronic Research Administration (eRA) system to help manage risk (in terms of resource use, research ethics, health & safety, and finances) to the University and the Researcher when applying for external grant funding.

Based on the type of funding opportunity and funder requirements, several proposal approval request forms  are available to select from. Use the following descriptions to select the appropriate proposal approval request form:

Non-clinical trials

In non-clinical trials (also called Observational studies), investigators assess health outcomes in groups of participants according to a research plan or protocol. Participants may receive interventions (which can include medical products such as drugs or devices) or procedures as part of their routine medical care, but participants are not assigned to specific interventions by the investigator (as in a clinical trial). When initiating an eRA proposal approval for a non-clinical trial, select and complete the Proposal Approval (non-clinical trial) from the dropdown menu.

Clinical trials

In clinical trials (also called interventional studies), participants receive specific interventions according to the research plan or protocol created by the investigators. These interventions may be for medical products, such as drugs or devices; procedures; or changes to participants' behaviour, such as their diet. When initiating an eRA proposal approval for a clinical trial, select and complete the Proposal Approval (clinical trial) from the dropdown menu.

Concept note/preliminary proposals

Preliminary applications to funders that DO NOT require the project budget information by cost category (i.e. you are only required to submit a single total value), and where the funder does not require institutional sign-off/submission, are the only type of applications that do not require internal review and approval. Should you be invited by the funder to submit a full application it would then be necessary to complete a proposal approval request form. When initiating an eRA proposal approval for a concept note/preliminary proposal that includes a budget breakdown, select and complete the Preliminary proposal approval (if funder requires budget breakdown) from the dropdown menu.

Poliomyelitis Research Foundation (PRF)

When applying for funding from the PRF, an eRA proposal approval request is required. Select and complete the Poliomyelitis Research Foundation from the dropdown menu.

South African Medical Research Council Self-Initiated Research (SIR) Scheme

When applying for funding for the South African Medical Research Council’s Self-Initiated Research grant, an eRA proposal approval request is required. Select and complete the South African Medical Research Council Self-Initiated Research Scheme from the dropdown menu.