How normal is it in the world of medical research to submit funding applications in this manner? A group purporting to wish to study "bolomics" submits an application for data collection saying that it will make its application for what it really wants to do later, upon completion of the earlier work.
Imagine a developer wishing to construct a skyscraper. He goes to a commercial lending group saying here are my plans for putting in the services and foundations. Lend me some money to do this and I'll come back and talk to you, when that is done, about funding for the rest of the project. In the "real" world it would never happen. The laughter would follow him out of the door if it did.
One would reasonably expect funding for the entirety of the project to be in place before starting. Payments would be staged; later tranches of money only becoming available upon certification of completion of prior stages. Variations to the terms would inevitably be discussed as work progressed but there would be in place something rather more binding than a memorandum of understanding, and even that does not seem to be sought here.
Or if it is patients are expected to offer unconditional support without worrying their little heads about such matters.
Why can an application for funding for the whole project not be made at the commencement, with agreement about staged payments and what conditions must be satisfied before release of later tranches? Presumably one of the conditions would be regarding timing. One might not expect payment of a second tranche within, say, four years.
The way in which the matter appears to be dealt with gives a very unfortunate impression that the bolomics is merely an add on extra. The initial work is designed to be capable of standing and being accepted on its own merits. It is all very odd.
If this has already been discussed, I proffer apologies. I do forget.
Imagine a developer wishing to construct a skyscraper. He goes to a commercial lending group saying here are my plans for putting in the services and foundations. Lend me some money to do this and I'll come back and talk to you, when that is done, about funding for the rest of the project. In the "real" world it would never happen. The laughter would follow him out of the door if it did.
One would reasonably expect funding for the entirety of the project to be in place before starting. Payments would be staged; later tranches of money only becoming available upon certification of completion of prior stages. Variations to the terms would inevitably be discussed as work progressed but there would be in place something rather more binding than a memorandum of understanding, and even that does not seem to be sought here.
Or if it is patients are expected to offer unconditional support without worrying their little heads about such matters.
Why can an application for funding for the whole project not be made at the commencement, with agreement about staged payments and what conditions must be satisfied before release of later tranches? Presumably one of the conditions would be regarding timing. One might not expect payment of a second tranche within, say, four years.
The way in which the matter appears to be dealt with gives a very unfortunate impression that the bolomics is merely an add on extra. The initial work is designed to be capable of standing and being accepted on its own merits. It is all very odd.
If this has already been discussed, I proffer apologies. I do forget.
