Components of a successful grant application Ann Crosland

Getting started Read guidance Ensure you are eligible to apply and that your proposed research is within scope If possible read previous successful applications to help understand what is required Get to know how the proposal will be reviewed, and by whom, you need to write with these people, or people like them, in mind

The front end Ensure your title is clear, concise and descriptive Set out your aims and objectives or your research question very clearly (please do not use both) Your aim, question or objective should be written in exactly the same way each time it is referred to throughout the document

Research design overview Ensure your design maps back directly to aims or research question Treat each element as a separate work package if your study has a number of key stages/methods Provide enough detail so that the study could be replicated by someone else If it asks for the proposal to be written in lay language check it out with lay relatives

Components of the programme of research Background/ rationale – Literature should be used to tell the story as to why this research is important and what gap it is seeking to address – Include all key authors Research methods – Ensure that you include all aspects of sampling, data collection and analysis

sampling Who or what? How you will access participants/samples e.g. through gatekeepers How you will approach participants Sample size with power calculation if necessary Contingencies if fail to recruit

Data collection What methods How will they be applied and by whom If multiple methods are to be used how they map back onto the research objectives/question How mixed methods relate to each other and build into a coherent whole Separate into work packages if using multiple methods

Data analysis Ensuring quality of data Methods of analysis including statistical tests How will be applied and by whom Explain parameters of analysis Ensure all questions are answered and all tests specified What tools will be used Ensuring rigour- validity, reliability, trustworthiness, transferability

Patient and Public Involvement Important aspect of most health related funding applications Most funding assessment panels include lay members (up to 50% for some Ensures relevance and value for money More than consultation it is about working with PPI individuals and bodies through all stages of research Avoid tokenism

Expertise and experience Funding rarely awarded to novice researchers or inexperienced teams All claims to expertise must be backed up by hard evidence Team should include people with all expertise expected and should include only one or two inexperienced members unless the application is for a postdoctoral award or equivalent

Management and governance Ensures accountability and appropriate use of funds in an ethical and timely manner Should include – management arrangements – Milestones – Financial management – Measurements of success – Risks and arrangements to address these – Ethical issues

Intellectual property What IP is already held and what may be generated by the project IP can be generated from – Research tools – Trademarks – Designs – Patents

Finances and costing Direct costs – Staff time – Travel – Conference fees – Consumables – Equipment – PPI Indirect costs – Overheads FEC Excess treatment costs

So finally…. Headings in your proposal should include all presented here: – Title – Aims – Research Design and detail of methods – Patient and public involvement – Expertise and experience – Management and governance – Intellectual property – Costings