NIHR Themed Call Prevention and treatment of obesity Writing a good application and the role of the RDS 19 th January 2016

NIHR Research Design Service Read the commissioning brief Prevention and treatment of obesity Issues of particular importance for this call include the prevention of type 2 diabetes and increasing levels of physical activity. Preventing obesity and type 2 diabetes is a priority for the UK Government. With over 60% of the adult population either overweight or obese and more than 2.7 million people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, the health burden and economic impact of obesity in the UK are increasing. This call is an initiative by the NIHR in recognition of the need for further research-based evidence to underpin the prevention and management of overweight and obesity in adults and children.

Choose the right funding stream

Choose the right research question Has it already been answered? Has the funding stream funded similar research? Does it matter to patients? Will it make a difference to health? Will doctors and allied health professionals care enough to want to participate? Can it be implemented? NIHR Research Design Service

Is an RCT appropriate? –Primary outcome –Control group –Sample size –Recruitment and retention –Avoiding bias If using a non-RCT design is it robust? Is it worth investigating cost-effectiveness? Would a mixed methods or qualitative study be appropriate? Choose the right research method

NIHR Research Design Service Pick your team carefully Seniority of PI Consider involving a CTU Comment on track record and experience of team Make sure enough statistical support is in place Include team members with expertise in specific methodologies (e.g., health economics, qualitative research) PPI Be careful of having too many ‘chiefs’!

NIHR Research Design Service Make sure the proposal is feasible Provide evidence! If feasibility is unclear, then consider a feasibility study (with pre-defined feasibility criteria) Demonstrate it will be possible to recruit study sites and patients within a reasonable time frame and there will be adequate retention of participants Leave enough time for study set up, including ethics and research governance approvals

NIHR Research Design Service Who are you writing for? Content experts –Mainly the referees –May include some member of the funding panel Experienced researchers who are not content experts, who will be particularly interested in your research methodology –Members of the funding panel Write clearly for both groups

NIHR Research Design Service Sorting out the budget takes time! Be realistic – too little just as bad as too much Cost at plausible % FTE rates Full applications are scrutinised by NIHR accountants who will check and challenge For many funding streams total costs should be identified at the outline stage with limited variation at the full stage Account appropriately for research costs, NHS treatment costs and NHS support costs Produce a carefully costed proposal

NIHR Research Design Service Were patients and the public actively involved in –identifying the research topic or prioritising the research questions? –in preparing this application? Please indicate the ways in which patients and the public –will be actively involved in the proposed research –will benefit the research, the reasons for taking this approach and arrangements for training and support If there are no plans for active involvement, please explain why it is not thought necessary. Public involvement

NIHR Research Design Service Think about who the main stakeholders are for your research and how learning can be shared rapidly and effectively with them –Commissioners –Providers –Health care professionals –Patients Consider working with stakeholders to develop your dissemination plan Plan for dissemination

NIHR Research Design Service Appropriate support RDS NIHR and other networks Public involvement Appropriate methodologists

NIHR Research Design Service Role NIHR RDS “To increase the number and proportion of high quality applications for funding …” “of clear relevance to NHS services, clinicians and users”

NIHR Research Design Service RDS Advice and Guidance “all aspects of research design and conduct” Formulating research questions Research design for quantitative studies Research design for qualitative studies

NIHR Research Design Service We do more than research design… Identifying appropriate funding sources Contacting appropriate collaborators in research Building an appropriate team Involving patients and carers Writing plain English summaries Identifying the resources required “Grantsmanship” – getting the narrative right Signpost researchers to specialised support Regulatory issues

NIHR Research Design Service RDS Expertise “Each RDS must at its core have access to methodological expertise” Research methodology Health economics Statistics Systematic reviews Health psychology and behavioural science “Must also be able to draw on other expertise as necessary or provide advice and guidance on all aspects of research design and conduct”

NIHR Research Design Service Working with the RDS Booking an ‘early’ appointment with the RDS Provide a summary of research idea/s Face to face meeting –First point of contact with a generalist

NIHR Research Design Service Initial meeting with the RDS Assessment – Importance of the question – Existing research – Potential funding streams – Study design – is it a trial – Clinical area – Feasibility of recruitment strategy – Track record of team – PPI – Costs; research, treatment, excess treatment