1. NIHR funding and the Research Design Service South West

2. Funding for research NIHR Portfolio DH / NIHR Charities Industry
Research Councils

3. Funding from NIHR Infrastructure Research “Programmes”
Biomedical Research Centres
Biomedical Research Units
CLAHRCs
Clinical Research Facilities for Experimental Medicine
Clinical Research Networks
Research “Programmes”
Grants for individual projects and programmes
Schools for primary care and social care research
Research Training and Career Development
Research Capability Funding

4. NIHR Research Programmes Health Services & Delivery Research
Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation
Health Technology Assessment
Invention for(4) Innovation
Research for Patient Benefit
Public Health Research
Programme Grants for Applied Research

5. Types of grant funding Range or scope of grant
Centres, units etc
Programme
Individual project
Who decides subject matter?
Commissioned
Themed
Responsive

6. Some general issues Some are one-stage, others two-stage
Some restrict who can apply, but collaborations usual (and preferred)
Varying numbers of closing dates per year
Some have funding limits, others not
Some have timescale limits, others not
Panel membership available on web
Funded projects available on web

7. CREATE REFINE EVALUATE APPRAISE USE Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation
Basic Research - MRC and others
Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation
This diagram illustrates how the NIHR’s major research initiatives fit into the “innovation pathway”. The pathway starts with the “creation” of an innovation – which would include basic research in a laboratory, through to its use to in a patient care setting. The diagram is not intended to show formal relationships between programmes and organisations.
This pathway covers the full range of interventions - pharmaceuticals, biologicals, biotechnologies, procedures, therapies and practices - for the full range of health and health care delivery - prevention, detection, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and care. .
Invention for innovation
Biomedical Research Centres and Units
Patient Safety and Quality Research Centres
Research for Patient Benefit
National Institute for Health Research
Programme Grants for Applied Research
Health Technology Assessment
Health Services and
Delivery Research
Public Health Research
Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care
NHS Purchasing & Supplies Agency
Centre for Evidence-based Purchasing
National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence
Appraisals & Guidance
Clinical Guidelines
National Innovation Centre
National Institute for Innovation & Improvement
Support for Commissioners and Providers
Clinical Commissioning Groups
World-class Commissioning
NHS Providers
Patient Care

8. Invention for Innovation Programme (i4i)
To support and advance the development of innovative medical technologies
Collaboration between industry and clinical/academic researchers
Awards of 1-3 years
Short-listed proposals: Presentation to selection panel
i4i Challenge Awards (themed): getting technologies into clinical practice

9. Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME)
Sits between experimental medicine and health technology assessment
Funds clinical trials and evaluative studies in patients which:
evaluate clinical efficacy of interventions
may also add significantly to our understanding of biological or behavioural mechanisms and processes
Efficacy (can it work, perhaps in controlled conditions) rather than effectiveness (does it work in real practice and is it worth it)
Researcher-led and commissioned streams

10. Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme
Research which provides information about the effectiveness, costs and broader impact of healthcare treatments and tests
Commissioned programme
Themed Calls
Responsive Pragmatic Clinical Trials Programme

11. Research for Patient Benefit Programme
Responsive scheme, funding research:
arising from daily practice in the NHS
developed between NHS and other partners
with potential for influencing practice
3 funding competitions per year
Maximum award £350k for up to three years.
Regional funding panels
A “nursery” for new researchers?

12. Health Services and Delivery Research (HS&DR)
“…research to produce rigorous and relevant evidence on the quality, access and organisation of health services”
Health Services Research stream
mainly researcher-led
“quality, appropriateness, effectiveness, equity and patient experience of health services”
Health Delivery Research stream
mainly commissioned
“evaluating models of service delivery and interventions which have the potential to improve service effectiveness, efficiency and productivity”

13. Public Health Research (PHR)
“…benefits, costs, acceptability and wider effect of non-NHS interventions”
“…improve the health of the public and reduce inequalities in health”
Researcher-led and commissioned streams

14. Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR)
Researcher-led (responsive)
Programme: a series of related projects, divided into “work packages”
The whole should be greater than the sum of the parts
Need strong track record
Preparatory work through Programme Development Grant

15. Healthcare Scientists and others
Awards managed by NIHR TCC
Nurses, Midwives, AHPs
Clinical Academic Training
Doctors + Dentists
NIHR Integrated Academic Training
All Professions
NIHR Fellowships
Healthcare Scientists and others
Senior/
Pre-Chair
NIHR Senior Research Fellowship
NIHR/CNO/HEFCE
Senior Clinical Lectureship
NIHR Clinician Scientist
NIHR Career Development Fellowship
Senior
Post-Doc
NIHR/CNO Clinical Lectureship
CSO Healthcare Scientist
Post Doctoral Fellowship
NIHR Clinical Lectureship
NIHR Post Doctoral Fellowship
Early
Post-Doc
NIHR/CNO Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship
CSO Healthcare Scientist
Doctoral Fellowship
NIHR Doctoral Research Fellowship
Doctoral
NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship
NIHR/CNO Masters in Clinical Research
Research Methods Fellowships
MSc Medical Statistics and MSc in Health economics
Pre-Doctoral
/ Masters
NIHR
In-Practice Fellowship
Undergraduate

16. The NIHR Research Design Service (RDS) supports researchers to develop and design high quality research proposals for submission to NIHR and other national, peer-reviewed funding competitions for applied health or social care research.

17. RDS purpose and role
“To offer fit for purpose advice and support on research design and methodology to researchers making funding applications…”
“To increase the number and proportion of high quality applications for funding …”
“To provide consistent national coverage, with a focus on … NIHR Programmes”

18. A service covering England
A service covering England
Local access

19. The contract says…(1)
“The NIHR RDS should offer advice and guidance on all aspects of research design and conduct including :
formulating research questions
research design for quantitative studies
research design for qualitative studies
identifying and applying to appropriate funding sources
contacting appropriate collaborators in research
Signpost researchers to other specialised centres for advice”

20. The contract says… (2)
“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”

21. RDS: more than just research design …
Formulating research questions
Building an appropriate team
Involving patients and carers
Designing a study: statistics, health economics, qualitative…
Identifying suitable funding sources
Regulatory issues
Writing lay summaries
Identifying the resources required
“Grantsmanship” – getting the narrative right

22. RDS: When? First contracts awarded through competitive tender
1/10/2008 – 30/9/2013 (with some local variations)
New contracts awarded through similar process (and awarded to existing contract-holders):
1/10/2013 – 30/9/2018

23. RDS: Why? People need help! Applications out of scope
No case made for benefit to patients and NHS
Inadequate research design
Incoherent methodology
Feasibility not convincing
Gaps within the research team
Inadequate attention to PPI

24. The wider contribution
A conduit between central and local organisations and individuals
Potential gaps in funding streams
Organising meetings (eg EME, ACoRD)
Supporting national events
Workshop for surgical call
Talks at various conferences
Support for Research Programmes
Funding panel membership
Peer review
TSC and DMC membership

25. A network of methodologists
Providing advice and support on all aspects of preparing grant applications
Focus on NHS investigators and NIHR schemes

26. Project Review Committee
The RDS SW
Project Review Committee
RDS consultants plus lay representatives
Acts as a “mock funding committee”
Brings “fresh eyes” to a draft proposal
Provides written reviews plus feedback of committee discussion
Constructive advice on how to develop proposal further and likely timescale

27. RDS SW: The first four and a half years
Advised on 871 new projects
Supported 116 submissions at outline stage submissions at full (or single stage)
Of those submissions where the result is known:
40% of the outline applications have been shortlisted
33% of the full submissions have been successfully funded
to a value of over £35 million.
In our first three and a half years as an RDS we have advised on a total of 686 projects, supported 81 submissions at an outline stage and 234 at full (or single) stage. Of those submissions where the result is known, 35% of the outline applications have been shortlisted and 36% of the full submissions have been successfully funded to a value of over £30 million.

28. RDS SW: The first four and a half years
We have successfully supported researchers to win major grants from national funders, including:
33 RfPB
36 other NIHR
17 charity
8 Research Council grants

29. RDS SW: Data from RfPB 81% of applicants use RDS SW
99% are satisfied” or “very satisfied”
94% feel the RDS improved the quality of their proposal “very much” or “somewhat”

30. Grant applications workshop
“It was very helpful and gave us really great ideas for our project, ideas which I thought would tangibly improve it.” GAW delegate, April 2013
“Very useful to hear ‘straight from the horse’s mouth’ about the realities of NIHR applications. Very useful to meet RDS team and discuss informally the aspects of NIHR funding. Delivered candidly and clearly, thank you.”
GAW delegate, April 2013
“Really useful day – good to discuss these things with small groups of people in the same boat, but especially the very supportive and helpful experts from the RDS. Thank you ever so much.” GAW delegate, April 2013
“Excellent informative day. Valuable insight into how to write a successful application.” GAW delegate, November 2012

31. The Residential research retreat
“This has been an extremely valuable exercise and has really helped build an understanding of what is expected from NIHR funded projects. In order to ensure that new researchers are able to make feasible, rigorous, well-designed bids for funding, this week is essential.”
Residential research retreat delegate, 2013
“I have REALLY, REALLY enjoyed this retreat and it has increased my understanding, knowledge and overall my confidence … my huge thanks to you all.” Residential research retreat delegate, 2012
“Very worthwhile and excellent idea – good to have uninterrupted time.”
Residential research retreat delegate, 2012
“It was great to have the opportunity to get advice from so many people in such a short space of time.” Residential research retreat delegate, 2012
“An extremely rewarding week.” Residential research retreat delegate, 2011

32. 01823 342792 rds-sw@tst.nhs.uk www.rds-sw.nihr.ac.uk
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