1. Help with developing research projects - Introducing the NIHR Research Design Service (RDS)
Talked about ways into research and the next session looks at support for developing projects and fellowship opportunities
Research design service is an element of NIHR
17/09/2018

2. Outline of the presentation
Explain what the RDS does and how you can access their services
What they can help you with
Outline the key funding streams that they support
RDS Charter
Fellowships in NHS and elsewhere 2

3. 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.
This map shows that there are to be 10 RDS across England, and these map onto the boundaries of the configurations of the SHAs. Currently, there are 8 RDSs in operation, shown in red.
The RDSs have been created to help researchers prepare proposals for submission to national funding competitions for applied health or social care research by providing expert advice on research design and methodology.
The focus is on applied or translational research, rather than lab-based research or basic science.
The initial driver for the RDSs was the funding scheme called Research for Patient Benefit.
The original plan was for the RDSs just to work with researchers preparing RfPB submissions.
However, most RDSs are prepared to work with researchers preparing submissions for funding for projects intending to form part of the national portfolio, regardless of the funding stream concerned

4. What is NIHR portfolio research?
Large funders, research councils and 140 charities
Commercial companies developing applied health research – Industry studies
Peer reviewed and funding open to national competition (proxies for quality)
Range of disease areas including cross cutting themes
Key definition for this workshop
The NIHR Clinical Research Network (NIHR CRN) supports research studies on the NIHR CRN Portfolio. These research studies are funded by the NIHR, research councils, more than 140 charities, and other public sector funders, covering the broad spectrum of clinical specialities. The NIHR CRN also actively encourages and supports life-sciences companies to undertake clinical research in the NHS in England and works to extend the opportunities for patients to participate in these studies.
Studies may have been generated in your area by teams of academics and clinicians or in other areas and teams are encouraged to become involved in both
Many multi centre studies running in England and across England and devolved nations
Pragmatic, important clinical questions, focus on patient benefit

5. The vision for the RDSYH
The aims of the Research Design Service for Yorkshire and the Humber (RDSYH) are to:
improve the health and wealth of the region
increase the number and proportion of high quality
funding applications for applied research
provide excellent methodological advice
Using the Y&H RDS as an example
All recently submitted bids for renewal of funding and their offer is now very similar across RDSs whereas previously there were a number of differences in the way they worked.
The RDSYH was launched in October 2008 and has a contract for 5 years. Up until now, the approximate
value of successful grants that the RDS has supported, where known, is £26m with a further £15m of
applications currently under review.
3 hubs, Sheffield, York, Leeds.
Staff; statisticians, health economists, methodological expertise in clinical trials, mixed methods, qualitative, development of complex interventions, PPI expertise. Not all full time and often joint posts with other services i.e. CTRU
Just to give you an idea of the volume of work coming our way, in the 2010/11 financial year, we had 153 new consultations and we supported 26 outline submissions and 67 full or one stage submissions. So we are a very busy service

6. Advice provided through....
Drop-in advice clinics
Learning events (how to write a successful proposal)
Ongoing support during the bid writing stage
For support contact via local website
We work directly with researchers and clinicians to help them to develop research funding applications 6

7. Research Question NIHR RDS can help with..... Study Design
Peer-reviewed journals
Grey literature
Registered trials database
Multidisciplinary team
Cost issues
Appropriate time scale?
Literature
Research
team
Feasibility
Meaningful & appropriate
Consent
Involvement
of patients
and public
Ethical
considerations
GROUPED
Research
Question
Cohort, case-control, RCT, ethnographic, interview
Scope
Study
Design
Appropriate
funding stream

8. RDS remit CREATE REFINE EVALUATE APPRAISE USE
Basic Research - MRC and others
Research for Innovation, Speculation & Creativity .
Healthcare Technology Cooperatives
NEAT
HTD
Biomedical Research Centres and Units
RDS remit
Patient Safety and Quality Research Centres
Research for Patient Benefit
National Institute for Health Research
Programme Grants for Applied Research
Health Technology Assessment
Service Delivery & Organisation
Challenge Fund for Innovation
NHS CfH Research Capability Programme
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
Primary Care Trusts
World-class Commissioning
NHS Providers
Patient Care

9. Which funding scheme ? MRC / charity funds: can it work?
EME: does it work? And how?
HTA: does it work and is it worth it?
SDO: can it be implemented in the NHS?
RfPB: Does it improve patient experiences?
For further information on all funding streams:

10. Presentations later in the session will focus on individuals who are at different stages in this pathway.
Highlight the format of this diagram
Other routes other than NIHR funding
RDS only supports portfolio bids (check if the funder is portfolio eligible)