1. How the RDS can support your application
Rachel Evley
East Midlands Research Design Service

2. Research Design Service
The Research Design Service was set up by the Department of Health in 2008
We support researchers applying for NATIONAL peer-reviewed funding schemes for health research
National Institute for Health Research funding
Other Department of Health funding
Research Councils i.e. Medical Research Council
National Charities i.e. Wellcome Trust, CRUK
RDS EM is part of a network of regional support services funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
We provide free design and methodological support to health and social care researchers who are developing applications to NIHR and other applied health national, peer-reviewed funding programmes
We support researchers at all stages of preparing grant & fellowship applications
We are supposed to prioritise applications to NIHR and DH
In reality, we’ll support anyone bidding to any national peer-reviewed funding scheme for health-related research
Research Councils - 7 research councils in UK
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC)
Association of Medical Research Charities – 140 members

3. RDS EM - Who We Are Staff team includes… Medical Statisticians
Service led by University of Nottingham and the University of Leicester, with staff funded at De Montfort University, University of Lincoln, Northampton University and Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Staff team includes…
Medical Statisticians
Health Economics
Epidemiologists.
Funding & Organisation specialists
Qualitative Methodologists
Social Scientists
PPI Experts

4. RDS EM - Who We Are Academic staff with own research activity:
Co-applicants and active researchers in successful bids
Authors of papers published in peer-reviewed journals
Peer-reviewers for journals
Relevant funding panel experience:
Peer-reviewers for NIHR funding streams
Members of panels or sub-panels
Members of local ethics committees
A number of us have been through the process ourselves…..
Co-applicants and active researchers in successful bids – both NIHR & Charity grants (e.g. HS&DR, RfPB, HTA, PGfAR, ESRC, i4i, CLAHRC) CLARHC – Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care
Peer reviewers for NIHR & Charity grants (e.g. RfPB, HTA, EME, PGfAR, NIAA)
Members of panels & sub-panels (e.g. PGfAR, RfPB, NIHR/CNO Clinical Academic Training Pathway)
NIHR/CNO - NIHR and the Chief Nursing Officer for England, in collaboration with Economic & Social Research Council and Higher Education Funding Council for England established the Clinical Academic Training (CAT) Pathway for nurses, midwives and allied heath professions in 2009

5. How Can We Help? Refine your idea and turn it into a fundable project…
Identify appropriate funding opportunities for your ideas…
Help to connect you with relevant partners [academic and clinical]…
Help you to negotiate the application forms…
Help you to negotiate application processes …
Provide specialist/methodological input into your proposal…
Review your final draft…
Interpret feedback from previous failed applications…
Help identify most suitable funding stream
Support teams in working more collaboratively
Advise on patient and public involvement
Help get the narrative right
Advise on training and development plans
Interview preparation/mock interviews
Help interpret feedback, support resubmissions

6. Applications Submitted
Adding Value…..
Applications Submitted
Stage 1 Success
Stage 2 Success
2018 29 16
7 so far
2017 18 9 4
2016 19 8 5
NIHR evaluation of funding competitions demonstrates that:
Applicants supported by an RDS were more likely to pass outline stages of competitions
Overall success rate was higher in those who had consulted an RDS.
2017
DRF
173 eligible applications received
76 interviewed
34 funded
PDF/CDF/SRF/TRF
154 eligible applications received
Shortlisted - 34 PDF; 20 CDF; 4 SRF; 2 TRF
Peer review – 26 PDF; 17 CDF; 3 SRF; 1 TRF
Awarded – 10 PDF; 6 CDF; 1 TRF
Conditional basis – 2 PDF; 2 CDF

7. Feedback….
“Throughout the application process the RDS provided valuable guidance.”
“The RDS gave excellent support and advice in the drafting of and finalisation of this application.”
“My application was considerably improved after meeting with the RDS East Midlands team. They provided valuable expertise and advice on my research design, as well as helping ensure my proposal was accessible to the intended audience.”

8. Summary Write for the expert generalist
Take all sections of the application seriously
Do not make unsupported statements
Ask the RDS/colleagues to review your application
Take appropriate time!