NIHR funding and the Research Design Service South West

1. NIHR funding and the Research Design ServiceSouth West

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

3. Funding from NIHR • Infrastructure • 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 www.nihr.ac.uk/research/Pages/programmes_research_programmes.aspx

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 USE APPRAISE 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 ResearchCentres and Units Patient Safety and QualityResearch Centres Research for Patient Benefit Programme Grants forApplied Research National Institutefor Health Research Health Technology Assessment Health Services and Delivery Research Public Health Research Collaborations for Leadershipin Applied Health Research and Care Centre for Evidence-based Purchasing NHS Purchasing & Supplies Agency National Institute forHealth & Clinical Excellence Appraisals & Guidance Clinical Guidelines National InnovationCentre National Institute forInnovation & Improvement Support for Commissionersand 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. Awards managed by NIHR TCC Nurses, Midwives, AHPs Clinical Academic Training All Professions NIHR Fellowships Doctors + Dentists NIHR Integrated Academic Training Healthcare Scientists and others Senior/ Pre-Chair NIHR Senior Research Fellowship NIHR/CNO/HEFCE Senior Clinical Lectureship -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Senior Post-Doc NIHR Clinician Scientist NIHR Career Development Fellowship NIHR/CNO Clinical Lectureship -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CSO Healthcare Scientist Post Doctoral Fellowship NIHR Clinical Lectureship NIHR Post Doctoral Fellowship Early Post-Doc ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CSO Healthcare Scientist Doctoral Fellowship NIHR/CNO Clinical Doctoral Research 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. http://www.ccf.nihr.ac.uk/Pages/RDSMap.aspx 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. 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 307 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.

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. Get in touch… 01823 342792 rds-sw@tst.nhs.uk www.rds-sw.nihr.ac.uk