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October 2011

Issue 13

Welcome to the bi-monthly bulletin from the NIHR Research Design Service for the East of England.  In this Bulletin you will find regular updates for Researchers, R&D staff and Research Advisors alike. This issue includes:

What can the RDS do for you?

Thinking of applying for research funding? If so, the RDS EoE can advise on all aspects of preparing grant applications and building collaborative research teams.  In our last financial accounting year we supported over 100 bids that were submitted for funding. Over one-third of these were successful.  If you have any questions, or indeed a research proposal that you would like to discuss, we can be contacted on 01206 874856.  For further information, visit us at: www.RDS-eoe.nihr.ac.uk

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Training Opportunities 

13 & 20 March 2012 – A 2-day workshop at the Sportspark, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ on the topic of ‘Applying for NIHR Funds for Research in Healthcare’. Facilitator:  Charlie Davison.  The workshop is aimed at those considering applying for research funds in the near future. The cost of the workshop is £50. For further information or to book a place, please contact Dr Muhammad Waqar Tel 01582 743782 or e-mail muhammad.waqar@beds.ac.uk

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NIHR Funding

Details of latest calls for proposals from this link  

·         NEW! NIHR Health Services and Delivery Research (HS&DR) programme will be launched on 1 January 2012. The HS&DR programme aims to produce rigorous and relevant evidence on the quality, access and organisation of health services, including costs and outcomes. The programme will enhance the strategic focus on research that matters to the NHS including research on implementation and a range of knowledge mobilisation initiatives. It will be keen to support ambitious evaluative research to improve health services.

 Calls for proposals - The HS&DR programme will be launching its first calls for funding early in 2012. If you wish to receive updates and news about the programme, please write to us at netcomms@southampton.ac.uk

 Get Involved - Anyone can get involved with the HS&DR programme. We welcome input from a wide range of people and believe it improves the relevance and quality of the research we fund.  If you are interested in helping shape the NHS health services research agenda please see below for how you can become involved.

Get involved as an academic or NHS management professional

Get involved as a member of the public

 

·         NEW!  NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation programme  

Commissioned call for proposals -  The EME programme is inviting applications to its new
NIHR commissioned workstream. Proposals are sought in the following fields:

o    Neurodegenerative disorders and myopathies

o    Research on Point of Care Tests

Please note that proposals must be written within the remit of the EME programme.
Deadline for applications is 1pm on 13 February 2012.

Information on how to apply, the EME remit and the commissioning briefs can be found on the EME website 

·         NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme link

Funds of up to £25 million each year will be available for the scheme, building up to that amount over the next three years as NHS R&D funding is transformed. Projects supported will normally be up to 36 months in duration with a total maximum cost of £250,000.  Contact the programme:- Tel: 020 8843 8057 Email: rfpb@nihr-ccf.org.uk

Over 340 projects have received support since RfPB first launched in 2006 http://www.ccf.nihr.ac.uk/RfPB/about/Pages/FundedProjects1.aspx

 o    RfPB Competition 17
Application submission deadline 20 January 2012 by 17:00
Declaration and signatures deadline 27 January 2012 by 17:00
Preliminary scrutiny outcome Mid-March 2012
Submission outcome Late July 2012

  • ·         NIHR Public Health Research programme: Commissioned calls

(Outline proposals) link

  • o    Creative enterprises in open access settings - 11/3040

“What is the effectiveness and cost effectiveness for health and wellbeing of bringing people together through creative enterprises in open access settings?” Primary research is required to investigate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness for health and wellbeing of bringing people together through creative enterprises in open access settings. The proposed research may have the main focus on either the bringing of people together or the creative activity or both. Research should be aimed at informing funding decisions made by local authorities. Outcomes of particular interest are those related to health and wellbeing. Other outcomes may include degree of social isolation.

 

o    Newly licensed drivers – 11/3030
“How to reduce risk taking behaviours in newly licensed drivers?”

Applicants are asked to evaluate interventions that prevent risky behaviour. In doing so, they may also address any issues relating to interventions which result in newly licensed drivers obtaining their licences earlier than they otherwise would, and to consider any unintended harms related to this or other factors. Applicants are also asked to consider alcohol as a risk factor.  Submission Deadline - 23 April 2012, by 1pm

·         HTA – commissioned calls for outline proposals  link

The NIHR Heath Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme invites outline research proposals on the following topics:

Primary Research:

• Quitting smoking in pregnancy and following childbirth 

• Interventions for preventing occupational irritant hand dermatitis in the NHS

• Immunisation of children and young people looked after by the state

• Surveillance programmes for people with inflammatory bowel disease

• Cystatin C test in the assessment of renal function

• Elemental/polymeric nutrition for the maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease

• Radiofrequency renal sympathectomy for the treatment of resistant essential hypertension 

• Surgical treatments for moderate urinary incontinence in men after prostate surgery

• Early specialist palliative care for patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer

• Interventions for psychosexual dysfunction after treatment for gynaecological malignancy

• Psychological treatments for fatigue in patients with inflammatory arthritis

• Long acting reversible contraception for secondary prevention of endometriosis

 

Primary Feasibility Study

• An interventional package for parents of excessively crying infants

• Timing of intravenous fluids after trauma

 

Evidence Synthesis

• Screening for hyperglycaemia in pregnancy

 

IPD (Evidence Synthesis)

• HbA1c targets for patients with type 2 diabetes 

• Monitoring patients with chronic heart failure

 The deadline for outline submissions is 1pm on 9 February 2012.

 

·         HTA - Clinical Evaluation and Trials  link

Researchers are invited to submit outline proposals for evaluation studies within the remit of the Health Technology Assessment Programme. Evidence Synthesis applicants should submit full applications. Primary research applications will be accepted in the usual way. The HTA programme is interested in receiving proposals addressing any health problem in areas not otherwise well covered in our portfolio.

The closing date for applications is 1pm, 30 January 2012.

·         HTA Programme – commissioned calls for full proposals link

The NIHR Heath Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme invites research proposals that provide information about the effectiveness, costs and broader impact of healthcare treatments and tests. Full research proposals are sought on the following topics:

 Primary Feasibility Study:

• Ablation for suspected renal tumours

 

Full Evidence Synthesis:

• Interventions to prevent postnatal depression 

• Parental incentives for increasing uptake of immunisations in pre-school children

• Psychosocial interventions for maltreated children and adolescents

The deadline for full applications is 1pm on 12 January 2012.

Research Training Awards and Fellowships

Full details of NIHR awards from this link

 ·         NIHR Clinical Lectureships (Round 11)  link

NIHR Clinical Lectureship recruitment round now open and will end on 31st March 2012.  Funds specialty training posts that incorporate academic training aimed at those who are advanced in their specialty training, have completed a research doctorate or equivalent and show outstanding potential for continuing a career in academic medicine.  Maximum of 4 years or until CCT is reached, whichever is sooner.  Prospective applicants should note that they must contact the relevant Deanery in the first instance for further information on post availability and the recruitment process. Take up of posts will start from 1st April 2011.

 ·         NIHR Individual Research Training Fellowships (Round 5)  link

 NIHR research training fellowships support development of outstanding individuals to become health research leaders of future. Four levels of NIHR Fellowship award available. 

 ·         NIHR 2012 Dental Academic Clinical Fellowships Recruitment link

 Academic Clinical Fellowships are available for dentists in the early stages of specialty training to prepare an application for a Training Fellowship leading to a PhD (or equivalent) or if applicable a postdoctoral fellowship. The Deaneries lead the application process and recruitment will continue throughout the year and should all be filled by 31st March 2013.

 ·         NIHR Research Methods - Fellowships and Internships (Round 3)  link

Designed to support the development of individuals with expertise in research methods including:

o    Medical Statistics
o    Health Economics
o    Clinical Trial Design
o    Operational Research
o    Modelling

Applications are invited for funding to host NIHR Research Methods Fellowships and Internships.  Applications must include a named NIHR Senior Investigator as either the supervisor or co-supervisor of the Fellow.  Where a NIHR Senior Investigator is not themselves a methodologist, a named methodologist must be included in the application.

All applications must be submitted by 17:00 on 1st February 2012.

        Breast Cancer Campaign: Project Grants & Scientific Fellowships  link

Project Grants provide funding for outstanding breast cancer research. Funding of around £65,000pa for up to three years is available. Scientific Fellowship provide funding to take talented post-doctoral researchers to the next level of their careers. Funding of up to £550,000 for five years is available. Closing Date 13/01/2012.

 ·         MRC (Medical Research Council)  link

 Funds a range of fellowship award schemes for clinical and non-clinical researchers –  Fellowships Eligibility Checker

MRC training awards  link

o    Career development award. Up to 5 years support
o    Clinical research training fellowship. Up to 3 years support
o    Clinician scientist fellowship. To enable clinical researchers to make transition from postdoctoral research and training to independent investigation.
o    Early career fellowship in economics of health.
o    Jointly funded clinical research training fellowship.
o    Methodology research fellowship.
o    MRC Career development award in biostatistics.
o    MRC People Exchange Programme - to stimulate collaborative research across industry and academia, develop skills and transfer knowledge.
o    Policy internship scheme.
o    Population health scientist fellowship.
o    Senior clinical fellowship.
o    Senior non-clinical fellowship.
o    Special training fellowship in biomedical informatics

Other Funding Opportunities (open calls unless otherwise stated)

 ·         AERC - (Alcohol Education and Research Council)  link

o    Small Grants Up to £5,000 each.  6 months - 1 year 

o    Research Grants - expects to fund projects of around £50,000. 1 year - 3 years

 ·         Dunhill Medical Trust   link

The Dunhill Medical Trust is a UK-based charitable company. Main focus for support is research into ageing and older people - four main areas of activity:

o    development of new and innovative projects
o    support for pilot research studies
o    pump-priming projects
o    developing research capacity

 ·         Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)  link

Open Scheme. Up to £50K to address educational disadvantage that has a measurable impact on attainment - focused on children eligible for free school meals in targeted schools. Applications are accepted from registered charities, not-for-profit organisations, schools and universities.

  ·         MRC (Medical Research Council)   link

Mainly in response to proposals by scientists but also sets priority areas

  ·         Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation’s (RCLCF) link

 Applications for funding are invited in following areas:

o    Early Detection of Lung Cancer. Applications are invited for research projects into high risk population stratification and molecular screening.

o    Patient Experience. Applications invited from professional groups, such as nurses and Allied Health Professionals who are very involved in the patient experience of lung cancer.

RCLCF pilot grants are available to allow established scientists to investigate and develop new ideas in the field of lung cancer research in the areas of Early Detection and Patient Experience. Pilot Grants - will not exceed 12 months duration and a maximum of £20,000 may be applied for. Applicant must have a proven track record in their own scientific field and be employed in a UK or Ireland university or research institute.

RCLCF’s projects grants are available to support innovative research in to lung cancer in the areas of Early Detection and Patient Experience. Awarded for up to two years and will not normally exceed £75,000.

 ·         Nuffield Foundation   link

Nuffield Foundation invites proposals that lie outside main programme areas but meet wider interest e.g.  ‘advancement of social well-being’, especially projects that identify interventions which have practical implications for policy or practice.

 ·         Wellcome Trust  link

Research funding supports biomedical research and medical humanities, with aim of improving human and animal health. Wide variety of funding schemes, including Investigator Awards, fellowships and Strategic Awards.

How to Obtain Help

The National Institute of Health Research, Research Design Service for the East of England (RDS EoE) is an active and dynamic network offering free research advice and support across the region.  The RDS EoE will help turn innovative research ideas into strong research proposals to attract funding.

To access a RDS EoE Research Advisor relative to the expertise required,  please contact the Central Co-ordinator on 01206 874856 or by e-mail at rdsc@essex.ac.uk or by completing our on-line Client Enquiry Form.

If you would like to subscribe these bulletins please email rdsc@essex.ac.uk

Previous Issues of our bulletin can been found below:
Bulletin Issue 1
Bulletin Issue 2

Bulletin Issue 3
Bulletin Issue 4
Bulletin Issue 5
Bulletin Issue 6
Bulletin Issue 7
Bulletin Issue 8
Bulletin Issue 9
Bulletin Issue 10

Bulletin Issue 11
Bulletin Issue 12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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