The NIHR Research Design Service: supporting high quality grant applications

The NIHR Research Design Service: supporting high quality grant

applications

Paul Ewings – Director RDS SW

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.

“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”

RDS purpose and role

http://www.ccf.nihr.ac.uk/

Pages/RDSMap.aspx

A service covering England

Local access

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”

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”

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

• A network of methodologists

• Providing advice and support on all aspects of preparing grant applications

• Focus on NHS investigators and NIHR schemes

The RDS SW

The RDS SWProject 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

The RDS SWResidential Research Retreat

• One-week residential event

• Teams of three people, each team developing a research proposal

• Support from “expert team”

• Seminars

• Critical review“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

The RDS SWGrants Application Workshop

• A one-day workshop

• Individuals (or teams) involved in developing a research proposal

• Talks and group work

• How to develop a successful grant proposal

• Next one: 1 April 2014

RDS SW: The first five years

• Advised on 964 new projects• Supported 125 submissions at outline stage

353 submissions at full (or single stage)

• Of those submissions where the result is known:

40% of the outline applications have been shortlisted

34% of the full submissions have been successfully funded

• We have successfully supported researchers to win major grants from national funders, including:

– 36 RfPB– 49 other NIHR– 21 charity – 11 Research Council grants

RDS SW: The first five years

• IMPROVE (Martin James)

• Protective stockings (Roy Powell)

• HeLP (Katrina Wyatt)

• DIAT (Nicky Britten)

• CADENCE (John Campbell)

Some Exeter studies

Get in touch…

01823 342792

[email protected]

www.rds-sw.nihr.ac.uk