Global Advanced Fellowship - FAQs

Questions on the proposed research

Does the award support feasibility studies?

While the award does not support clinical trials. Feasibility studies and feasibility clinical trials can be eligible under the Advanced Fellowship scheme providing they are in areas of global health priority where they are likely to lead to population and/or patient health impact. Applicants should demonstrate that they have considered potential funding sources for a substantive trial.

Feasibility studies in areas of low health priority, or where intervention is unlikely to lead to population health impact are not eligible under this scheme.

You should provide full justification for the feasibility study and the likely impact, and the committee will determine the eligibility and impact within your application according to the funding criteria.

Does the award support experimental medicine if it could impact populations?

While experimental medicine or early translational science are generally not eligible under this scheme. However, there may be cases where experimental medicine research has the potential for impact at population levels. If the potential for impact can clearly be demonstrated, then these research programmes would be eligible under this scheme.

You should provide full justification for the study and the likely impact, and the committee will determine the eligibility and impact within your application according to the funding criteria.

I am a clinical trials researcher please can you advise on options for funding?

The Global Advanced Fellowship does not support clinical trials. For applicants interested in doing full clinical trials, please look at our other NIHR Global Health Research Programmes.

Can research be undertaken in a high-income country?

Where some elements of the research are not undertaken in an ODA-eligible country during the award (including where a country graduates from the DAC list during the lifetime of the award or there is a need for specialist expertise) the application must clearly state the reasons for this with due consideration to the benefit of the research to ODA-eligible countries.

Is it possible to include some research in the UK or other high-income countries?

Where some elements of the research are not undertaken in an ODA-eligible country during the award (including where a country graduates from the DAC list during the lifetime of the award or there is a need for specialist expertise) the application must clearly state the reasons for this with due consideration to the benefit of the research to ODA-eligible countries.

Is it necessary to include primary data collection to measure the outcome?

There is no direct requirement to have primary data collection. Your detailed research plan should include clear justification for research methods selected. This will be reviewed and assessed by the funding committee.

Questions on personal eligibility 

Do I need a PhD to apply for a Global Advanced Fellowship?

You must have submitted a PhD at the time of application and have been awarded the PhD by the time you start the fellowship. You may also have a Medical Research Degree (referred to as an MD in the UK) - a higher degree undertaken by medically qualified staff normally during their postgraduate medical training. 

Is there a cap on the number of years since PhD completion?

There is no cap on the number of years since PhD completion, to recognize different career pathways in different contexts. You are eligible for this award from the time of completing a PhD to reaching Professorship/Chair position.

Do I need to be currently employed by the host (employing) institution at the time of application? 

You must include in your application the employing/host organisation who will be the contractor if the project is funded, but not necessarily at the time of application. The employing/host organisation named in the application will be required to complete a statement of support in the application, therefore you should have discussed the application/move with the team/department in the institution and they should be willing to support the application and you should be employed there for the start of the award, should your application be successful. 

Are these fellowships primarily aimed at LMIC researchers? Will applicants from high income country be successful?

The fellowships aim to support postdoctoral researchers working in global health in both LMICs and the UK. The scheme offers strategic uplift to applicants in LMIC institutions, this means that some priority will be given to fundable applications from LMIC applicants.

However we still expect to award a large proportion of the awards to applicants from UK institutions. 

Will under-served disciplines or professions be prioritised?

There are no current plans to prioritise any particular research areas, disciplines or professions. However, applications from LMICs will be given strategic priority.

I hold a professorship but I was only recently awarded a PhD, am I eligible?

We recognise that career pathways and structures may vary in different countries. Therefore while your position as a Professor would mean that you are ineligible for the award, you may have mitigating circumstances that would mean your application could proceed to the committee for consideration.

Within your application you will have the opportunity to outline any contextual/mitigating circumstances that have impacted your research career. You can include circumstances such as limited opportunities to obtain grant funding, or fewer publications. We advise that you provide as much relevant detail as possible. These factors will then be considered by the Funding Committee as part of their review process.

Is this scheme open to Scotland based researchers?

Yes, it is open to all UK HEIs, including the devolved administrations.

Can one applicant submit two different applications?

Limited to one application per person, per round. There is an opportunity to reapply if unsuccessful.

Can the fellowship overlap with funding from an NIHR GHR award?

Applicants can be based in an existing NIHR GHR Programme award, but the research project submitted as part of the application should be distinct from the GHRG award. In addition, we would also not expect the time for the fellow to be double funded - the fellowship would fund the salary for the awardee and we would not expect the NIHR GHR programme award to also be funding their salary.

Questions on host eligibility and partners

Can I be hosted by an NHS trust?

No, if you are hosted in the UK, you must be hosted (employed) by a Higher Education Institution.

Does the LMIC institution have to be the host or it could just be a partner?

The LMIC institution does not have to be host, it can be a partner within the application. If you are based in a UK HEI, you must have an LMIC partner in your application.

Can applications include partners in high income countries other than the UK?

Yes, you are able to include partners in high income countries other than the UK. These partners are not able to claim indirect costs associated with the award.

Questions on mentoring

How will mentoring be done? Will it be divided 50% between a mentor at UK HEI?

You will be required to name a minimum of one and maximum of four individuals to provide research support or mentorship. At least 50% of the individuals must be based in an LMIC institution.
Funding is not available for fees or salaries for research support/mentorship, however the applicant can include travel and subsistence for themselves to meet with their research support/mentors if required.

Can a mentor be from any institution other than the host and partner organisation?

Yes, the mentors can be from any institution other than the host and partner organisation. Mentor selection should be tailored to the needs of the applicant’s proposed training plan, and this should be made clear in your application.

Questions on finances

Are budget headings flexible?

We will allow requests for relevant flexibility within the budget, particularly with research cost headings such as equipment, consumables, travel, CEI and other direct costs. Successful applicants can make requests during the contracting phase and also during the award should the circumstances require flexibility around the configuration of the budget. Please note that strong justification must be made for any requests to make changes to the budget.

Can funding be disbursed to partner institutions in OECD DAC-list countries?

Yes. We strongly encourage partnerships with LMIC researchers and institutions and would welcome this, at the discretion of the host HEI or Research Institute. The host will act as the contracting organisation, meaning that it will be the recipient of the funds, and will ultimately be responsible for the delivery of the research. All funding must be routed through the host and it will be the responsibility of the host to undertake appropriate due diligence and instigate appropriate and relevant financial controls for any funding to be disbursed to other organisations.

All research costs need to be justified in the application and should reflect the principles of equitable partnerships. Guidance on equitable research partnerships can be found on the NIHR Global Research webpage.

If the host is UK based, how should the funding be split between the UK institution and any LMIC organisation?

Payment will be made to the contracted UK HEI only and the UK HEI will be responsible for passing on any money due to their partner organisation(s). There are no set guidelines as to the percentage breakdown of funding between partnering organisation and any funding split should be discussed and agreed between the UK HEI and the partner organisation(s). However, your research must meet the ODA compliance criteria and all research costs should be justified in the application and reflect the principles of equitable partnerships. Guidance on equitable research partnerships can be found on the NIHR Global Research webpage.

If the host is UK based, will the award fund staff in LMICs?

Yes, staff employed to work in partner LMIC institution(s) may be included in the costings. Where they will be working in the ‘Support Staff’ post they should be entered in the Direct Costs as ‘Support Staff’.

The proportions of time for all other staff at LMIC institution(s) who are contributing to the research should be added as ‘Shared Staff’. ‘Shared Staff’ costs are costs of an institution’s research resources which can be charged to the research on the basis of estimated use, rather than actual costs. These may include: IT technicians, statisticians, laboratory staff, and costs of pooled staff efforts. HEI indirect costs cannot be claimed on these shared costs. It is expected that no more than 30% of each individual’s time can be claimed as ‘Shared Staff’ costs.

Each team member, whether Support or Shared Staff, will need to be fully justified and reasonable consideration given to how much time they will be spending on the associated work.

Will travel costs be supported?

There is some flexibility for travel between the country of the host organisation and relevant LMIC(s) for the NIHR Global Advanced Fellowship and Research Support Post. For example, regular visits may be required to oversee the research being conducted in different countries, maintain involvement in the conduct and progress of the research and provide training and mentorship.

The NIHR Global Advanced Fellows can travel internationally for research, collaboration and to ensure support and supervision. Support Posts can also travel internationally where there is a clear rationale and research need for them to do so. Any costs related to this must be fully justified in the application.

What is considered “value for money”?

The NIHR Global Advanced Fellowship programme considers good value for money as the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes. ‘Optimal’ being considered as ‘the most desirable possible given expressed or implied restrictions or constraints’. Value for money goes beyond achieving the lowest initial price and includes consideration of Economy, Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Equity (as appropriate) and what these mean in the context of a research fellowship application:

• Economy: Are we buying inputs of the appropriate quality at the right price? (Inputs are things such as staff, consultants, raw materials and capital that are used to produce outputs)
• Efficiency: How well do we convert inputs into outputs? (Outputs are results delivered by us or our agents to an external party. We exercise strong control over the quality and quantity of outputs)
• Effectiveness: How well are the outputs from an intervention achieving the desired outcome? (Note that in contrast to outputs, we do not exercise direct control over outcomes)
• Equity: the extent to which the outputs of our interventions are equitably distributed

NIHR may challenge proposed costs that it does not consider appropriate or does not offer value for money, for example Business Class travel.

Can large items of equipment over £5,000 be purchased under the award?

Essential equipment costs including maintenance and related costs not included as part of estates should be input in the ‘Detailed Budget Breakdown’ of applications under ‘Equipment’. For applications to the NIHR Global Advanced Fellowship the equipment cost cap of £5,000 does not apply. Instead the proposed cost of all equipment to be purchased needs to be fully justified and all proposed costs should be good value for money. NIHR may challenge proposed costs that it does not consider appropriate or does not offer value for money.

Please note that equipment bought within the NHS cannot be funded by the NIHR. Please ensure no NHS equipment costs are included in your application.

Costs of computers are normally restricted to a maximum of £1000 each excluding VAT and a statement of justification must be included in the relevant ‘Justification of Costs’ section for any purchase above this limit.

Equipment must exclude VAT, but if your organisation is unable to reclaim/recover the VAT on a piece of equipment, you should check the box ‘VAT cannot be reclaimed’. You will need to seek expert advice from the organisation purchasing the equipment regarding its VAT status. If you check the ‘VAT cannot be reclaimed’ column, VAT at 20% will automatically be calculated into the overall cost of that item.

Can full economic costs be claimed for both the UK HEI and OECD DAC-list partner institutions?

1. UK based HEIs: UK based HEIs should determine the Full Economic Cost (FEC) of their research using the Transparent Approach to Costing (TRAC) methodology. For HEIs in the UK, up to 80% of FEC will be paid, provided that TRAC methodology has been used.
2. HEIs or Research institutions based in LMICs: All costs including direct and indirect will be supported at 100%. Indirect costs must be fully justified as to why these costs are being requested and how they will contribute to the proposed research.
3. Commercial/other partner organisations: For a commercial organisation/consultancy, please fill in direct costs and indirect costs. Indirect costs should be charged in proportion to the amount of research staff effort requested on the funding application form. Up to 100% of direct costs will be paid. The NIHR reserves the right to set limits on indirect costs charged. For other partner organisation (e.g. charity or NGO), please fill in direct costs and indirect costs. Indirect costs should be charged in proportion to the amount of research staff effort requested on the funding application form. Up to 100% of direct costs will be paid. The NIHR reserves the right to set limits on indirect costs charged.