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Research Design Service

The NIHR has established a new network of Research Design Service (RDS) to help researchers develop and design high quality research proposals for submission to national, peer-reviewed funding competitions for applied health or social care research.

The new services started on the 1 October 2008 and supersede the former Research and Development Support Units (RDSUs) except in the East Midlands and North West Strategic Health Authority (SHA) areas where current RDSU services will continue to 31 March 2010. These RDSUs will now also provide a research design service so that consistent support is given to the health and social care research community nationally.

There are eight NIHR Research Design Services in the following SHA regions:
  • East of England
  • London
  • North East
  • South Central
  • South East Coast
  • South West
  • West Midlands
  • Yorkshire and Humberside
Map and contact details are available for the network of NIHR RDS and remaining two RDSUs.

Funding

The total value of each NIHR Research Design Service contract is between £800k and £1m annually for five years.

Implementation Plan 5.9 Research Design Services (PDF)