Application Form Guidance notes for NIHR Global Health Research Units / Global Health Research Groups

  • Published: 29 May 2020
  • Version: V1.0 - May 2020
  • 39 min read

How to Apply

Applications to Global Health Research Units and Global Health Research Groups will involve a single stage assessment process.

It is mandatory for applications to the NIHR Global Health Research Programme Units and Global Health Research Groups Awards to have two Joint Lead Applicants (one ODA-eligible country and one UK-based). The NIHR contract requires the administrative ‘Lead Applicant’ to be from a UK based institution (UK administrative lead).

The NIHR uses a management information system (MIS) to receive applications. If you do not already have an account, you will be required to register on the system in order to access the application.

Once registered applicants should go to their homepage and click ‘Apply for Funding’ and choose the Global Health funding opportunity from the list, click continue, then click apply. Applicants will also be able to access the MIS via the NIHR global health page.
 
Please note: Applicants that do not yet have an ORCiD will be asked to create one here, click OK to continue to the ORCiD page. This can be completed later and updated in your user profile in the MIS by clicking on the profile tab on your homepage.

Applicants must ensure they press ‘save’ regularly when completing their application and use ‘save and continue’ to move to the next page to ensure information is not lost.

Completing the online application form

Eligibility Check

Once you have clicked ‘Apply’ you will be taken to the eligibility check page, here you will be asked to confirm that you are from the UK based administering institution and that you are the UK based Joint Lead Applicant. You should answer yes or no and press submit. If you are eligible, you will be able to continue which will take you to the ‘My Tasks’ page where you will have two tasks assigned to you and both must be completed, in the correct sequence ‘GHR Intent to submit’ and ‘GHR application’. Information entered as part of your Intent to Submit task will then be verified and pulled through to your GHR application. You should check that you are applying to the right funding opportunity and call.

If you want to see an example application form and the questions please refer to the Word version of the form.

Intent to Submit

In order to submit an application to the Global Health Units or the Global Health Research Groups call applicants must first complete and submit an Intent to Submit (ItS) form. This is a mandatory requirement and applicants WILL NOT be able to submit a full application unless they have first completed and submitted an Intent to Submit form.

This guidance document will now go through all the different sections which need completing. Some of these sections need to be completed in the ItS form (and are indicated as such) and some sections are completed as part of the main application form.

It is recognised that the information provided within your ItS may not be the final version but it is expected the submitted application will not deviate substantially from the ItS. Applicants will be able to edit their main application after the ItS has been submitted. The ItS will not be used for any formal assessment of the application. Its purpose is to assist the secretariat in planning to ensure, for example, securing appropriate peer reviewers and Committee members in advance of your application submission. Where needed, NIHR may also provide applicants with advice on fit within the call remit.

The Intent to Submit form is linked to your main application, therefore content for your Plain English Summary will be reflected in both. The Scientific Abstract section will also appear in the ItS form, however, it is not required at this stage and 'N/A' should be inserted into the 'Scientific Abstract' box. It is recommended you develop the detail of your application though the offline form available and copy across information for your Plain English Summary after submission of your ItS.

The Intent to Submit will require the following information:

  • Lead and Joint Lead Applicant details
  • Administrative contact details
  • Research team details
  • Research location
  • Plain English Summary – providing only a high level description of your planned proposal

IMPORTANT: You will not be able to see your Co-Applicants in your main form until the Intent to Submit has been submitted.

The ItS submissions will close for the first phase at 1pm GMT on 21 October 2020 and the second phase at 1pm (GMT +1) 20 April 2021

Application Summary Information

Host Organisation

Applicants must complete this in the Intent to Submit form

Please give details of the organisation who will be the contractor if the project is funded. 

Please note that we require the UK Joint Lead Applicant’s host organisation (i.e. substantive employer) to act as the contractor/administrative lead if the project is funded.

Please also bear in mind that:

  • Thought must be given to the most appropriate UK institution to act as the contractor as part of the application process, as changes are unlikely to be agreed once a funding decision has been made.

  • For NIHR Global Health Research Units and Global Health Research Groups, although the contract will be held by the UK institution for administrative purposes, there must be two Joint Lead Applicants (one ODA-eligible country and one UK institution) and clear evidence of equitable partnership with country partner(s) on the OECD DAC list (.PDF), and the contractor (UK Joint Lead).

  • Other leading organisations and individuals that form part of the core research team must be included as Co-Applicants. Collaborators involved should be listed.

  • The contractor is expected to respond to annual financial reconciliation exercises, provide the final financial reconciliation statement for the project and to provide ad hoc requests for financial information during the lifetime of the project. In the unlikely event that a request is made for the contractor to differ from the UK Joint Lead’s host institution, the suggested contractor must be able to fulfil these expectations and to do so in the usual timeframes.

  • In the same way, the contractor is expected to respond to any queries relating to Intellectual Property, commercialisation and benefit realisation.

For queries on potential Host Organisations, please contact nets-finance@nihr.ac.uk.

Research Title

Applicants must complete this in the Intent to Submit form, the title can be edited before submission of the main application if required.

The project title should state clearly and concisely the proposed research. Titles need to follow a set format starting with ‘NIHR Global Health Research Unit on.../ Global Health Research Group on…’ and should be no more than 100 characters including spaces. Any abbreviations should be defined in full.

Research Type

Applicants must complete this field in the Intent to Submit form, this can be edited before submission of the main application if required.

Select the appropriate research type. If the proposed project includes any element of primary research, please select ‘Primary Research’. If carrying out new analysis of existing data, select ‘Secondary Research’. If unsure which category to select, choose the closest match to the project as this can be adjusted later.

Proposed Start Date

Applicants must complete this field in the Intent to Submit form, this can be edited before submission of the main application if required.

Note this should be the 1st of the month regardless of whether this is a working day or not. Please be realistic about your possible start date taking account of the necessary contracting, and staff recruitment prior to starting your project. 

Applicants are required to refer to the relevant call guidance to know when the study would be required to start if successful.

Research Duration (months)

Applicants must complete this field in the Intent to Submit form, this can be edited before submission of the main application if required.

Applicants must ensure they include sufficient time to complete all aspects of the research including applications for regulatory approvals (where required) and the draft final report.  

Applicants are required to ensure the duration of the research does not exceed the maximum limit specified in the call guidance.

End Date

This field will automatically populate once you have saved the research duration information.

Research Costs

Applicants must complete this field in the Intent to Submit form, this can be edited before submission of the main application if required.

Enter the total costs being requested for your proposal. Applicants are required to ensure the cost of the research does not exceed the maximum limit specified in the call guidance.

Please note:  Applicants are required to complete a separate Global Health budget template so please ignore the following two questions under this tab:

• Estimated NHS Support and Treatment Costs
• Estimated Non-NHS Intervention Costs

Administrative Contact Details

Applicants must complete this field in the Intent to Submit form, this can be edited before submission of the main application if required.

Applicants must indicate if they will be the main contact for the application or nominate an alternative administrative contact. 

Lead Applicant Details/CV

Applicants must complete this field in the Intent to Submit form, this can be edited before submission of the main application if required.

The NIHR systems and the research contract require the UK based Joint Lead Applicant to be from a UK based institution.

Applicants must complete the UK Joint Lead Applicant’s name, contact details and other requested information, this may need to be completed in your profile in MIS.

ORCiD 
Please note: It is NIHR policy that all Applicants obtain a free unique ORCiD number and update their MIS user profile to include their ORCiD before the application can be submitted. By clicking the link ‘View ORCiD record’ applicants will be taken to the ORCiD website where they will need to register or sign in. Once logged in to ORCiD, and following acceptance of T&Cs, users are returned to the MIS and the profile field for the ORCiD number will automatically be populated. This only has to be done once and is a mandatory requirement.

Applicants must provide details on their current publication record and any research grants held, where they are a named applicant (please see section 2.5).

Please note: The Joint Lead partner and Co-Applicants will also be required to supply this detail within their ‘collaboration task’ within the MIS.

Specify your (lead applicant) role in this research (Limit: 200 characters)

Explain, in addition to your role as Joint Lead Applicant, the role that you will be undertaking in the research, e.g. co-ordination and project management, analysis, methodological input etc.

Lead Applicant’s % FTE Commitment

Commitment: This refers to the percentage of your time that you will commit to this project.

Applicants must also complete the contact details, degree and professional qualifications and other requested information.

Research Background – Lead, Joint Lead and Co-Applicants

Publication record (limit 10,000 characters)

Provide details of a MAXIMUM of 6 of your most recent / relevant publications (in the last 10 years) relevant to this application (using Vancouver or Harvard citation format) listed one after another with a blank line between each one. Please use DOI reference numbers if needed.
If you wish this record to replace that which is currently held within your profile please use the ‘overwrite main publications list with above’ button.

Research Grants Held (limit 10,000 characters)

This should include research grants held (as a named applicant) currently or in the last 5 years – as well as any additional previous grants, relevant to this application. Please include who the grant is with and the amount of each grant. If no grants are held, please enter N/A (as this is a mandatory field).

For each entry you should state: registration number and name of registry and the DOI of the main related publication. Where the study is still ongoing or final results have not yet been published, please provide an estimated publication date. This is in line with the NIHR policy on clinical trial registration and disclosure of results.

If you wish this record to replace that which is currently held within your profile please use the ‘overwrite main grants list with above’ button.

History of the Application

Previous Submission

Select ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ from the drop-down box to indicate whether this or a similar application has previously been submitted to this or any other funding body.

Applications Submitted to NIHR Programmes

Previous applications submitted by the UK lead to all NIHR managed programmes in the last 36 months will be listed in this section. Applicants should indicate against each one whether the previous applications are relevant to the current application (the Check All/Clear All options allow you to mark all applications or clear all applications). For any applications that are relevant click Edit to enter details of differences between the current application and this previous one and to enter the reasons if it was unsuccessful.

Other Funders/Applications in Progress

Provide a high-level summary of any relevant/related applications submitted to any previous NIHR Global Health Research Programme Calls, or any other similar applications in progress with other funders. Please indicate how they involve the Joint Leads or any Co-Applicants for the application.

NIHR are keen to know if the application has been submitted elsewhere and applicants must be as open about this as possible. This includes, but is not limited to, any facts that, should they come to light at a future date, would embarrass either the programme or the individual who withheld the fact (e.g. if a member of the team holds a patent or has a financial interest within the research area).

Failure to disclose these facts accurately or fully will be considered by the programme as academic misconduct and treated accordingly. Applicants should also include in this section information on whether this or a similar application has been submitted to any programme previously, or to any other funder including other NIHR programmes. You should name and provide dates and outcomes of these. Please indicate whether you hold or have ever held an NIHR programme contract, which has been terminated prior to completion, extended in time or in terms of funding.

Research Team

Applicants must complete this field in the Intent to Submit form, this can be edited before you submit your main application if required.

In the following sections you will need to individually add the names of your Joint Lead partner Co-Applicants and list named Collaborators. Their roles and equitable contributions to the project should be described in the relevant section of the detailed research plan ‘Structure of the research team’.

Definitions and requirements:

Joint Lead Applicants:

It is a requirement to have two Joint Lead Applicants with one being from an ODA eligible country (.PDF) and one from a UK-based institution. Joint Leadership must be demonstrated, and there must be plans in place for equal sharing of responsibilities. The applications will be assessed on the equity and strength of partnerships developed between Joint Lead Applicants and their relevant expertise.

Co-Applicants:

Co-Applicants are those individuals with responsibility for the day-to-day management and delivery of the project, forming a core part of the project team and are expected to equitably share responsibility for its successful delivery. Please note that once you enter a Co-Applicant’s details they will receive an automated email informing them that this information has been added into our Management Information System (MIS) in conjunction with your application. Therefore, we would expect Co-Applicants to have been consulted before adding their details into the MIS.

Community Engagement and Involvement Co-Applicants (shown as ‘Co-Applicant –PPI’ in the drop-down list)

We encourage the inclusion of Community Engagement and Involvement (CEI) Co-Applicants, where appropriate. Please include a clear description of their role and the reasons why a CEI Co-Applicant is joining the team. They are not required to provide a full CV (i.e. N/A may be appropriate for Publication Record and Research Grants held).

We recognise and value the varied perspectives that Community representatives, members of the public, patients, service users and carers bring to a project as applicants. In this section, CEI Co-Applicants should provide a summary of any relevant knowledge, skills and experience that they will draw upon to contribute to this project.

This could include information about:

  • Previous or present work (paid or unpaid) with any relevant organisations
  • Links with any relevant groups, committees, networks or organisations
  • Experience of particular health conditions, treatments, use of services, being a carer - or as a member of a particular community
  • Knowledge and experience of research including previous research undertaken
  • Knowledge and experience of patient and public involvement including previous involvement activities
  • Skills from any other roles that are transferable
  • Relevant qualifications, training and learning

Collaborators (found under other supporting roles on the application):

Those who provide specific expertise on particular aspects of the project and who would form the basis of your wider research team. They do not share in the responsibility for the delivery of the project. Information on collaborators should be listed here and referred to within the ‘research team’ section of the Detailed Research Proposal.

Other supporting roles:

As a minimum the following (mandatory) UK based supporting roles are required to be added to an application:

  1. Administrative Authority or Finance Officer
  2. Head of Department

% FTE Commitment:

This refers to the percentage of your time that will be committed to this project.

ORCiD:

It is mandatory for all Applicants to register for an ORCiD and to include their ORCiD on their MIS user profile (please see details above).

Joint Lead Applicants

Applicants must complete this field in the Intent to Submit form, this can be edited before you submit your main application if required. You will not be able to see the details in the main form until the Intent to Submit form has been submitted and the ItS close date has passed.

Add details of the ODA-eligible Country (.PDF) Joint Lead Applicant as requested. As the UK Joint Lead, you will have started the application, so you DO NOT need to add yourself as a Joint Lead Applicant at this stage. This section of the application is to add the second Joint Lead Applicant.

Once you enter the ODA-eligible Country (.PDF)Joint Lead Applicant’s details they will receive an automated email informing them that this information has been added into our Management Information System (MIS) in conjunction with your application. Therefore, we would expect you to have consulted with the Joint Lead Applicant before adding their details into the MIS. Applicants must ensure the use of the correct email address for the second Joint Lead Applicant if they are already registered on MIS.

Please note: If the Joint Lead Applicant’s affiliated organisation is not found in the current drop-down list, please contact the Global Health team at nihrglobalhealth@nihr.ac.uk who will add this for you.

Permissions: The access rights should be set to ‘Full Edit Access’ if you wish the ODA-eligible Country Joint Lead Applicant to be able to edit the application.

Justifications for Joint Lead Applicant

This section of the form is part of the standard NIHR application process and does not apply to the Global Health Research Programme Awards.  It has two questions:

  • Please justify why more than one person would be required to lead this research and how this brings added value to the application.
    You do not need to supply an answer to this question as the requirement for this award is for two Joint Lead Applicants so please add N/A in this box.

  • Please summarise the proposed Joint Lead Applicant’s relevant expertise and track record in applied health research, in terms of skills and experience, previous publications, grant funding and impact on health service provision (1500 characters)
    You do not need to supply an answer to this question, and you should add N/A in this box.

Please note: The justification for the Joint Lead Applicant section will not be visible in your final application.

Notification of Joint Lead Applicant

IMPORTANT: Once the Intent to submit form has been submitted, and the close date has passed, you must press ‘notify’. The following will then happen:

  • The ODA-eligible country Joint Lead Applicant will receive an email from the MIS notifying them they have been invited to participate in the application.

  • The ODA eligible Joint Lead will be required to log into the MIS and click on the ‘Accept GHR Unit/Group Application Participation (Joint Lead Applicant)’ task. To do this, they must agree to the carbon reduction guidelines and choose ‘agree to participate’ from the drop-down menu. 

  • The ODA eligible Joint Lead Applicant must then press Submit.

  • Once the ODA eligible Joint Lead Applicant has ‘agreed to participate’ they will be given two tasks:
  1. Collaborate on GHR Unit/Group Application (Joint Lead Applicant). This task requires completion and submission before the application can be submitted.  You should ensure the ODA eligible Joint Lead Application is aware of this requirement.

  2. GHR Unit/Group Application. This task gives the ODA eligible Joint Lead Applicant access to the application content and provided you have given ‘Full Edit Access’ they will be able to edit the application form.

Please note: It will be the responsibility of the UK Joint Lead Applicant to ensure that these tasks are completed in good time. YOU WILL NOT be able to submit your application until both the ‘Accept GHR U/G Application Participation (ODA-eligible Joint Lead Applicant)’ and the ‘Collaborate on GHR U/G Application (ODA-eligible Joint Lead Applicant)’ tasks have been completed and submitted. Your application will be rejected if these sections have not been completed correctly.

Co-Applicants 

Applicants must complete this in the Intent to Submit form, this can be edited before you submit your main application if required. You will not be able to see the details in the main form until the Intent to Submit form has been submitted and the close date has passed.

Add details of all Co-Applicants and their specific role and country location for the project. For this Award, there is no limit on the number of Co-Applicants which will form your team as long as these are manageable and proportionate to activities.

The number of Co-Applicants is calculated automatically.

Permissions: The access rights should be set to ‘Full Edit Access’ if you wish the Co-Applicants to be able to edit the application.

IMPORTANT: Once the Intent to Submit for has been submitted, and the ItS close date has passed, you must press ‘notify’. The following will then happen:

  • The Co-Applicant will receive an email from the MIS notifying them they have been invited to participate in the GHR Unit/Group application.

  • The Co-Applicant will be required to log into the MIS and click on the ‘Accept GHR Unit/Group Application Participation (Co-Applicant)’ task. To do this, they must agree to the carbon reduction guidelines and choose ‘agree to participate’ from the drop-down menu. 

  • The Co-Applicant must then press submit.

  • Once the Co-Applicant has ‘agreed to participate’ they will be given two tasks:
  1. Collaborate on GHR Unit/Group Application (Co-Applicant). This task requires completion and submission before the application can be submitted.  You should ensure the Co-Application is aware of this requirement.

  2. GHR Unit/Group Application. This task gives the Co-Applicant access to the application content and provided you have given ‘Full Edit Access’ they will be able to edit the application form.

Please note: It will be the responsibility of the UK Joint Lead Applicant to ensure that these tasks are completed in good time. APPLICANTS WILL NOT be able to submit their application until both the ‘Accept GHR Unit/Group Application Participation’ and the ‘Collaborate on GHR Unit/Group Application’ tasks have been completed and submitted. Your application will be rejected if this section has not been completed correctly.

Do not include Collaborators in this section, they should be mentioned (if necessary) in the ‘Other supporting roles’ section of the online application form in MIS.

Other supporting roles and Collaborators

As a minimum, the following (mandatory) UK administrating institution supporting roles are required to be added to an application, only one of each type should be included:                 

  • Administrative Authority or Finance Officer

  • Head of Department
    Please note: If, as UK Joint Lead Applicant, you are also signing as Head of Department, you should not complete this signatory task until you are ready to submit your application form. Once the UK administrative Lead Applicant completes the Head of Department signatory task, various fields within the application form will become non-editable.

Please note: Only the UK based Administrative Authority or Finance Officer and Head of Department are required to sign off the application, as they will be managing the contract. The ODA-eligible country Joint Lead must have, at a minimum, a Head of Department signatory. Others can be added if required; however, you must ensure they are in a position to access the MIS to complete their tasks. 

Collaborators: Applicants should add the details of Collaborators in this section and provide more details on their involvement in the research team section within the Detailed Research Plan upload. Collaborators are those who provide specific expertise on particular aspects of the project/programme and would form part of your wider research team. They do not share in the responsibility for the delivery of the project. To add a Collaborator choose the ‘Collaborator GHR’ from the drop-down menu next to role, then add the required information. This should be repeated for each Collaborator. 

Sponsor:  Applicants should indicate the study sponsor, if required. The Host Institution is often the employer of the UK Joint Lead Investigator and the Sponsor for health and care studies and trials approved for funding by the NIHR.

The sponsor has responsibility for ensuring that a trial is run to the highest standards and meets all applicable regulatory and research governance requirements. This responsibility is accepted by the Host Institution when it signs the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) contract. The Host Institution should ensure that there are systems in place to manage sponsorship requirements. The NIHR, the funder and managing agent for contracts on behalf of the DHSC, must be informed of the name of the Sponsor(s) of any study/trial and the arrangements for independent oversight. Through collaboration agreements between Co Applicants and Collaborators, the sponsor will ensure the flow down of the relevant DHSC contractual terms and where any local sponsorship is required outside the UK, that this complies with local regulations and standards at least equivalent to those in the UK.

Permissions: The access rights should be set to ‘Full Edit Access’ if you wish the supporting roles to be able to edit the application.

Once the supporting roles, excluding Collaborators, have been added you must press ‘notify’. The following will then happen:

  • The supporting role will receive an email from the MIS notifying them of the invitation to participate in the GHR Unit/Group application.
  • The supporting role will be required to log into the MIS and click on the ‘Accept GHR Unit/Group Application Participation’ task. To do this, they must agree to the carbon reduction guidelines and choose ‘agree to participate’ from the drop-down menu. 
  • The supporting role must then press submit.
  • Once the supporting role has ‘agreed to participate’ they will be given access to the application via the following task:
  1. GHR Unit/Group Application.  This task gives access to the application content and provided you have given ‘Full Edit Access’ they will be able to edit the application form.

Please note: It will be the responsibility of the UK Joint Lead Applicant to ensure that these tasks are completed in good time. YOU WILL NOT be able to submit your application until the ‘Accept GHR Unit/Group Application Participation’ tasks have been completed and submitted. Your application will be in-eligible and rejected if this section is not completed correctly.

Electronic signatures

Each person nominated to a supporting role will be required to tick a check box indicating that they have read and understood the terms on which they have been nominated for this proposal and accept this role. Ticking this box constitutes an electronic signature of the supporting role with regard to this application.

Once the application form is completed and prior to submission, the UK Administrative Joint Lead Applicant is required to tick a check box to indicate that they have read and understood the terms on which they have been nominated as Joint Lead Applicant (UK administrative lead) for this proposal along with the associated documentation and therefore accept this role.

No original (wet ink) signatures are required for this application.

Signatory statements

Applicants must ensure that the required signatories (above) are aware of the statements of responsibility that they are agreeing to by making an electronic signature. The signatory statements are available for your information.

Research Themes and Location

Applicants must complete this field in the Intent to Submit form, this can be edited before you submit your main application if required.

Applicants must select all countries where you will be conducting your research or forming research partnerships, if you are working with countries not on the OECD DAC list please tick other. You will then be required to enter which non-LMIC countries you are working with in section 2.13 of the application form.

Scientific Abstract (3500 characters)

Applicants need to complete N/A in this section for the Intent to Submit form.  This section can be edited and should be completed before you submit your main application.

The scientific abstract should be a clear, concise scientific summary of the detailed research plan/methods (one side of A4 maximum – 3500 characters).

The following is a list of potential elements / headings that might be included depending on the design of the proposed research, the setting and programme award being applied to, and whether it is for primary research and/or evidence synthesis. It will be for researchers to decide what should be included in the Scientific Abstract and could include elements outside this list. Applicants may find the guidance on the EQUATOR Network website.

  • Research question
  • Background
  • Aims and objectives
  • Methods
  • Timelines for delivery
  • Anticipated impact and dissemination

Plain English summary (3500 characters)

Applicants must complete this field in the Intent to Submit form, this can be edited before you submit your main application if required.

We are not expecting full details at the intent to submit stage just the basic outline of your project.

For the main application, applicants should provide a plain English summary that is a clear explanation of the research plans. It is not the same as a scientific abstract - please do not cut and paste this or other sections of your application form to create the plain English summary.

Many reviewers use this summary to inform their review of your funding application. They include clinicians and researchers who do not have specialist knowledge of your field as well as members of the public. If your application for funding is successful, the summary will be used on the NIHR and other websites.

A good quality plain English summary providing an easy to read overview of your whole study will help:

  • those carrying out the review (reviewers and assessment committee members) to have a better understanding of your research proposal.
  • inform others about your research such as members of the public, health professionals, policy makers and the media.
  • the research funders to publicise the research that they fund.

If the plain English summary is not clear and of a good quality, you may be required to amend it prior to final funding approval.

When writing your summary consider including the following information where appropriate:

  • Aim(s) of the research
  • Background to the research
  • Design and methods used
  • Community Engagement and Involvement
  • Dissemination.

It is helpful to involve patients / carers / communities or members of the public in developing a plain English summary.

Read our further guidance on writing in plain English.

For further support and advice on writing a plain English summary, please contact your local Research Design Service (where applicable).

ODA compliance (2500 characters)

Click add to complete your answer to this question.

Applicants must provide a statement that demonstrates how the proposal meets key ODA funding requirements. It must provide information that addresses the following points:

  • which country(ies) on the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list of ODA-eligible countries (.PDF) will directly benefit;
  • how the application is directly and primarily relevant to the development challenges of those countries;
  • how the outcomes will promote the health and welfare of people in the country or countries on the DAC list;
  • where all or part of the research is not undertaken in an ODA-eligible country during the course of 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;
  • to consider whether the ODA-eligible country/ies you intend to work in/with are due to graduate from the DAC-list in 2023, as these would no longer be eligible for ODA funding.

Community Engagement and Involvement (3500 characters)

Click add to complete the answer to this question.

Describe how all relevant community and key stakeholders will be involved in informing the design, methods and research outcomes, and in managing, monitoring, evaluating and disseminating the research, as relevant to your study design. Please refer to the core guidance on 'Community Engagement and Involvement'.

Non DAC List Countries involved in your research

Click to complete the answer to this question.

Applicants must list any other countries engaged in the research team partnership or in which the research will be conducted which are not on the OECD DAC list.

Justification of costs (8000 characters)

Applicants must refer to the GHR budget template form and the detailed finance guidance for Global Health Research Units and Global Health Research Groups and particularly the guidance on 'Value for Money' section in the core guidance when completing this section.

Uploads

Please note that the funding committee will not consider any additional, non-requested documents during its review.

Required Upload 1: Detailed Research Plan

Using all of the headings in the order presented below, please use this section to clearly explain your proposed research. For further information on what is required under each heading please refer to BOTH the Call Guidance for Global Health Research Units and Global Health Research Groups (dependent on which is being applied for) for specific requirements and the NIHR Global Health Research core guidance for Applicants.

As this is the main part of your application which will be considered by the reviewing panel, you should ensure that the information is accurate, succinct, clearly laid out and provides sufficient methodological detail.

  • Full research title (cut and paste from above)
  • Summary (cut and paste from Scientific Abstract)
  • Background and rationale
  • Aims and objectives
  • Research plan / methods
  • Research expertise / Structure of the team
  • Approach to creating equitable and sustainable partnerships
  • Training and capacity strengthening in LMICs
  • Project management / Governance
  • Approach to Risk management and Assurance / Safeguarding
  • Regulatory approvals
  • Dissemination, outputs and anticipated impact
  • Success criteria and barriers
  • Project research timetable

Full Research Title

This section should clearly state what the proposed research is, and any abbreviations should be defined. Titles need to start with ‘NIHR Global Health Research Unit on.../ Global Health Research Group on…’ and should be no more than 100 characters including spaces. Cut and paste from the main application.

Summary of Research (abstract)

Provide an expert summary of the project plan of investigation plus any additional points required to support statements made in the above sections, and include any key references required to justify the points made (e.g. in the use of particular outcome measures or methods of analysis). Cut and paste from your Scientific Abstract.

Background and Rationale

Set out the background and rationale for the research. Describe how the proposed research programme addresses unmet health needs in ODA-eligible countries; how the research plans are based on a review of the local context/health system(s) and existing literature; how the proposed research would fill a demonstrable evidence gap; and how the proposed research is within the remit of the call.

Applicants should refer to the section in the Global Health Research Units and Global Health Research Groups Call guidance for more information.

Aims and objectives

Summarise the key strategic aims, research questions and objectives for your research programme and provide a concise statement of the proposed research and how this will lead to sustainability of research within LMICs beyond the term of the NIHR funding award.

Research Plan / Methods

Provide detailed information on the research design and methods, this should include (where appropriate) descriptions of the following:

Strategy for reviewing literature (in the case of projects involving an evidence synthesis aspect):

Explain the criteria to be applied to assess the quality and relevance of studies identified by the search strategy. Provide an explanation of how these will be decided if they are not yet known. Describe your methods for combining, aggregating or synthesising research findings and different forms of evidence.

Design and theoretical/conceptual framework:

Provide a brief statement on the type of study design to be used, and the theoretical framing, concepts and models to be used. Please ensure that studies fall In-scope for this call and cross-refer to what is 'Out of Scope' in the funding opportunity Global Health Research Units and Global Health Research Groups Call guidance.

Target populations:

Describe for all projects your approach and rationale for selecting research sites and subjects. For work packages with trials and studies please include details on the planned intervention and who will deliver them, inclusion and exclusion criteria, methods of allocation, and provide justification for sample size and power calculations, as appropriate.

Setting/context:

Describe the setting or context and health systems in which the study will take place and associated implications for wider health system strengthening.

Data collection:

Describe the data you plan to collect. Depending upon your study design and methodology, you may need to explain what data collection instruments or measures you plan to use, and whether you will be using instruments already developed and tested elsewhere or instruments which you will develop as part of this project. For example, where cost or outcome data is to be collected, you need to make clear and justify your approach to defining and measuring the costs or outcomes in question. You should make clear the link between the data collected and the research questions outlined earlier.

Data analysis:

Describe how you plan to analyse the data you have collected. Depending upon your study design and methodology, you may need to explain what quantitative statistical methods you plan to employ, your methods for qualitative data analysis, and your approach to combining data from multiple methods or sources.

Ethical considerations:

Outline any ethical considerations associated with the research, for example, if the research involves vulnerable individuals or groups (such as children under the age of 18, individuals lacking capacity to consent) then please describe how you will manage their involvement. For research involving human participants please describe plans for ethical review of the proposed activities in the UK and/or ODA-eligible countries).

Research expertise / Structure of the team

Explain why the proposed research team is qualified to do this research, describing the track record of the interdisciplinary research team in the relevant area, including publication outputs, grant income and impact on health service practice and policy. State clearly the particular contribution that each of the named Lead/Co-applicants will make towards the research, and as necessary, indicating the intended contribution by collaborators.

Refer to core guidance section ‘Research Expertise/Structure of Team’ and Global Health Research Units and Global Health Research Groups Call guidance for specific requirements.

Approach to creating equitable and sustainable partnerships

Describe your approach to creating equitable and sustainable partnerships and potential/ feasibility to generate sustainable advances in capacity and capability building in the LMIC.

Refer to core guidance section ‘Equitable and Sustainable Partnerships’.

Training and Capacity Strengthening in LMICs

Please detail how, through your proposed programme, you intend to develop research capacity for the long term at individual and institutional level to support sustainability and the research eco-system as a whole.

Details must be provided on the planned numbers of each type of formal training post, how these posts will be advertised in open competition and how individuals will be supported to develop a formal training plan.

Refer to core guidance section ‘Training and Capacity Strengthening‘ and Global Health Research Units and Global Health Research Groups Call guidance for specific requirements.

Project management / Governance

Please outline the practical arrangements for managing the proposed research, its constituent components, and governance arrangements.

Identify the project management processes that will ensure that the milestones are reached in a timely manner. This should include the roles and responsibilities of those individuals undertaking the proposed research and set out reporting lines, steering/advisory committee involvement, and the schedule of meetings of the proposed research group to permit coordination, evaluation of progress and dissemination of findings.

You should also highlight the role of any advisory groups associated with the proposed research.

Refer to core guidance section ‘Programme Management and Governance’

Approach to Risk management and Assurance / Safeguarding

Please provide clear details on the risks and challenges, as well as mitigating actions, in delivering the proposed work.

Please provide plans for:

  • Financial assurance, ODA compliance, monitoring and auditing of expenditure in the ODA-eligible countries

  • Fraud, bribery and corruption

  • Safeguarding

Applications should include a delivery chain risk map to show the overall structure of the partnerships/collaborations, the distribution of ODA funds to partners/collaborators; and the associated downstream risks and accountability for the risks down to the end beneficiaries.

Refer to core guidance section ‘Approach to Risk Management and Assurance’.

Regulatory approvals

Outline plans for ethical review and obtaining regulatory approvals of the proposed activities in all relevant countries (LMIC and non-LMIC).

Refer to core guidance section ‘Regulatory Approvals / Compliance’.

Dissemination, Outputs and anticipated impact

Describe the planned outputs of the research, how these will be communicated and to whom, and detail the proposed short, medium and longer term impact of the research.

Refer to core guidance section ‘Dissemination, Outputs and anticipated Impact’ and Global Health Research Units and Global Health Research Groups Call guidance for specific requirements.

Success Criteria and barriers 

Describe the critical path of the proposed research programme, equitable partnership development and capacity strengthening plans, quarterly for the first 12 months, then annually thereafter, outlining how the research team will demonstrate successful attainment of these milestones each year.

Describe any known or anticipated challenges and risks which the research team may face in research set-up, delivery and uptake, equitable partnership development and capacity strengthening, and consider challenges faced by the collaborating institutions in partner countries.

Refer to core guidance section ‘Success Criteria for and Barriers to Proposed Work’

Research Project timetable

Provide details on the project timetable and owners for work packages - a detailed Gantt chart should be uploaded (see Required Uploads) with quarterly key deliverables and critical milestones clearly set out to end of year one; annual key deliverables and critical milestones should be set out from the end of year 1 to the end of the award period.

Global Health Research Groups are recommended to include a set-up period within the overall timetable to support the development of research partnerships.

Required Upload 2: Budget for requested costs

Please upload your completed GHR budget template (Excel template is available in the MIS). You should refer to the separate Global Health Research Units and Global Health Research Groups finance guidance when completing your budget template.

Required Upload 3: Letter of support from non-contracted Joint Lead

Applicants must use this upload type to provide evidence of support from the non-contracted Joint Lead institution. This should be in the form of a letter and it must give clear agreement of the institution’s intention to participate in the study and their agreement to give access to core staff, supply space, facilities and the time required for the person to carry out the work activities outlined in the application. 

Required Upload 4: Delivery Chain Risk Map

Applicants must provide a Word or PDF of the delivery chain map for your research programme. Please refer to the core guidance section ‘Delivery Chain Risk Maps’ for further information.
Here is an example of a simple Delivery Chain Map, this should be supplemented with details of funding flows to downstream partners, activities undertaken by partners, lines of accountability and responsibility, key risks identified for individual partners and controls and mitigations.

Required Upload 5: Gantt chart or Project Management Plan

The Gantt chart or project management plan should make it clear to readers how your plans will be delivered over the duration of the project, with responsibilities, critical milestones and key deliverables clearly set out and relate to the key milestones/deliverables and success criteria as set out within the Detailed Research Plan section.

Suggested headings may include:

  • Ref no
  • Task/Activity description
  • Key Deliverables/ Milestones/Information Required/Tasks
  • Lead(s)
  • Lead(sYear/month (column for each month of project))

 

Required Upload 6: References

Please list all references cited in the application, using either the Vancouver or Harvard referencing conventions. This will be limited to 2 pages.


Optional uploads:

Optional Upload 1: Letters of support from Co-Applicants and other major contributors

Applicants must use this upload type for Co-Applicants, or other major contributors included in the application. A letter of support is required from each Co-Applicant  institution (one per institution), which must give clear agreement of the institutions intention to participate in the study and their agreement to supply space, facilities and the time required for the person to carry out the work activities outlined in the application.

Optional Upload 2: Letter of support from the Contracted Joint Lead Applicant

Applicants must use this upload type for a letter of support from the contracted Joint Lead Applicant which must give clear agreement of the institutions intention to participate in the study and their agreement to supply space, facilities and the time required for the person to carry out the work activities outlined in the application.

Optional Upload 3: Additional letters of support

Applicants may upload a limited number additional letters (recommend not more than 5, additional to those specifically requested) that give significant weight to the application. Please be highly selective and only include those that have the potential to significantly influence the assessors of your application.

Optional Upload 4: Flow Chart

Applicants may supply and upload a flow diagram illustrating the study design and the flow of participants.

Optional Upload 5: Logic Model

Applicants may supply and upload a logic model underpinning the research; a graphic depiction of the relationships between an intervention's components and the intended outcomes. A suggested resource is Public Health England's 'Introduction to logic models'.

Optional Upload 6: Figures

Applicants may upload any figures that are required to illustrate their proposed research.

Optional Upload 7:  Draft Theory of Change

Applicants may include a draft Theory of Change which should be developed with stakeholders and outline how the funded activities are expected to contribute to a chain of results that lead to the intended scale up of impacts on policy and practice.

Refer to core guidance section ‘Dissemination, Outputs and anticipated Impact’ for full guidance.

Optional Upload 8: Draft Risk Register

Applicants can include a detailed risk management matrix. The draft risk management matrix should show the potential risks, impact and steps to mitigate those risks. A mutually agreed risk register and schedule of milestones and deliverables will be critical tools in informing our approach to monitoring.

Refer to core guidance section ‘Approach to Risk Management and Assurance’ for full guidance.

Optional Upload 9: Draft collaboration or sub-contract agreements

Applicants may upload draft agreements if they are available at the time of application.

Refer to core guidance section ‘Research Contract and Collaboration Agreements’ for full guidance.

Acknowledgment and Conflict(s)

Conflict checks (limit 2000 characters)

Please declare any conflicts or potential conflicts of interest that you or your Co-Applicants may have in undertaking this research, including any relevant, non-personal and commercial interest that could be perceived as a conflict of interest.

Potential conflicts of interest exist when a relevant or secondary interest which if not declared may lead to a perception of bias, embarrass, or put the credibility of the NIHR, the programme or the individual at risk.

Potential Conflicts of interest:

Personal financial: This includes where an Applicant, their partner or close family member, have a financial or commercial interest in the research through other employment, honoraria, contracts, academic collaborations where income has been personally received or attributed, consultancies, directorships, shares.

Personal non-financial: This includes where an Applicant, their partner or close family member have a non-financial or unremunerated involvement with organisations, such as directorships of companies or organisations honorary contracts, unpaid academic collaborations, memberships, charities, Trustees, membership of political or pressure groups.

Other Interests: Other interests not mentioned above, but which you consider could be perceived to lead to a conflict of interest.

Agreement to the Terms and Conditions

I have read and understood the terms and conditions on which I have been nominated as Chief Investigator (UK administrative Joint Lead) for this proposal along with the associated documentation and accept this role.

Checklist of information to include when submitting a NIHR Global Health Research application

Applicants should click the check boxes to indicate that they have included the necessary information prior to submitting their application.

  • A clear Scientific Abstract
  • A good quality Plain English Summary
  • A clear description of team member roles and contribution, including identification of named leads for project management, Training, Community Engagement and Involvement, Data Management, and Monitoring Evaluation and Learning.
  • Appropriate and relevant involvement of Community Engagement and Involvement, patients/service user, carers and the public
  • A clear justification of costs / value for money
  • A full and accurate detailed budget breakdown (document upload)
  • A clear Detailed Research Plan outlining the study design, methods, dissemination etc (document upload)
  • Letter of support from non-contracted Joint Lead (document upload)
  • Delivery Risk Chain Map (document upload)
  • Gantt chart (document upload)
  • References (maximum 2 pages of A4 - document upload)
  • The support and agreement from the necessary supporting roles / signatories required for institutional sign-off
  • Optional uploads:
    • Letters of support from Co-Applicants and other major contributors
    • Letter of support from the Contracted Joint Lead Applicant
    • Additional letters of support (up to 5)
    • Flow Chart
    • Logic Models
    • Figures
    • Draft Theory of Change
    • Draft Risk Register
    • Draft collaboration or sub-contract agreements

Review and Submit

Once the validation status of your application contains no red crosses, you will be able to submit. You will not see a Submit button until that time.

Yellow exclamations are to draw your attention to information that you may wish to include but have not, they will not stop you submitting your form.

Once you have submitted your form you need to ‘notify’ your signatories so they can complete their final sign off tasks. When you log onto MIS click the ‘view all my tasks’ tab and click your application, you will be taken to the main application screen where you will see the signatories listed press ‘notify’ next to each. This will send a task which they are required to submit

Contact Us

For enquiries about this call, please e-mail us at nihrglobalhealth@nihr.ac.uk

or call +44 (0)23 8059 1859

Postal address:

NIHR Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre

University of Southampton, Alpha House

Enterprise Road, Southampton, SO16 7NS 

Annex 1

Delivery chain risk map

NIHR requires a delivery chain risk map to:

  • Understand how funding flows from the contractor to downstream delivery partners and the roles each partner has in achieving programme outcome(s).
  • Capture and manage risks that could affect programme outcomes.
  • Ensure risks are being managed by those best placed to do so.
  • Strengthen programme management capacity and programme delivery.
  • Respond quickly and efficiently to requests for information about funding the specific organisations, in a time of increased scrutiny.

Please see an example of a delivery chain map for more information

The Delivery Chain map should clearly outline the full details on the funding flows from the contractor (blue arrows), and include accountability and reporting lines (using red arrows arrows) and boxes outlining a) the key risks identified for each of the delivery chain partners and b) relevant risk controls and mitigating actions. (An example of such a Delivery Chain Risk map can be found in DFID Smart guide to delivery chain mapping (.PDF) (Annex B)). Please also refer to core guidance section on 'Delivery Chain Risk Maps'. These documents should be updated at least annually and will be used to support programme management and monitoring, helping all those involved in programme delivery remain alert to new and emerging risks and it is the responsibility of the contract to report any emerging changes to NIHR.