Applicant Guidance for NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities

Published: 13 March 2024

Version: 2.0 April 2024

Introduction

This document sets out the detailed process for a new open competition for Membership of the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities consortium and invites eligible institutions/collaborations in the UK to submit an application. The NIHR Challenge consortium will bring together leading institutions/collaborations across the UK demonstrating excellence in maternity inequalities research, capacity building and place emphasis on what works practically and can be applied across the whole country to implement a step change in maternal health outcomes. The consortium will complement existing NIHR funding streams and be expected to synergise with existing NIHR investments.

Selection to NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities consortium will be via a two-stage process:

Stage 1 – The first stage will select the institutional members/collaborations to form the consortium. This call invites those institutions/collaborations in the UK able to demonstrate excellence in maternity inequalities research and research capacity development to submit an application;

Stage 2 – Involves all successful members/collaborations of the consortium from Stage 1 in the development of a shared work plan, detailing the future research and capacity building programme of the consortium over the five year period.

Over five years, funding in the region of up to £50 million will be available to support the consortium in these functions. This large investment is designed to lead to a step change and measurable improvement in maternity inequalities across several themes.

Background

The NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities launched in March 2024, to bring together a diverse consortium, funding research and capacity building. The aim is to increase the evidence base and develop the next generation of researchers to address maternity inequalities, facilitating a multidisciplinary whole systems approach to address uncertainties across research, innovation and implementation.

The consortium, drawing upon members as well as external collaborators, will work together and undertake research to identify, assess and evaluate how all parts of the health and care system (including initiatives in community and voluntary services, social care, public health, primary and secondary care) can work effectively to reduce the impact of inequalities on maternal health and lead to better outcomes.

It is expected that the research consortium funded through this call will ultimately result in a unified approach to increase the evidence base and develop the next generation of researchers to understand what are the most effective and cost effective interventions to reduce maternal inequalities including facilitating the pathway to implementation and associated knowledge mobilization activities.

Aims and scope of NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities

The aim of the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities is to increase the evidence base to reduce the impact of inequalities on maternal health and lead to better outcomes

The purpose of the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities is to:

Bring together a diverse consortium membership, funding research and capacity building, to increase the evidence base to address today’s maternity inequalities and develop the next generation of researchers. Capacity building in this area in the consortium will be as important as the research.
Determine the priority theme topics within maternity inequalities, drawing upon ongoing and recent activity in this area, and develop and conduct high-quality innovative research to understand and address them
Undertake large scale integrated transformative projects spanning the entire research innovation pathway, with associated KPIs, to drive measurable improvements against each research theme
Provide a focus for maternity inequalities within the NIHR, as well as provide strategic leadership for the development of maternity inequalities research more generally
Develop methodological rigor and broaden the methodological repertoire, including bringing into maternity inequalities research a number of disciplinary perspectives currently under represented
Ensure research is undertaken where the need is and will have the greatest impact where the need is greatest
Provide a programme of capacity building awards and opportunities for multidisciplinary training and career development that contribute to ongoing efforts to build research capacity and improve research awareness. Capacity building and training opportunities should be built into the consortium such that the training needs of all staff in the consortium are considered and supported
Disseminate findings and support other knowledge transfer activities

In its nature, the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities will:

Comprise leading academic centers of maternity inequalities research and other related relevant disciplines, working in collaboration with other relevant organisations, across the UK
Draw in expertise outside of the consortium membership from a range of collaborators which could include knowledge mobilization, implementation, industry, practice, community, local authority, charity, and third sector partners spanning a wide geography
Build a closer relationship between maternity inequalities researchers and practitioners
Inform the future development of practice and ensure the findings are implementable in the current delivery system.
Attract, develop and support a cohort of maternity inequalities researchers from a broad range of under-represented disciplines and backgrounds in research
Promote and advance Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity in research subjects and in the research community itself.
Provide evidence to inform decision-making and best practice
Complement existing NIHR programmes and projects and actively seek collaboration with existing NIHR Infrastructure and other NIHR investments
Be directed by co-leads working with a consortium Executive Group (formed from successful consortium organisation members) and be responsible for the day-to-day running of the NIHR Challenge

Eligibility

To achieve Membership of the consortium, organisations will need to have a track-record of world-leading research within an area relevant to tackling maternity inequalities as well as a strong track record of developing research capacity. Organisations based in the UK and conducting relevant research with an expected benefit for the population of the UK will be accepted for consideration. Applications must be led by a university. While organisations are eligible to apply as a single organisation they are strongly encouraged to apply as a small collaboration with other organisations (approximately 2-4 members in total) which could include a mixture of: less established organisations, industry, practice, community, local authority, charity, and third sector, especially involving organisations where the need is greatest and where populations have been historically under-served.

We expect collaborative applications led by an organisation to fairly and proportionally involve their partners in the application and, if selected for the consortium, in the activity undertaken by the consortium.

Only one bid is allowed from each organisation whether as lead or collaborator.

Funding

Over five years, funding of up to £50m will be available to support the consortium. This will be split across research and capacity building, however the specific split will be agreed as part of the stage 2 process. In addition, the consortium will be expected to use its funding to involve organisations external to the consortium, where appropriate.

Funding for research projects will be up to 80% FEC. Funding for capacity building will be up to 80% including FEC if proposing any PhD or Post-doctoral awards. If proposing any studentships or pre-doctoral level awards, funding will be at 100% of direct costs but no FEC. These will be negotiated via the stage 2 process.

A portion of the overall funding will be allocated to the successful consortium for the administration of the NIHR Challenge.

The indicative budget over five years (to be confirmed as part of stage 2):

24/25: £5m
25/26: £10m
26/27: £10m
27/28: £10m
28/29: £10m
29/30: £5m

Continuation of funding over the five-year contract period will depend upon satisfactory performance, as determined by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Please note that non-research costs such as estates and capital investment are out of scope for this award.

The organisations selected to join the consortium will be allowed to badge themselves as members of the NIHR Challenge on maternity inequalities.

Selection process and timeframe

The Membership of the NIHR Challenge consortium will be selected via an open competition.

The funding call will be a two stage process where stage 1 selects the individual organisations/collaborations to join the consortium. Only one bid is allowed from each organisation whether as lead or collaborator. The successful organisations/collaborations will then come together at stage 2 and develop the detailed work plan of transformative research and capacity building activity over the five year period as the NIHR Challenge consortium. Between stage 1 and 2 a process to select the co-leads of the consortium will occur.

Stage 1

Application forms will be submitted by organisations/collaborations and will be assessed by an independent expert selection committee, which will provide recommendations as to which applicants should go forward as members of the consortium. Members will be confirmed by the DHSC.

The application form will ask organisations/collaborations to:

Provide an overview of their existing research activity relevant to tackling maternity inequalities.
Include details on the research team and evidence that they are at the forefront of their field and how they will include and develop emerging research leaders.
Describe an innovative research strategy explaining how the organisations/collaborations will support the NIHR Challenge consortium and help meet the overall aims of the NIHR Challenge consortium.
Detail their approach to capacity building and support for attracting, developing and supporting individuals in their research and also detail how staff in the consortium will be supported with training opportunities and career development.
Provide evidence of how they have developed collaborations and strategic partnerships.
Evidence of impact they have had on policy and practice relevant to maternity inequalities.
Detail their approach to patient, public and community involvement and engagement and research inclusion.
Provide a summary of their previous research funding and outputs relevant to their proposed contribution to the maternity inequalities consortium.

Successful members of the consortium at this stage will each receive development/partnership funding (up to £50k) to facilitate their entry into the consortium and establish links with other consortium members.This funding may also be used for some initial rapid scoping activity.

Co-lead selection

The consortium will be directed by co-leads each sharing responsibility for leading the consortium. The co-leads will provide leadership and be accountable for the day-to-day operations.

Each successful application selected to join the consortium will be invited to nominate one candidate for co-lead. Candidates put forward will be interviewed and selected by DHSC.

Stage 2

The second stage will involve the development of a shared work business plan by all successful consortium members selected at stage 1. The plan will set out in detail the future research and capacity building programme of the consortium. The members will work together to formulate this innovative plan, describing activities and the resources needed to support these. The work plan will be submitted to the DHSC for approval and be reviewed by an external Delivery Group configured by the NIHR. Once this work plan has been approved by the DHSC, contracts will be signed, applicants will become full members of the consortium and the research and capacity building activities will commence.

Two contracts with one covering research and one covering capacity building will be signed with the co-leads. The co-lead will be responsible for organising sub-agreements with the wider consortium members and ensuring funding flows fairly and appropriately to enable delivery of the research and capacity building programme of work.

Timeframe

The timetable will be as follows:

13 March 2024 – NIHR invites applications from suitably qualified organisations
22 May 2024 – Application submission deadline
June 2024 – independent expert selection committee reviews applications and provides recommendations to the DHSC on the Membership of the consortium
July 2024 – The DHSC confirms selection of consortium members
July - September 2024 - Successful members of the consortium will each receive development/partnership funding (up to £50k) to facilitate their entry into the consortium and establish links with other consortium members
July-September 2024 - Interviews and co-leads selection process
September 2024 to January 2025 – Work plan development
2025 – Contracting process initiated
2025- Commencement of research activity

Selection criteria

The selection criteria at stage 1 will be:

The range and quality of relevant world-leading research relevant to tackling maternity inequalities and researchers at the organisation/across the collaboration.
The critical mass of expertise in maternity inequalities research and related disciplines.
The strength of the proposed collaboration (if applicable) and plans for appropriately distributing the funds within the collaboration.
The existing research capacity and plans for increasing research capacity; including evidence of commitment to training and career development progression at all career stages.
Evidence that the institution is committed to build research capacity over the award period and beyond to include:
- in line with what is needed in maternity inequalities and
- in broadening out to professions and communities that have traditionally had a low research base.
Evidence that the organisation/collaboration will provide a supportive environment for early and mid career researchers, including evidence that they have considered and taken account of issues related to equality, diversity and inclusion in supporting individuals research careers.
Evidence of the organisation/collaboration of collaborating with external researchers, organisations, decision makers, patients, public and the community, and practitioners to develop better evidence and achieve wider impact for maternity inequalities research.
The strength of prospective members’ strategic and ambitious plans to develop maternity inequalities research and capacity building, both within the consortium and more widely.
The strength of the strategic plan for patient, public and community involvement and engagement and research inclusion.
The relevance of the research for the broader stakeholders, such as local authorities, policy officials and other appropriate bodies.
The potential impact of the research, in relation to practice and policy.

The DHSC will determine the consortium co-leads based on the above criteria. The co-leads will need to demonstrate leadership and be at the forefront of their field, whilst their organisation will provide evidence of the above criteria and the ability to manage the contract successfully.

Research culture and equality, inclusion and diversity

The NIHR expects the consortium members to be advocates of best practice and driving change to improve the culture of research. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate how they and the consortium will support this agenda.

The consortium aims to support and advance equality of opportunities for persons with relevant protected characteristics including; age, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. Applicants to the consortium will be expected to demonstrate throughout their application how the protected characteristics have been considered and addressed, including steps taken to ensure the programme does not perpetuate or exacerbate inequalities and, where appropriate, will seek to mitigate risks that could affect any of the protected characteristics. We expect applicants to demonstrate how they are supporting greater equity of opportunities through capacity building and training offered and wish to encourage applicants to consider the diversity of representation in their leadership and governance structures. This will be considered as part of the overall assessment process.

The consortium will be required to submit a fully developed Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity strategy within 6 months from the contract start date. The NIHR INCLUDE project has issued guidance on improving inclusion of under-served groups in research that applicants may wish to consider.

While not a requirement for consortium funding, applicants may wish to refer to the principles and best practice outlined within relevant Charters and Concordats in these areas, such as the Researcher Development Concordat and Advance HE’s Equality Charters.

Submitting the application

Institutions that are interested in being considered for the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities should complete and submit the online form which is available on the Research Management System. Applicants must be registered on the RMS within two weeks of the closing date.

Please adhere to the word limits stated within the form. Only information submitted up to this word limit can be assessed.

All supporting documents should be completed in font no smaller than 10-point Arial.

Accessing the Form

View the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities funding opportunity post
Select the “apply now” button, which will redirect you to the Research Management System.
Follow the link to the online application system and follow the instructions on the screen

Pre-submission and submission reference number

While preparing your application, and until such time as you submit, a randomly generated pre-submission number will be assigned to your entry online. You should note this number down as you may need it for any subsequent enquiries whilst the call is open.

Once you have successfully submitted your form, a formal NIHR Challenge specific reference number for your application will be generated that will be unique to your submission. This will take the form of a standard reference (NIHRXXXX).

Submitting your application

Please make sure that all fields have been completed and that all supporting documents are attached. After completing your application, follow the submission checklist below to submit your forms to NIHR.

Submission Checklist:

Ensure that all fields have been completed
Ensure that all supporting documents are named appropriately
Attach supporting documents to the application
Ensure supporting documents render properly in the PDF

Upon submission you will receive an automated email confirming successful delivery of your application and providing you with an application reference number. It is important to make a note of this number as you will need it for any enquiries. If your application is successful, this reference number will stay with the programme for its lifetime.

Your application will be checked by the NIHR to ensure that all elements comprising the application have been received; you will then receive a second email confirming that it is complete. Please keep this second confirmation email as evidence that your completed application has been received. If you do not receive this email within two working days of submission of your application, please contact the NIHR.

Please note that while the confirmation email reaffirms that all documents comprising the application have been submitted, and that all mandatory fields have been completed, it does not guarantee that it meets the requirements of the assessment process. A live document containing frequently asked questions about the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities competition will be available soon on the NIHR website.

We wish to ensure that applicants fully understand what is needed in their applications before submission. We are therefore very happy to respond to requests for clarification from the application lead or their nominated person. We cannot, of course, provide advice on what an applicant should say or how they should say it.

Members of the selection committee are bound by confidentiality and are not able to discuss this scheme with applicants. Any enquiries should be sent to the NIHR at nihrchallenge@nihr.ac.uk

If you have submitted the wrong version of a document, please let us know and we can return the application for you to attach the correct version. You will be permitted to resubmit the application up until the submission deadline.

Submission deadline

The deadline for submitting the application is Wednesday 22 May 2024 at 1:00pm.

Completing the application form

Applicants wishing to be considered for Membership of the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities consortium will be expected to submit an application demonstrating their excellence in conducting maternity inequalities research.

These notes are intended to provide an overview only and applicants should note that the application form provides focused online guidance prompts.

Please also note that you must use the correct online application form for the competition.

The application will need to set out:

Details of the proposed NIHR Challenge member

Please provide details of the applying institution/collaboration, and its head to include:

NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities member name. This should start with ‘NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities’ and the name of the organisation or collaboration.
The proposed organisation/collaboration lead for this application.
Is this a consortium bid? Please respond yes or no. If yes; please list the members of this consortium.

Please note, if you search for an organisation and it does not come up automatically within the RMS, this means that the organisation is not yet registered in our system and we need to add it manually. Please send the full organisation name and the company house number.to nihrchallenge@nihr.ac.uk so we can add them. Please note, it can take up to 48 hours to register an organisation, therefore we recommend requesting this with plenty of time. We cannot guarantee that late requests will be actioned before the call close.

Summary of application

Please summarise (in no more than 750 words) the background and aims of the proposal, the goals and objectives of the proposed NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities member, and the potential impact the proposal will have when delivered.

This section should highlight key messages and ambitious ideas within the application. It should also indicate why your institution/collaboration should be included as a member of the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities consortium.

This summary should be written in plain English and aimed at members of the public, rather than researchers or professionals. It should be written clearly and simply, without jargon and with an explanation of any technical terms that have to be included. If we feel that your summary is not clear and of a good quality, then you may be required to amend your summary prior to any final approval of funding.

It is helpful to involve care users/ carers / members of the public in developing a summary in plain English. For further guidance on writing a plain english summary please visit the NIHR website or contact the NIHR Research Support Service.

Overview of existing research activity relevant to tackling maternity inequalities

Please provide (in no more than 1,400 words) an overview of:

The range and quality of world-leading research relevant to maternity inequalities at
your institution/collaboration
The existing strengths and track record of the proposed member/collaboration in conducting research relevant to maternity inequalities, as well as developing research capacity
The track record of the institution/collaboration in translating research into benefits for patients, care users, carers, public and the community
Any evidence of the institution/collaboration working to identify and tackle high priority areas relevant to maternity inequalities to support policy makers and practitioners
Evidence of working in partnership with other organisations and institutions to develop the field of research relevant to tackling maternity inequalities

Researchers

This section should provide (in no more than 2,500 words) an overview of:

The names of the key researchers within your proposed research team (along with whole time equivalents) who will be actively involved in a successful proposal
Evidence that your proposed research team has a sustainable staff structure for supporting high quality maternity inequalities research, developing research capacity, as well as for the day-to-day management of the NIHR Challenge consortium.
Details of the unique expertise relevant to maternity inequalities research and capacity building that your proposed research team will bring to the NIHR Challenge consortium.
Details of the unique expertise relevant to maternity inequalities research and capacity building that your proposed research team will bring to the NIHR Challenge consortium
Where possible, inclusion of a named researcher considered to be an emerging leader and the support senior colleagues will provide to this person.
Concise curriculum vitae for up to five key research leads associated with the application need to be completed (note: the assessing selection committee will take into account that any named person from a broader non-research background won’t necessarily be able to complete details on publications and previous grants, however they are expected to describe what they bring to the consortium in section 3 of the CV template).

N.B. The key researchers should not change from submission of this application until contracting, except in exceptional circumstances. Should any changes to key staff be required, then they will be reassessed by the selection committee and DHSC.

All researchers are expected to make a substantive contribution to the NIHR Challenge consortium.

Please note completed CVs for the 5 key researchers are a mandatory requirement for submission. Please download the CV template from the supporting documents section to complete and upload to the application as 5 separate supporting documents.

Research team

The leadership and expertise of the research leads associated with this application should be clearly demonstrated and include:

Evidence that they are at the forefront of their field
Evidence of their ability to influence practice
Their track record in terms of (a) publication output, (b) success in attracting external research funding and (c) conducting successful and useful research relevant to maternity inequalities (d) developing research capacity
Their capacity to be fully involved with the work of the consortium and ability to collaborate effectively with other institutions
Evidence of experience of commissioning research

The breadth of the wider research team within the organisation/collaboration should be described and key individuals listed, especially any from outside of a university, as well as evidence of a sustainable structure to support the consortium and manage the contract.

The whole section should not exceed 2500 words.

%FTE commitment

Please also specify the amount of time (either as a percentage or proportion of a full time equivalent (FTE)) that 5 key researchers will devote to the research.

NOTE: Full-Time Equivalency (FTE): percentage of full-time hours per week. The combined percentage FTE of the 5 key researchers should be approximately 100%

Research strategy

Please provide (in no more than 3000 words) the overall strategy to act as a center of excellence in maternity inequalities research, including evaluations, and details of future strategic aims and goals. This section should briefly describe:

Details of specific transformative short (1-2 years), medium (2-3 years) and long term (4-5 years) objectives and activities and how they fit into the overall aims of the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities.
How the institution/collaboration will support the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities in delivering its objectives.
How the institution/collaboration will involve users, carers and practitioners in the proposed research programme.
What the institution/collaboration currently does, and will plan to do in future, if selected as a consortium member, to ensure that equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are embedded throughout all activity. Further information on the NIHR's commitment to EDI
How the institution/collaboration will translate advances in maternity inequalities research into benefits for service users, carers and practitioners and a material reduction in inequality.
How the institution/collaboration will provide high quality research evidence to underpin policy and practice to reduce maternity inequalities.
How the institution/collaboration will share research expertise and opportunities to increase capacity and opportunities in non-consortium member organisations.

Research capacity

Please describe (in no more than 2,000 words):

Existing research capacity of the institution/collaboration, to include:
- facilities, support and infrastructure that the institution/collaboration can provide, including facilities for research students.
- research and training posts for researchers at all stages of the career pathway.
- evidence of research capacity development impact including career progression data.
How the institution/collaboration will build research capacity over the award period and beyond, to include:
- in line with what is needed in maternity inequalities, with a view to building research capacity and capability at key stages of the research career pathway, as well as within relevant sectors and in locations/places where the burden of maternity inequalities is high, and;
- in broadening out to professions (with a view to supporting future research leaders from a range of professional groups/disciplines related to maternity inequalities, including midwives, health visitors, public health professionals, community nursing, methodologists etc.); and communities that have traditionally had a low research base.
How the institution/collaboration will provide a supportive environment for early and mid career researchers, including evidence that they have considered and taken account of issues related to equality, diversity and inclusion in supporting individuals research careers.
What partnerships, linkages with practice and wider capacity building support the institution/collaboration would bring to the consortium.
The institution/collaboration’s contribution to the principle of strengthening capacity development of other organisations beyond the core consortium membership.
The proposed leadership mechanisms that will have oversight of the capacity building work and how these feed into local management and governance structures.

Collaboration and strategic partnerships

Please describe (in no more than 1,400 words) the applicants’ track record of working collaboratively, and future plans to work collaboratively, and more widely, with others in maternity inequalities. In addition, please explain the applicants’ contribution to each of the collaborations described. This section should include:

Existing collaborations and future plans for collaborative work with other researchers outside the institution/collaboration, whether locally, nationally, or internationally which you consider relevant to this application.
Existing strategic partnerships, particularly with stakeholders in local organisations on locally defined needs, and the other sectors which you consider relevant to this application. Please also describe the strategy to develop new partnerships that will benefit the consortium.
Existing collaborations and future plans for synergistic work with other disciplines relevant to maternity inequalities.
Existing links and also future plans to form strong links with stakeholders, such as local practice, other institutions and evidence users
Please describe how you will resource manage and monitor impact on new collaborative work.

Impact on practice and policy relevant to tackling maternity inequalities

Please describe (in no more than 1,400 words):

The impact of the proposed research team’s research and capacity building programme of work, particularly in relation to practice or policy relevant to tackling maternity inequalities in the UK. Please include specific examples which demonstrate and articulate evidence of the impact.
The strategy taken by the proposed research team to achieve impact from its research and capacity building programme of work, as well as the approach to communicating/disseminating results to different audiences.

Patient, Public and Community Involvement and Engagement (PPIE)

The NIHR places a significant importance on the involvement of members of the public in the research it supports. Involvement, engagement and participation in research are distinct but often interrelated activities. Please use NIHR’s definitions of ‘involvement’, ‘engagement’ and ‘participation’ to differentiate between these areas in your response.

Please describe (in no more than 1,400 words) the institution’s/collaboration’s track record and future plans for patient, public and community involvement and engagement in research. This section should include a summary of:

The institution’s strategic objectives for patient, public and community involvement and engagement; including the approach that will be taken to achieve diversity and inclusion of public members including those from underserved communities.
Programme(s) of activity to deliver the strategic objectives attending to inclusive opportunities for involvement and engagement across the research themes and the organisational structure of the institution itself.
Resources that the institution commits to delivering the programme of PPIE activities; Please consider what resources you will put in place to support novel involvement and engagement mechanisms such as community engagement, digital engagement, training for PPIE representatives or other models that broaden reach.
Relevant strategic and operational partnerships and collaborations.
Processes for monitoring and review that includes capturing examples of impact.
Leadership mechanisms that ensure progress in delivering the plans feed into the management and governance processes of the institution, and attending to lay involvement in governance.

NOTE: Further information and resources are available from NIHR; the NIHR Research Support Service provides advice on applications and the James Lind Alliance has a step-by-step guidebook on involvement in research identification and priority setting.

External research funding

The volume and source of relevant external research funding received by the institution/collaboration provides an indication of the quality and scale of research relevant to maternity inequalities conducted and the capacity to leverage external sources of research funding.

Please provide details of the external research funding received by the applying institution/collaboration for research relevant to maternity inequalities from 01 April 2019 to 31 March 2024. Please provide details of the research funder, administering organisation, award title, Principal Investigator, start and end dates and the amount awarded to the applying institution.

Please download and complete the template provided on RMS. This should then be attached to the application as a supporting document using the Attach feature on RMS.

Publications

The number and nature of publications produced by the proposed research team provides an important indication of the research productivity and quality in the relevant research field. We are particularly interested in publications and outputs that have directly impacted policy and practice. Please provide:

A list of 10 relevant publications for each member of the proposed research team included in the application (maximum 50 publications total) from 01 April 2019 to 31 March 2024 inclusive. We ask that each member of the proposed research team provide 3 examples of influential publications or outputs and explain how and why these outputs were influential, then list up to 7 publications or outputs that you consider to be the most relevant to maternity inequalities research.

The selection committee will contextualize the publication data by reviewing these alongside the Curriculum Vitae submitted.

On RMS, please download and complete the template provided. This should then be attached to the application as a supporting document using the Attach feature on RMS.

Supporting documentation

The following supporting files are mandatory for submission, please Attach using the template provided on RMS.

Curriculum vitae for each of the five key research leads

Please note that all supporting documentation uploaded should be given concise and clear filename descriptions. These should be headed by a numbered ‘Appendix’ and a brief filename description that clearly describes the file (e.g. Appendix 1_CV surname).

No more than 5 separate files are permitted. The total file size should not exceed 5Mb. Total file sizes larger than this may not be considered as part of this submission.

We strongly recommend that only .doc or .pdf files are uploaded as some file types are not supported by the system (such as .xls and .zip file types which will not render out into the final version of the application form). Should you wish to upload documents of other file types, we encourage you to check that they appear in the PDF of the application form prior to submission as changes cannot be made after the deadline has passed.

Declarations and signatures

COI Declaration

Applicants are asked to declare any conflicts or potential conflicts of interest that any of the researchers may have, including any facts that, should they come to light at a future date, could lead to a perception of bias. Include any relevant personal, non-personal & commercial interest that could be perceived as a conflict of interest, examples include (this list is not all encompassing) secondary employment, consultancy, financial or commercial gain (pensions, shareholdings, directorships, voting rights), honoraria, etc. In a case of commercial sector involvement with the application or the study, please state clearly the relationship to ownership of data, access to data, and membership of project oversight groups.

Institution Representative

Applicants are asked to name the appropriate institution representative (host approver) e.g. Senior Manager, Director of Research, Grants and Contracts Manager, or Vice Chancellor stating that they fully endorse the application and that appropriate support will be provided to the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities consortium, should the application be successful.

In signing this, the host approver confirms that they have read this application and that, if successful, the work will be accommodated and administered in the named organisation and that the organisation is capable of fulfilling the role of research sponsor as set out in the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research. The host approver also confirms that the applicants for whom you are responsible may undertake this work.

The applying organisation will comply with all NIHR research governance initiatives, including uptake of NIHR Research Support Services and use of model research agreements/contracts.

The institution representative authorising the application must approve the application and check the access controlled box below before it can be submitted. The host approver must open the application by clicking ‘Edit’ and tick the access controlled checkbox on the declaration and signatures page in addition to approving the application on the summary page before it can be submitted. The application will not be valid until both steps have been completed.

Validation summary

Confidentiality

Applications are considered confidential by the NIHR and all reasonable steps are taken to ensure that this confidentiality is not breached. Further information and guidance can be found within the Confidentiality and Disclosure Guidance Document.

Validation

This section will display all the outstanding fields you will need to ‘validate’ as requested. Once complete the 'Submit' button becomes available and is then used.

Please follow the next steps in order to complete your application submission process;

Validate all mandatory/required fields listed below (that are required to be completed/amended) before submitting
Check all supporting documents have been completed, attached and render properly in the PDF
Click 'Save and Close'
Click the 'Submit' option (this must be completed by 1pm, 22 May 2024).

You will receive an automated email containing the acknowledgment that we have received your application.

If there are no validation requirements above you may be ready to submit the application. To do so 'Save and Close' the application and then click 'Submit'.

Any questions about the completion of the form should be directed to the NIHR at nihrchallenge@nihr.ac.uk.

Other information

Corporate identity

Successful applicants will be required to comply with NIHR identity guidelines, or any other guidelines as may be issued from time to time by the DHSC, in respect to all communications issued by the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities.

Monitoring and performance management

Appropriate arrangements will be established to advise the DHSC on the strategic direction and performance of the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities.

The DHSC will review the performance of the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities, and its constituent members, regularly against the workplan. The continuation of a member institution as a member of the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities will be dependent on satisfactory performance, as judged by the DHSC.

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