Biomedical Research Centres - Stage 1 Application Guidance

Introduction

The mission of the NIHR is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. NIHR delivers against this mission through six core workstreams:

1. Fund, support and deliver high quality research
2. Engage and involve patients, carers and the public
3. Attract, train and support the best researchers
4. Invest in world-class infrastructure and a skilled delivery workforce
5. Partner with other public funders, charities and industry
6. Global health research activities

The NIHR’s sustained investment in people, facilities and technology has transformed the health and care system’s ability to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services. This infrastructure supports research funded by NIHR and by our partners.

The NIHR has launched a new, two-stage, open competition to designate and fund NIHR Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) in England. NIHR BRCs undertake high-quality early translational and experimental research. The aim is to translate scientific breakthroughs with potential to develop into new treatments, diagnostics and medical technologies for the benefit of patients, the public, and the health and care system. This competition represents the fourth round of funding for the NIHR BRC scheme since it was established in 2007/8.

This document sets out the process for the competition and invites single NHS organisations working in partnership with a single university (that is, any Higher Education Institution) to submit an application. A summary of each stage is provided below.

Stage 1: NHS/university partnerships in England are invited to submit a short application. An International Selection Committee will review the applications received and make recommendations to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on which NHS/university partnerships should be shortlisted and invited to submit a full application at Stage 2.

Stage 2: A full application, which must include details of the proposed strategy and research programme, is invited from each shortlisted partnership. Each proposed research Theme will undergo peer review to inform the decision of the International Selection Committee. Following interviews with applicants, the committee will make recommendations to DHSC as to which partnerships should be awarded NIHR BRC designation, and the level of funding.

Aim of the Scheme

The scheme provides NIHR BRC funding for NHS/university partnerships in England that have a substantial portfolio of internationally competitive early translational and experimental medicine research across either a range of clinical or research areas, or in a specific clinical or research area. The aim of the NIHR BRC scheme is to:

• drive innovation in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of ill-health through early translational and experimental medicine research;
• translate advances from research into benefits for patients and the public, the health and care system and for broader economic gain; and
• provide a key component of the NHS contribution to our nation’s international competitiveness.

The NIHR will designate BRCs and provide substantial levels of sustained funding to

• create an environment where scientific endeavour can thrive, attract the foremost talent and produce world-class outputs; and
• support a critical mass of people and infrastructure focused on biomedical innovation and early translational and experimental medicine research for the benefit of patients and the public, the health and care system and for broader economic gain.

NIHR BRC designation will be awarded to single NHS/university partnerships that demonstrate internationally competitive excellence across a substantial early translational and experimental medicine research portfolio. Successful partnerships will demonstrate existing critical mass relevant to the proposed themes - with a significant number of research leaders, a range of underpinning facilities and data/informatics capabilities.

Selection Criteria

An International Selection Committee will be established to provide assurance to DHSC that designated and funded NIHR BRCs demonstrate the capability to meet the aims of the scheme. They will review applications and make recommendations on the basis of the following selection criteria:

• the strength of the strategic plan; including a clear demonstration of patient and public involvement and plans to deliver improvements in research culture;
• existing research capacity and capability, and plans for increasing capacity including through the provision of training which supports diverse career paths and promotes equality, diversity and inclusion;
• the quality and breadth of world leading experimental medicine and early translational research; with a proven ability to translate findings from discovery research into translational and clinical research to benefit patients and the public, the health and care system, and for broader economic gain;
• the strength of the strategic partnerships, including those with industry, charities, and other NHS organisations/universities, NIHR-funded research infrastructure, and a demonstrable track record of collaborative working;
• the contribution of the research portfolio to the health of patients and the public, including a demonstration that research is following patient need and reflects the diversity of the population (including support for research activities being conducted in areas with the greatest disease burden in collaboration with local investigators);
• value for money.  

The overarching NIHR principles of transparency and contestability relating to NIHR funding competitions will be applied.

Eligibility Criteria

All NHS organisations in England, in collaboration with a university partner, are eligible to apply.

Applications are invited from any NHS/university partnerships that have both existing research excellence and a substantial portfolio of internationally competitive early translational and experimental medicine research. This may be across either a range of clinical or research areas or within a specific clinical or research area.

NIHR BRC designation and funding will be awarded to a single NHS organisation working in partnership with a single university. NHS/university partnerships are encouraged to collaborate with other organisations and may pass funding to them via an appropriate mechanism, such as a subcontract. In particular, the NIHR wishes to encourage collaboration with NHS organisations and/or universities that are not applying for NIHR BRC designation but that could bring additional strength and depth to the proposed Themes to strengthen and build research capacity across the country.

Multiple Submissions

Each NHS/university partnership may submit one application.

Universities acting as the academic partner in one NIHR BRC application may partner with a different NHS organisation to submit a separate application for NIHR BRC designation. This is providing the university can demonstrate existing partnerships with that NHS organisation. Each application must be unique and may not include any research activity linked to an application for a different NIHR BRC designation.

Likewise, NHS organisations acting as the NHS partner in one NIHR BRC application may partner with a different university to submit a separate application for designation, providing that they can demonstrate an existing partnership with that university. Each application must be unique, and may not include any research activity linked to an application for a different NIHR BRC designation

Where NHS/university partnerships are proposing to collaborate with other organisations, with the intention of passing funding to them, this collaboration must not include any research activity already being used to support an application for another NIHR BRC.

Scope of the Scheme

The NIHR BRC scheme provides infrastructure funding to undertake and support early translational and experimental medicine research. The programme of early translational and experimental research undertaken or supported by a NIHR BRC should aim to translate discoveries from basic/discovery science into clinical research, and through to benefits for patients and the public, the health and care system and for broader economic gain.

The scope of early translational and experimental medicine within the NIHR spans the transition between the pre-clinical/clinical boundary, from ‘first-in-human’ studies through to the equivalent of Phase II clinical trials. This would include studies that are undertaken in human participants, or using human tissues that aim to identify mechanisms of pathophysiology or disease, demonstrate proof-of-concept, or the validity of new experimental designs and approaches.

Animal research is not eligible for funding under this scheme. It is recognised that research leaders will often be working across basic, translational and clinical research and that translation is an iterative rather than a linear process, often requiring further exploratory research. NIHR BRC funding should support the human-facing elements of early-translational and experimental medicine research and alternative funding sources should be used to undertake the aspects of research requiring the use of animal models or tissues (that is, clinical research or pharmaceutical studies which require the use of animal-derived reagents or products may be supported through NIHR BRC funding)

The purpose of NIHR BRC funding is to meet research infrastructure costs incurred in carrying out a programme of early translational and experimental medicine research within approved themes. This includes the funding of staff and core research facilities. Our expectation is that each NIHR BRC will primarily underpin a significant portfolio of work supported by other research funders (e.g. Research Councils, charities, industry or other NIHR funding streams).

The NIHR BRC award may be used to meet the research costs of early translational and experimental medicine studies directly (up to the equivalent of Phase II) in human participants or human tissues in order to identify fundamental mechanisms of pathophysiology or disease, or to demonstrate proof-of-concept or the validity of new experimental designs or approaches. NHS/university partnerships will be expected to have transparent processes in place to manage, monitor and oversee the use of NIHR BRC funding for this purpose, and provide assurance to NIHR that decisions about the use of this funding have been through appropriate scrutiny. The NIHR will require visibility of all studies where the majority of funding (>50%) is met directly from the NIHR BRC award. Additional scrutiny will be required where the total value of the BRC contribution to a single majority funded study exceeds £50,000.

The expectation is that once NIHR BRC-funded early translational and experimental medicine research has been undertaken, then other sources of public, charity and/or industry funding will be found for later phase clinical research (for example later than phase IIb). Where early translational and experimental medicine research studies form part of phase III trials (e.g. research studies that are nested within later-phase studies), these aspects of the trials may be supported by the NIHR BRC award. NIHR BRCs will not focus on health services research (HSR), although HSR methodologies may be employed on early translational and experimental medicine activity within the NIHR BRCs, as appropriate.

The early translational and experimental medicine research undertaken by an NIHR BRC may include research to develop new therapeutic interventions, digital innovations, devices, preventive measures, diagnostic tests, etc. Successful approaches to these areas will need to consider the needs of patients and the public, as well as the broader health and care sector, both now and over the longer term.

NIHR BRCs will be expected to consider ‘research following patient need’. Research strategies should reflect the nation’s changing demographics and the corresponding impact this has on disease burdens and service demands; which includes the challenges of tackling multiple long-term conditions across the life course. To support translation into clinical practice, NHS/university partnerships are also encouraged to consider the eventual setting where new interventions, innovations, diagnostics, technologies etc will be delivered, in developing their research – which may involve supporting research undertaken outside of acute NHS trusts, and/or in areas of the country with high-disease burden; including clinical studies being done in those parts of the country with the greatest disease burden as appropriate, potentially in collaboration with local investigators.

Clinical Research Facilities (CRF)

NHS/university partnerships will not be able to apply for a Clinical Research Facility Theme as part of this NIHR BRC designation. Applications for NIHR CRF designation and funding should be made through a separate, open competition which is expected to launch in June 2021.

Application Requirements

Co-Directors/Co-Theme Leads

It is permissible for NHS/university partnerships to nominate two individuals to hold joint leadership of the proposed NIHR BRC as co-Directors. Each individual must hold a contract (or honorary contract) with the host organisation. Likewise, in some cases it may be appropriate to nominate two individuals to take joint leadership of a Theme as co-Theme Leads.

Term of Theme Leads/co-Theme leads

As a research funder, NIHR is dedicated to supporting career development and increasing opportunities for new and emergent research leaders. NIHR is limiting the number of BRC funding cycles for which an individual can hold the position of Theme Lead/co-Theme lead to two. This will be applied retrospectively. Therefore, NHS/university partnerships with an existing NIHR BRC will be expected to propose new Theme Leads where the current incumbent also held this position throughout the previous award period of 2012- 2017.

This does not apply to NIHR BRC Directors and co-directors.

Developing academic research capacity and training

The BRCs will have a remit for academic capacity development and training across the full career spectrum, from pre-doctoral to post-doctoral, that supports greater equity of opportunities for all. While the focus should be on developing our early career researchers, consideration should be given to all stages of the academic career pathway, in particular, post-doctoral skills and training as well as future career development. Training and support should be in line with the principles and best practice set out within the Researcher Development Concordat.

Partnerships invited to submit an application at Stage 2 will be expected to demonstrate how they align with the national offer from the NIHR Academy, including in areas of need for research capacity development.

Designated NIHR BRCs will be expected to appoint a named Academic Career Development Lead (formerly Training Lead) who will participate in and contribute to the NIHR Academic Career Development [Training] Forum. They will work in partnership with NIHR Academy to share best practice and encourage excellence in career development and training. Individuals whose academic career development is being supported through NIHR BRC funding will also benefit from NIHR Academy membership.

Research Culture and equality, inclusion and diversity

NIHR BRCs are world-leading centres of internationally competitive research, as such, NIHR expects NIHR BRC Directors and theme leaders to be advocates of best practice and driving change to improve the culture of research. NHS/university partnerships will be expected to demonstrate how the NIHR BRC will support this agenda.

The NIHR BRC scheme 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. NHS/university partnerships applying for NIHR BRC designation and funding will be required 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 will expect NHS/university partnerships to demonstrate how they are supporting greater equity of opportunities through capacity building and training offered (see above) 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.

Successful applicants 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 published issued guidance on improving inclusion of under-served groups in clinical research that applicants may wish to consider.

While not a requirement for NIHR BRC designation and funding, NHS/university partnerships 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.

Patient and public involvement, engagement and participation

NIHR BRCs will be expected to incorporate Patient and Public, Involvement, Engagement and Participation in the development of their proposals and in both governance and individual research activities.

NHS/university partnerships should consider how their plans will contribute to delivering impact on health and care. This is a key requirement for the NIHR. The aim is to develop partnership working with the relevant communities which has a positive and meaningful influence on the relevance, shape and impact of the research undertaken. Successful applicants will be required to submit a fully developed strategy within 6 months from the contract start date.

NIHR BRCs should consider how their plans will respond to current challenges and opportunities for involvement, engagement and participation including; reflecting the diversity of the population (particularly those from underserved communities), fostering community-led approaches to research (sharing best practice), developing new methods and approaches, and demonstrating the impact of this agenda on improving health and care research. NIHR BRCs are also encouraged to align their plans, as well as work collaboratively with other patient/public and community involvement, engagement and participation efforts in their region (and where appropriate nationally) and ensure that, overall, sufficient resource, staff time and senior leadership are provided to support these activities.

NHS/university partnerships should consider how their plans will incorporate the six UK Standards for Public Involvement in research. The standards provide a framework for reflecting on and improving the purpose, quality and consistency of public involvement in research. They describe the building blocks for good practice and provide a baseline of expectations.

Please note that patient and public involvement, engagement and participation in research are distinct but often interrelated activities. Please use NIHR definitions of ‘involvement’, ‘engagement’ and ‘participation’ to differentiate between these areas.

NIHR Translational Research Collaborations

The NIHR supports a number of Translational Research Collaborations (TRCs). Shortlisted NHS/university partnerships will be asked to indicate those NIHR TRCs that they intend to participate in.

NHS/university partnerships applying for NIHR BRC designation and funding will be expected to provide the resources (drawn from the proposed NIHR BRC award and/or other resources available to the partnership) that will support their contribution to the NIHR TRC(s) they participate in. NIHR will provide some additional funding to support Collaboration Manager posts to coordinate activities across each NIHR TRC.

NIHR BioResource

The NIHR BioResource is a national resource of volunteers who have consented to be recalled to participate in research studies based on their genotype and/or phenotype. This infrastructure currently involves 13 centres, hosted at existing NIHR BRCs and NIHR CRFs.

The current designation and funding for the NIHR BioResource will continue until 1 December 2024 for existing centres; subject to successful NIHR BRC and/or CRF designation for these existing centres. Any NHS/university partnerships wishing to participate in the NIHR BioResource from the start of the next contractual period (1 December 2022) will be asked to indicate this at application (Stage 2). All participating NHS/university partnerships will be expected to integrate existing cohorts into the NIHR BioResource and align to the operating principles:

1. A national consent process that facilitates central recall of participants for early translational and experimental medicine research studies based on genotype and/or phenotype; collection of health and lifestyle information, including from health and social care records (now and in the future), and collection of biosamples;
2. A national repository for biosamples at the NIHR National Biosample Centre;
3. A secure national database with connectivity to the N3 network containing personal and health data on all participants.

Separate, dedicated funding for activities within the NIHR BioResource will be available following the confirmation of NIHR BRC designation and funding. Detailed proposals for the NIHR BioResource beyond December 2024 will be provided at a later date.

NIHR National Biosample Centre

NHS/university partnerships will only be eligible to use NIHR BRC funding for long-term storage of biosamples, and/or handling, processing and dispatch if it is at the NIHR National Biosample Centre, unless there is a strong case which precludes its use, and where applicants can demonstrate that the alternative arrangements will include comparable processes and safeguards for quality and the physical security of the samples.

Additional Points

Genomics: Where relevant, NIHR BRCs undertaking genomic studies will be expected to support the implementation of the ambitions outlined in ‘Genome UK - the future of healthcare’ and engage, where relevant, with the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) Research Collaborative and Genomics England. NIHR BRCs are also encouraged to consider using and adapting the principles of the Genomic Medicine Service Consent.

To facilitate the Genome UK principle of joining up national data, a copy of genomic data generated through the NIHR BRCs should be submitted into the National Genomic Research Library where possible, in order to maximise the access and utility of all nationally funded genomes for patient and public benefit.

NIHR BRC funding must not be used to undertake genomic testing on conditions covered by the GMS Test Directory - for these conditions, all sequencing should be done via the Genomic Medicine Service.

NIHR position on the sharing of research data: The NIHR strongly supports the sharing of data in the most appropriate way, to help deliver research that maximises benefits to patients and the wider public, the health and care system and which contributes to economic growth in the UK. To enable research data to be discoverable and effectively re-used by the scientific community, researchers are required to take the actions outlined in the NIHR position on the sharing of research data.

HDRUK FAIR Principles: NIHR expects that data, resulting from research activity funded by the NIHR BRC award will conform to FAIR Principles as set out by the HDRUK within a reasonable period following initial data analysis and publication.

NIHR Open Access Policy: NIHR is currently reviewing its Open Access Policy. Designated NIHR BRCs will be required to comply with the expectations on Open Access as set out in the policy once published.

Data Exclusivity Deals: The NIHR operates an open and transparent research system and would not expect to award funding to a host NHS organisation that has signed data exclusivity deals that either limit or restrict the use of data held by the NIHR BRC to individuals, organisations or companies. The NIHR would expect to be notified of any approaches for data exclusivity deals immediately. NHS/university partnerships are expected to adhere to the principles outlined in the ‘Creating the right framework to realise the benefits of health data guidance’ when taking decisions about entering into data agreements.

UK Health Data Research Alliance: The UK Health Data Research Alliance is an independent alliance of leading healthcare and research organisations united to establish best practice for the ethical use of UK health data for research at scale. Any NHS Organisation hosting an NIHR BRC, not already a member, will be expected to join the Alliance and have an agreement in place within the first 12 months of the contract start.

NIHR BRC support in national public health emergencies: Emergency situations can arise (nationally and globally) which require research, research expertise and resource at short notice. In the event of a national public health emergency, such as a pandemic, NIHR BRCs will be expected to pivot the resources towards national efforts to support urgent public health priorities and national prioritised research studies at the request of, and under the direction of, DHSC.

Funding

A total of up to £790 million is available for this round of NIHR BRC funding. Information on eligible costs is provided at Annex 2, indicative costs are required in the Stage 1 applications.

• Funding will be awarded for a five-year period (starting 1 December 2022).
• NHS/university partnerships are permitted to apply for up to £100 million over the five-year period, the amount of funding allocated to each NIHR BRC will be determined by the scale, nature and quality of the research activity to be conducted through that NIHR BRC.
• The number of NIHR BRCs to be designated has not been pre-determined. The number of awards will reflect the quality of the applications, and the need to provide appropriate funding to deliver the supported programmes of work.
• For those NHS/university partners that do not currently hold an NIHR BRC award, funding will be phased to provide time to support the NHS/university partnership to set up their work programme.
• NHS/university partnerships, with an existing NIHR BRC wishing to apply for an uplift in funding, are expected to consider what would be reasonable growth in their award size and provide a robust justification for any additional funding; noting the overall size of the competition funding envelope, and that value for money is a key selection criterion.
• There will be no funding threshold placed on individual Themes.

Note: No capital funding (for tangible fixed assets such as buildings and equipment costing over £5,000) will be available for NIHR BRCs through this funding competition. Applications should only include research that can be undertaken with the existing or planned facilities which already have confirmed funding.

The Competition Process and Timetable

Both Stage 1 and Stage 2 applications will be considered by an International Selection Committee which will make recommendations to the DHSC.

Stage 1

Date	Activity
14 April 2021	Publish invitation to submit an Initial Application (Stage 1)
27 April 2021	Webinar briefing for potential applicants
26 May 2021	Closing date for receipt of initial applications
July 2021	International Selection Committee recommends a shortlist of applications to be invited to submit Full Applications

 Stage 2

Date	Activity
04 August 2021	Invitation to submit Full Applications (Stage 2)
20 October 2021	Closing date for receipt of Full Applications
November 2021	Individual Themes sent for Peer Review
February 2022	International Selection Committee Meeting - Initial Review
March 2022	Invitation to interview sent to Applicants
April 2022	International Selection Committee Meeting - Applicant Interviews
May 2022	Department of Health and Social Care confirm selected NIHR BRCs
1 December 2022	Funding for selected NIHR BRCs commences

Stage 1 Application

Selection Criteria for Initial Applications

The information provided in each application will be considered alongside an independent bibliometric analysis and other data, and assessed against the following selection criteria:

• The quality and breadth of world leading experimental medicine and early translational research;
• existing research capacity and capability; 
• the strength of the strategic plan.

Bibliometric Analysis

NIHR has commissioned an independent bibliometric analysis. For NHS organisations and universities in England, this analysis highlights the proportion of highly cited publications authored by their investigators across a breadth of research areas.

The analysis should be considered by NHS/university partnerships and may inform their application. If the applying NHS/university partnership considers that the bibliometric data in the analysis does not adequately reflect the volume and strength of their work, they may provide additional information within the application to demonstrate this. The additional information will also be considered by the International Selection Committee.

The International Selection Committee will consider the bibliometric analysis alongside the information provided by the applicants in the Stage 1 application. The committee will assess whether each applying NHS/university partnership demonstrates that it has met each selection criterion for stage 1 and provide recommendations to DHSC as to which applicants should be invited to submit a Stage 2 application.

Further data

Information on the NHS organisation 2018/19 recruitment to NIHR Clinical Research Network portfolio studies by UKCRC Health Category will also be provided by NIHR to the International Selection Committee. NIHR will also provide data available on the HESA website (income from research grants and contracts; the number of qualifiers who obtained Doctorate degrees that meet the criteria for a research-based higher degree or New Route PhDs that meet the criteria for a research-based higher degree; and the Number of patents granted).

Information to be Provided in the Stage 1 Application

Applicants are asked to complete and submit an electronic application. Some of the fields are prepopulated to allow selection from drop down lists. The following information will be requested: 

Director(s) of the Proposed NIHR BRC

Please provide the name(s) of the proposed Director(s).

Host NHS organisation    

Please select the name of the host NHS organisation from the drop-down menu.

University partner organisation

Please select the name of the partner university from the drop-down menu.

Partners

Please list any additional partners, universities or NHS organisations that will be formally associated with the NIHR BRC and the proposed themes they will contribute to. Formal agreement from these partners will be sought at Stage 2.

Bibliometric Analysis and Further Data: other considerations (500 words)

NIHR has commissioned an independent bibliometric analysis. For NHS organisations and universities in England, this analysis highlights the proportion of highly cited publications authored by their investigators across a breadth of research areas. NIHR will provide data available on the HESA website (income from research grants and contracts; the number of qualifiers who obtained Doctorate degrees that meet the criteria for a research-based higher degree or New Route PhDs that meet the criteria for a research-based higher degree; and the Number of patents granted), and NIHR CRN Trust recruitment data by UKCRC Health Category to the International Selection Committee at Stage 1 of the competition.

If NHS/university partnerships consider that the bibliometric analysis and further data does not adequately reflect the volume and strength of their work then additional information can be provided to support this.

Proposed Director(s) leadership and expertise (500 words)

Please summarise the proposed Director’s leadership and expertise demonstrating the following:

• The organisational leadership experience of the Director, including examples of leadership at a local, regional and/or national/international level;
• Evidence that they are international leaders in their research field;
• A statement highlighting the Director’s commitment to, and experience of, improving research culture and equality, diversity and inclusivity in the research workforce and organisation and to supporting academic capacity development;
• A list of 5 key publications, including URL, with an indication of how these demonstrate the impact of the Director(s) work.

Research facilities and expertise (500 words)

Please provide a brief description of the existing research facilities, including the NHS/university partnerships data and health informatics capabilities and cross-cutting expertise which will underpin the research of the NIHR BRC if awarded.

Outline Strategic Plan

In plain English, briefly outline the scientific rationale/context to the areas covered by the proposed NIHR BRC, and the vision and goals of the proposed NIHR BRC. (500 words)

Please provide:

1. an outline of the proposed NIHR BRC strategy, including areas to be addressed through the Themes and how these will be brought together into a coherent Centre. The overview should outline the NHS/university partnerships approach to supporting equality, diversity and inclusion across its activities.
2. an explanation of howthesestrategicobjectiveswillcontributetodeliveryoftheoverallaimsoftheNIHRBRC funding scheme; this should include
   1. a consideration of the partnership’s approach to driving innovation in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of ill-health through early translational and experimental medicine research;
   2. translating advances into benefits for patients and the public, the health and care system and for broader economic gain; and
   3. contributing to our nation’s international competitiveness.

(1500 words)

Table of proposed NIHR BRC Themes

For each theme please provide:

• the name of the Theme Lead(s) and co-Theme Lead where applicable,
• a short title and
• indicative cost for the Theme

Directors, lead and co-lead details for each Theme including organisation and ORCID number will be pulled through from the 'Manage my Details' section of their portal account, which should be updated prior to submission.

Theme Summary (500 words)

Please provide a short abstract for each Theme highlighting the research question(s) to be addressed, outlining the clinical need; the expertise and track record of the proposed NIHR BRC in this area. Please indicate the outcomes that may have the potential to be of benefit to patients, and the public, and the health and care system e.g. how will this theme support research following patient need.       

Annex 1: Provisional Stage 2 Application Draft Questions

Provisional Information to be Provided in the Stage 2 Application (Stage 2)

Details of Proposed NIHR Biomedical Research Centre

1. The information in this section, including the plain English summary, will be pulled through from the Stage 1 application form. Applicants may amend where necessary.

1.1 Please provide the name(s) of the proposed Director(s).

1.2 Please select the name of the host NHS organisation from the drop down menu.

1.3 Please select the name of the university partner from the drop down menu.

1.4 Please list any additional partners, NHS organisations or universities, that will be formally associated with the NIHR BRC.

1.5 Please list the Themes that will be included in the proposed NIHR BRC. For each Theme please provide:

• the name of the Theme Lead(s),
• a short title and
• Theme Lead(s) ORCID number(s).

1.6 In plain English, briefly outline the scientific rationale/context to the areas covered by the proposed NIHR BRC; and outline the vision and goals of the proposed NIHR BRC. This summary may be made publically available. Please avoid using jargon and explain any technical terms included (500 words)

Governance & Leadership

2.1 Please describe the leadership and expertise demonstrated by the proposed Director(s) and their proposed contribution to the NIHR BRC, this should include:

(500 words)

• evidence of their track record of leadership within a research environment. This should cover examples from the national and international level where relevant;
• evidence that they are at the forefront of their research fields;
• evidence of their ability to facilitate the translation of early translational and experimental medicine research into benefits for patients, public and/or the health and care system;
• experience in leading national or international centres/facilities/institutes;
• evidence of championing the agenda around improving research culture including EDI;
• evidence of commitment to developing research capacity and capability within the health and care system, including supporting early career research researchers to become future leaders;

2.2 Please describe the management and governance arrangements for the proposed NIHR BRC, please include

(1000 words)

• The arrangements for joint working between the NHS and university partner, and the arrangements with any additional NHS organisations or universities that will formally contribute to the NIHR BRC. Please provide evidence of previous effective partnership working between the lead NHS organisation and the university partner;
• An explanation of how the proposed Director(s) and the proposed Theme Leads fit into these arrangements, including how responsibilities will be managed where there are joint appointments to roles;
• Please describe how the NIHR BRC proposes to prioritising and deprioritising research areas across Themes to deliver those with the highest potential to translate into outcomes likely to benefit patients and the public and/or the health and care system;
• The proposed NIHR BRC’s governance arrangements and processes for managing the use of the funding within Themes to support early translational and experimental medicine studies particularly where the majority of the research costs (>50%) are met by the NIHR BRC award;
• Please outline the centre’s governance arrangements for overseeing: training and capacity building; management and exploitation of intellectual property; and communication/dissemination of NIHR BRC activities;
• An organogram showing the proposed governance arrangements (including any external governance body(ies)) for the proposed NIHR BRC;
• Please confirm that the proposed Director (or where relevant co-Directors) of the NIHR BRC will have responsibility for, and authority over, the NIHR funding if awarded.

2.3 Please indicate whether the host NHS organisation is currently a member of the UK Health Data Research Alliance (UKHDRA).

(YES/NO)

2.4 Outline the proposed NIHR BRC’s existing data and health informatics capability, including information governance systems, and how this will support delivery of the proposed BRC Themes. Please also describe any links to existing UK platforms.

(300 words)

Strategy and Strategic Delivery Plan

3.1 The proposed NIHR BRC’s overall strategy for supporting early translational and experimental medicine research aimed at translating findings from discovery sciences into clinical research, including:

(2000 words, table excluded from word count)

• the vision and aims of the NIHR BRC and the relevance of these to patients, public and the health and care system.
• the key research areas, questions or problems that the NIHR BRC is aiming to tackle and how the infrastructure provided by the NIHR BRC will support these. This should include a description of how the research portfolio will contribute to the health and wellbeing of patients and the public, with demonstration that research is following patient need and reflects the diversity of the population.
• the proposed NIHR BRC’s operational plan, including mechanisms for tracking the progress of the BRC in respect to key activities, for example training, strategic partnership development, as well as overall progress of the portfolio of early translational, experimental medicine research.

Please complete the table to set out specific (SMART) objectives that will be used to track the progress of the proposed NIHR BRC. Please include details of how the proposed NIHR BRC will monitor and determine successful completion of each objective.

• short term (1-2 years);
• medium term (2-3 years); and
• long term (4-5 years).

• a brief outline of the Themes, which describes how they are brought together into a coherent Centre. Demonstrate how each Theme enhances the proposed NIHR BRC, and how each links to the overall objectives stated above. (One supporting diagram may be uploaded).
• a brief outline of how the expertise of any additional partners will strengthen the delivery of the NIHR BRCs overall objectives.
• a summary of the NHS/university partnerships current and proposed strategic partnerships, including with industry, research charities and with other NIHR-funded infrastructure. (One supporting diagram may be uploaded).  

3.2 Case studies: Up to three case studies which highlight previous successes in translating findings from discovery science into the clinical setting and towards benefits for patients, the public and/or the health and care system. The information presented should be understandable to both lay and expert members of the committee, written in plain English, without use of jargon. Any technical terms should be explained. (400 words per case study and no more than three may be submitted.)

NIHR BRC Theme Details

For each Theme:

4.1 Please provide details of the specific programme of work to be conducted, including:

• the name of the Theme;
• the proposed Theme Lead(s);
• key contributing researchers who will add quality and depth to the proposed Theme [Name and expertise/experience]. (300 words)

4.2 Please highlight:

• the strategic rationale for the Theme and the research hypotheses the Theme will aim to address;
• demonstrate how the areas to be addressed and/or the approaches to be taken will drive innovation in the prevention, diagnosis and/or treatment of ill-health through early translational and experimental medicine research. Please outline how you anticipate the likely research outputs will have potential for further translation to deliver benefits for patients and the public and the health and care system;
• the relevance of the expected outputs to the health of patients and the public and/or the health and care system. This should demonstrate how the research will follow patient need and reflect the diversity of the population (including support for research activities being conducted in areas with the greatest disease burden, in collaboration with local investigators);

(1300 words)

Case studies: Please include up to 3 case studies (these should be max 400 words or an A4 infographic each) that illustrate the partnership's expertise in early translational and experimental medicine research of relevance to the Theme and support its effective translation into later stage research and/or practice. Case studies should be understandable to both lay and expert members of the panel and written in plain English, without use of jargon. Any technical terms should be explained. Please provide references for up to 3 primary publications per case study.

• (1200 words) (Upload file)

4.3 Please complete the table to set out specific (SMART) objectives that will be used to demonstrate, and manage, the progress of the Theme.

• short term (1-2 years);
• medium term (2-3 years); and
• long term (4-5 years).

(TABLE - excluded from word count)

4.4 Partnerships/collaborations required to support the Theme (300 words)

Where relevant, please provide details of how any proposed additional partners, universities or NHS organisations will contribute to the Theme. This should include details of:

• the additional expertise they will bring to the Theme;
• roles that they will contribute to the Theme;
• examples of previous successful research collaborations between the additional partner(s), universities or NHS organisations, and the NHS and/or university partners.

4.5 Justification of Resources:

Please provide a description of how the requested resources for the Theme will be deployed to support the work proposed. (300 words)

Approach to Collaborative Working

5.1 Please outline the strength of the existing strategic partnerships between the NHS and university partnership and other collaborating NHS/university collaborators highlighted in the application. (600 words)

5.2 Please describe the approach and strategy of the proposed NIHR BRC for working with industry, charities and other (non-NIHR) public funders of research. Please provide examples of key strategic partnerships already in place that are directly relevant to the proposed Themes. (600 words)

5.3a Please outline the approach and strategy to support the proposed NIHR BRC’s commitment to collaborative working across NIHR and with other parts of the NIHR infrastructure. This should outline how the proposed NIHR BRCs expected will work with other parts of the NIHR infrastructure (including Local Clinical Research Networks) to strengthen regional partnerships and ensure NIHR infrastructures are appropriately joined up to maximise opportunities for driving the translation of research into benefits for patients and the public, the health and care system and for broader economic gain. (600 words)

5.3b Please complete the table to indicate whether the proposed NIHR BRC intends to participate in the following NIHR TRCs (select Yes/No).

NIHR-BHF Cardiovascular Partnership

NIHR Dementia Translational Research Collaboration

NIHR Diet and Activity Research Translation (DART) Collaboration

NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration

NIHR-Versus Arthritis UK Musculoskeletal Translational Research Collaboration

NIHR Oncology Translational Research Collaboration

NIHR Respiratory Translational Research Collaboration

5.3c Please indicate whether the proposed NIHR BRC intends to participate in the NIHR BioResource for Translational Research (select Yes/No).

Patient and Public Involvement, Engagement and Participation

(1000 words)

Please describe the partnership's approach to- and future plans for- Patient and Public Involvement, Engagement and Participation in research.

This section should consist of a summary of:

• The proposed NIHR BRCs strategic objectives for Patient and Public Involvement, Engagement and Participation including the approach that will be taken to equality, diversity and inclusion and the need to reach underserved communities.
• The programme(s) of activity to deliver the strategic objectives including involvement and engagement across the research Themes.
• An outline of the resources that the proposed NIHR BRC intends to commit to delivering the programme of activities, highlighting the role(s) and FTE that will be committed to enable delivery of the PPIE strategy. Please consider what resources you will put in place to support novel involvement and engagement mechanisms such as community engagement, digital engagement or other models that broaden reach.
• The relevant strategic and operational partnerships and collaborations at the local, regional and national level.
• The processes for assessing and evidencing the impact of the proposed NIHR BRCs PPIE approach - and for capturing and sharing the wider learning that is generated - across the full spectrum of research delivery/dissemination.
• The leadership mechanisms that ensure progress in delivering the plans feed into the management and governance processes of the proposed NIHR BRC.  

Research Capacity Development (1000 words)

Please describe the partnership’s approach and future plans for Research Capacity Development. Please provide:

• The proposed strategy and objectives for delivering academic capacity development and training within the proposed NIHR BRC. This should include consideration of the whole of the academic career pathway (including post-doctoral training and future career development), pathways to impact of all proposed activities, and personal and professional development opportunities, such as access to mentorship and leadership programmes.
• Evidence of strengths that the NHS/university partnership brings to delivering successful research capacity building.
• Demonstration of commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in capacity building and to improving research training culture.

• The proposed organisational oversight and responsibility for the delivery of the academic career development strategy, including the role of Academic Career Development Lead (and/or co-Leads if appropriate) and where they will fit within the strategic and operational governance structures of the proposed NIHR BRC.

• Demonstration of how your approach to Research Capacity Development is complementary to the national offer provided by the NIHR Academy.

Financial Plan and Justification of Resources

Justification of Core Resources Requested

8.1 Please provide a description of how these resources will be deployed to support the work of the proposed NIHR BRC, including:

• justification for the resources requested, including resource for core costs
• please state the resources that you anticipate will be allocated to PPIE and Research Capacity Development activities
• where you have indicated that you intend to participate in a NIHR TRC(s) please state the resource that you intend to commit to each TRC. statement of how the funding provided will build on DHSC/NIHR investment via other funding schemes including other NIHR Infrastructure to deliver value for money.

(500 words)

8.2 Please provide a statement on how activities would be prioritised in the event of the final award being decreased by the following levels of that applied for:

• -10%, or -50%. (300 words)

Financial plan

8.3 The plan provides the financial summary for the whole NIHR BRC.

At stage 2 centres will need to complete a detailed financial plan. This will require:

• detailed breakdowns of costs for staff posts and salaries, travel, subsistence, conference, equipment, consumables, PPIE, dissemination, unallocated research funding, other direct costs, indirect costs and NHS support costs.

Centres will need to present the cost of core functions and facilities (e.g. Director’s salary, management costs, technology platforms, etc.) which underpin the Themes. Please note that ‘Core’ is not a Theme; this is prescribed purely for finance purposes. The costs of core functions and facilities should not be spread across the Themes.

Declaration and Signatures

RMS will automatically generate ‘sign off’ emails from the Director(s), Co-applicants, Institutions including Trust Finance and CEO.

Annex 2: Application Finances And Eligible Costs

The purpose of the funding is to meet the NHS, research infrastructure costs incurred by the NIHR BRC in carrying out an approved programme of early translational and experimental medicine research, including the funding of staff and core research facilities. Our expectation is that each NIHR BRC will underpin a portfolio of work supported by other research funders (e.g. UKRI, charities, industry or other NIHR funding Programmes), but can also directly support a portfolio of original research, which is distinct from that supported by NIHR Research Programmes or other funding bodies.

Funding awards will be made to the designated NHS partner, but it is permissible for funds to flow to the university partner or other NHS or university collaborator formally part of the NIHR BRC, via a suitable mechanism such as a subcontract.

The financial plan should provide a breakdown of all the requested, necessary recurrent NHS Research Infrastructure direct costs, reasonable NHS indirect costs and eligible NHS Support Costs and for which funding is being requested.

No new Department of Health and Social Care capital funding will be available for NIHR BRCs as part of this current funding competition. Therefore, applications should only include research that can be undertaken within existing facilities or planned facilities that the host NHS organisation or university partner are investing in alone, or with other external organisations, with confirmed funding.

In all cases, the value for money of the proposal will be an important selection criterion.

Required reading

Prior to completing the finance section of the application it is important applicants have a good understanding of the Attributing costs of health and social care Research and Development (AcoRD) guidance.

The AcoRD guidance clarifies the distinction between the three categories of costs associated with non-commercial research studies/programmes:

• Research Costs
• NHS Support Costs
• NHS Treatment Costs

We strongly recommend that applicants familiarise themselves with these definitions, and consult:

• AcoRD Annex A: List of common research activities attributed to the Research Costs, NHS Treatment Costs and NHS Support Costs
• AcoRD Annex B: FAQ
• Excess treatment costs

General Information

• The financial plan should provide a breakdown of the research infrastructure costs that will be incurred by the NIHR BRC in carrying out the proposed work plan.
• It is important to undertake a thorough, realistic and accurate costing. You must provide a clear and full justification for all major resources. You must also ensure that you include all costs, including those required to secure good research management and governance. In all cases, the value for money of the proposal will be an important selection criterion.
• Further itemisation of costs and methods of calculation may be requested to support the application at a later date. The grand total of all the Theme Costs and core costs should amount to the total funding requested by the NHS/university partnership.
• Applications should be costed at current (2021/22) prices, based on current salary scales and scale increments. Annual salary increments or other equivalent annual increases should be included in future years but not any other anticipated pay increases (e.g. nationally agreed pay awards). Do not include estimated uplift(s) for inflation. Should an award be made, annual uplifts may be provided, depending upon the budget available to NIHR.
• We would expect standard NHS accounting policy and guidance to be followed (as set out in the NHS Finance Manual) in determining the appropriate costs to be charged to this Research Infrastructure Award.
• The NIHR will not support any costs incurred prior to or following the Research Infrastructure Award.
• Applications are expected to have appropriate NHS, university, commercial and other partner input into the finance section of the application form.
• Years should be calculated starting from the anticipated start date of the proposed Award i.e. 1 December 2022. Once an award has been made, the Department of Health and Social Care will require Host organisations to provide regular financial statements regarding the use of funds provided under the NIHR funding scheme. The Department reserves the right to send independent auditors to the NHS organisation to confirm the actual use of funds.
• NHS/university partnerships will need to present the cost of core functions and facilities (e.g. Director, management, technology platforms, etc.) which underpin the Themes by separating ‘Core costs’ from the Themes in the financial plan. Do not spread core costs across the various Themes.
• Payments will be made to the contracted organisation only, and the contracted organisation will be responsible for passing on any money due to their member organisation(s).
• Appropriate research project agreement and/or sub-contracts must be put in place for any element of the work programme that is to be paid to another organisation.

Information for Different Types of Organisation

NHS organisations

Up to 100% of direct research and NHS support costs incurred by NHS organisations will be funded, based on costs identified through ‘Attributing the costs of health and social care Research and Development’ (AcoRD).

NIHR BRC funding can cover legitimate and reasonable, NHS indirect costs within the NHS (for example, premises, HR, finance). The NIHR reserves the right to set limits on indirect costs charged.

Universities

NIHR BRC funding will fund up to 100% of direct research costs for universities. NIHR BRC funding does not pay indirect costs for universities.

Commercial organisations

For commercial organisations or consultancies, please provide direct costs and commercial indirect costs. Up to 100% of costs may be paid.

Commercial costs need to demonstrate value for money. The NIHR reserves the right to set limits on indirect costs charged.

Other partner organisations

Applications may include direct research costs and indirect costs for research conducted by partner organisations (charities, non-governmental organisations, etc.). Up to 100% of costs may be paid.

Other partner organisation costs need to demonstrate value for money. The NIHR reserves the right to set limits on indirect costs charged.

Eligible Costs

Direct Costs

Direct costs are those eligible research infrastructure costs that will be incurred by the NHS/university partnership in carrying out the proposed work programme for the NIHR BRC. These costs will be charged as the amount that will be spent and could be supported by an audit record.

Direct costs, including:

• Research staff engaged in early translational and experimental medicine research in the NHS;
• Research support staff engaged in early translational and experimental medicine research in the NHS; and
• Research training, leading to a higher degree by research (e.g. MPhil, MD, PhD) or a Postdoctoral Fellowship, for staff, of all disciplines, engaged in early translational and experimental medicine research in the NHS.

Direct costs are further categorised into the following:

Staff Posts and Salaries and Annual Costs of Staff Posts (only staff who are working on early translational and experimental medicine research in the NHS will be supported);

• Travel, subsistence and conference fees (including visits to scientific conferences, collaborative working visits, etc.);
• Equipment costing less than £5,000 (including equipment maintenance contracts);
• Consumables;
• Biosample storage
• Costs of patient and public involvement, engagement and participation (including training and support, fees and expenses for members of the public) ;
  • Dissemination costs; and
  • Other Direct Costs including software licences and consultancy fees

Staff Posts and Salaries and Annual Costs of Staff Posts

The NIHR BRC award will reimburse the time of staff engaged in early translational and experimental medicine research undertaken within the NIHR BRC’s work programme. Salaries may be sought for core NIHR BRC, research, research support or other staff (from all professional groups), and research trainees (e.g. MPhil, MD, PhD students), required to work full or part-time on the NIHR BRC’s research programme.

In order to support a critical mass of people, the expectation is that any newly established posts created with funding from this scheme will be employed by the NHS. Where justified, where there is agreement, it is permissible for staff to be employed by the university partner or other university collaborators named on the application, provided this does not attract additional employment costs (i.e. the cost of employer's contributions will be met, but the posts will not attract Full Economic Costs in the University).

This section outlines the staff salaries and relevant on-costs (i.e. pay increment dates, geographic weighting, superannuation, national insurance). Salary costs should feed into the ‘Annual Costs of Staff Posts’ section.

All known staff members working on the NIHR BRC award must be listed and their annual salaries must be stated. Where staff will be recruited as part of the proposed NIHR BRC, please provide the average annual salary. Use current rates of pay and build in any known annual increments. Nationally or locally agreed pay increases should be excluded.

Please note that annual increments should be based on Agenda for Change pay arrangements as applicable at 31 March 2021.

Once your NIHR BRC award has started, you will not be able to claim for pay awards retrospectively.

Annual Costs of Staff Posts Applications should be costed at current (2021/22) prices, based on current salary scales and scale increments.

For the research trainees (e.g. MPhil, MD, PhD students) costs include the value of the stipend in the salary. The costs of the tuition fees should be included in the Other Direct Cost section.

Travel, subsistence and conference fees

This section of the financial form includes journey costs, subsistence and conference fees. Where applicable, you will need to include the travel and subsistence costs of your collaborative working visits, and for steering, data monitoring and ethics committees. Travel and subsistence costs relating to dissemination should also be included here.

Journey costs

Enter the total cost of transport for all journeys for destination/purpose. If travel is by car, apply your institution’s mileage rates (however this should not exceed HMRC approved mileage allowance payments, which is 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles and 25p thereafter). Travel by the most economic means possible is encouraged; NIHR funding schemes do not usually fund first class travel.

Only a reasonable level of international travel will be considered.

Subsistence

Subsistence covers accommodation (if necessary) and meals associated with the travel, excluding any alcoholic beverages.

Conference fees

There are no limits to UK conference attendance. However, international conference fees should be individually stated and fully justified in terms of costs versus the benefit.

Equipment

There is no new Department of Health and Social Care capital funding available through the NIHR BRC funding scheme. Purchase or lease costs for essential items of equipment plus maintenance and related costs not included as part of estates can be included but only purchase costs of pieces of equipment up to £5,000, excluding VAT, will be considered. Pieces of equipment costing more than £5,000 to purchase will need to be leased.

Items of equipment valued at £250 or more must be itemised separately; however, grouping the same type of equipment is permitted. Costs of computers are normally restricted to a maximum of £1000 each excluding VAT. A statement of justification must be included in the relevant ‘Justification of Costs’ section for any purchase above this limit.

Equipment must exclude VAT, but if the organisation incurring the cost is not VAT registered and cannot claim back VAT on cost items, then it would have to enter the gross value of a cost item (including VAT) on the financial plan. You will need to seek advice from the organisation that the piece of equipment is purchased from regarding its VAT status.

The cost of equipment maintenance contracts should be included in this section.

Consumables

This section includes non-reusable items specific to the NIHR BRC’s work plan. Please itemise and describe the requirements fully. These items should be research specific, not just general office costs which should be covered by indirect costs.

Patient and public involvement, engagement and participation

Please itemise and describe fully all costs to support the delivery of the BRCs patient and public involvement and engagement strategy. This will include:

• Costs to support novel involvement and engagement mechanisms such as community engagement, digital engagement or other models that broaden reach.
• Payments to recognise time, skills and expertise contributed by public members: Offering members of the public payment for their time,skillandexpertiseisconsideredgoodpracticeinstructuringandoperatingtheproposedNIHRBRC. Rates of payment can vary and may be offered at either an hourly or daily rate. The following activities should be considered:
  • Reviewing documents
  • Attending meetings
  • Attending training courses and conferences
  • Outreach and dissemination

• AlloutofpocketexpensesincurredbypublicmembersinsupportingtheBRCsPPIE activities.. Equal opportunities for involvement are facilitated if expenses are covered. Members of the public should not end up financially worse off for providing a public service. The following expenses should be carefully considered:
  • Travel (public transport, taxi fares, or an agreed private car mileage rate which includes wear and tear).
  • Overnight accommodation.
  • Subsistence (food and refreshment whilst on ‘business’ or bought due to having to be at a certain place at a certain time, but no alcohol).
  • Childcare or replacement carer/person providing support.
  • Costs of a Personal Carer or Support Worker of the individual’s choice.
  • Telephone, internet access, fax costs, stationery and other equipment covering these costs is particularly important for members of the public who work from their own home, and may, therefore, incur considerable costs which may be ‘invisible’ in organisational settings (somewhere in the region of £10 to £20 per day).
  • Conference fees and training courses.

NIHR has produced an online cost calculator to help staff supporting research identify and calculate the costs of public involvement in their research-facing activities. It includes a guide - Budgeting for Involvement with step-by-step practical advice, examples and tips. The Involvement Cost Calculator can then be filled in and downloaded.

Note: Costs of staff posts to support the delivery of the PPIE strategy should be included in the Staff Posts and Salaries and Annual Costs of Staff Posts tabs.

Biosample Storage

NHS/university partnerships will only be eligible to use NIHR BRC funding for long-term storage of biosamples, and/or handling, processing and dispatch if it is at the NIHR National Biosample Centre, unless there is a strong case which precludes its use, and where applicants can demonstrate that the alternative arrangements will include comparable processes and safeguards for quality and the physical security of the samples.

NIHR BRC funding can be used for short-term biosample storage, and/or handling, processing, dispatch and storage where there is a strong case which precludes the use of the NIHR National Biosample Centre

Dissemination Costs (including Open Access)

Any costs associated with publication, presentation or dissemination of findings (except related travel and subsistence or consumables costs) should be included here. This includes any associated with Open Access Publishing. Please review the NIHR Open Access Policy.

Meetings to share best practice, training events and events to disseminate research findings must be run at the lowest possible cost with minimal catering.

Other direct costs

These are costs, not identified elsewhere, that are specifically attributed to the research infrastructure. For example, external consultancy costs, software licensing, PhD tuition fees and advertising costs.

Please note that external consultants must not be people who are already employed by any NHS organisations, equivalent non-NHS settings, or organisations from independent sector providing NHS services and other universities, who will be conducting research activities via an appropriately justified subcontract. If they are, any costs should be entered as direct costs in the ‘Staff Posts and Salaries’ and ‘Annual Costs of Staff Posts’ sections.

Indirect Costs

NIHR BRC awards will fund legitimate and reasonable, indirect costs for the NHS partner and other NHS collaborations. This will include the proportion of the costs of accommodation in the NHS, used for the NIHR BRC's work, and an appropriate proportion of HR, payroll, and finance costs. Please seek advice from your finance department about the appropriate cost for this section. Total indirect costs must be fully justified outlining the rate charged.

NIHR will not meet indirect costs incurred by University member organisations or any other University involved in delivering the work of the NIHR BRC.

Commercial/Other member organisations’ indirect costs which are the costs of resources used by the NIHR BRC can be included. Please seek advice from your finance department about the appropriate cost for this section. It is our expectation that Commercial/Other partner indirect costs show good value for money.

All indirect costs need to demonstrate value for money. The NIHR reserves the right to set limits on indirect costs charged.

NHS Support Costs

NIHR BRC awards will fund the NHS Support Costs of early translational and experimental medicine research that are integral within the proposed NIHR BRC’s work programme, and these costs should be included in the application.

For single centre investigator-initiated or industry-collaborative research, any NHS support costs should be met through the NIHR BRC award.

It should be noted that there are other NIHR funding schemes used to support the cost of NHS infrastructure for clinical research within the NHS (e.g. NIHR Clinical Research Network), and that NHS infrastructure and support costs associated with work outside the scope of the NIHR BRC award should not be included within the application.

NHS Support Costs are the additional patient care costs associated with the proposed work programme of the NIHR BRC, which would end once the R&D activity in question has stopped, even if the patient care service involved continues to be provided. These might cover items such as staff time to recruit and consent patients, or additional patient safety activities which will not form part of the on-going intervention.

Please note, the Support Cost activities (such as consenting patients) should always be attributed to NHS Support Costs regardless of whether a member of staff is employed by the NHS.

Please include the NHS Support Costs within the financial plan for each Theme. The NHS Support Costs should be separated into staff costs and other (non-staff) costs (including pharmacy, pathology and imaging).

For the following, the appropriate NHS Support costs, or equivalent for non-NHS settings, should be sought through the NIHR Clinical Research Facilities (CRFs) or NIHR Clinical Research Network (NIHR CRN) for studies which meet the NIHR CRN Portfolio eligibility criteria:

• NIHR BRC-led research studies within third party collaborating NHS, or equivalent non- NHS setting, site (i.e. not a formal site of the host NHS organisation, or not formally subcontracted by the host NHS organisation for the purposes of the NIHR BRC);
• Research funded by NIHR’s non-commercial research partners (for example UKRI, medical research charities) conducted within the NIHR BRC’s work programme; and
• Research funded by NIHR research programmes (for example HS&DR, i4i and Health Protection Research Units).

Ineligible Costs

The funding is not intended to meet NHS Treatment costs associated with the research programme of the NIHR BRC award.

Funding will not be provided for university laboratories or infrastructure, or to meet the costs of animal research, or other work which is not human-facing early-translational and experimental medicine research.

NIHR BRC awards will not fund indirect costs for universities.

Capital equipment costing more than £5,000 will not be funded via the NIHR BRC award.

No new Department of Health and Social Care capital funding will be available for NIHR BRCs as part of this current funding competition. Therefore, applications should only include research activities that can be undertaken within existing facilities or planned facilities that the NIHR BRC is investing alone, or with other external organisations, with confirmed funding.