Chairs’ Report: Pilot Round 1 (2019)
Introduction
The NIHR Global Health Research Short Placement Award for Research Collaboration (GHR SPARC) pilot funds awards of up to £10,000 per individual and allows early career researchers (Masters, PhDs and Post-docs) the opportunity to spend time within the GHR Programmes or other parts of the NIHR; to network, train in a specific skill/ technique or collaborate with other relevant researchers/specialists. The scheme is designed to optimize and enhance the individuals’ research training experience as well as their networks, CVs and academic career opportunities.
NIHR GHR SPARC Pilot Round 1 Overview
The NIHR GHR SPARC pilot launched on the 9th December 2019 and closed to applications on the 7th February 2020. The number of applications received and awards made are detailed in Annex A at the end of this report. Each eligible application was assessed by two members of the NIHR GHR Training Programme Selection Committee. The GHR Training Programme Selection Committee met on the 23rd March 2020 to discuss the pilot applications and to make recommendations for funding.
Each application was discussed in order based on the reviewers scores, with the GHR Training Programme Selection Committee recommending that all 11 fundable applications were awarded; the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) approved this recommendation.
NIHR GHR SPARC Pilot Round 1 – Selection Committee Observations
The Chair and Selection Committee members were pleased with the standard of applications received in this pilot round. A number of common themes emerged during the assessment of applications and a summary of these observations is detailed below. These observations may be of interest to future applicants.
The Selection Committee felt the amount of interest in the scheme was seen as a positive reflection on the increasing awareness and investment in supporting research capacity strengthening, training and career development of early career global health researchers in Low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) and the UK.
Applications were received from across the NIHR GHR Programme (Units, Groups and RIGHT); with 59% of applications received from early career researchers based in LMICs. Applications were received from individuals from a wide variety of professional backgrounds; further details are provided in Annex A.
Observations and Recommendations for NIHR Academy
Eligibility
Applicants classified as ‘in-between career levels’
The NIHR GHR SPARC Pilot was open to all GHR NIHR Academy Members based in the NIHR Global Health Research Units, Groups and the RIGHT Programme who met the following criteria:
- Undertaking a formal training/career development award, which should meet all of the following criteria:
- be competitive
- include a formal training plan
- have a defined end point (such as an application for further funding)
- receive at least 25% funding from the NIHR* for salary/stipend over the lifetime of the individual’s award. * For NIHR Global Health Research Programmes, funding can be from NIHR or from an official collaborating institution. An ‘Official Collaborating Institution’ (‘Partner’ or ‘Collaborator’) is an organisation which holds a current collaboration agreement with the holder of the NIHR research contract to participate in global health research work, and which may or may not be in receipt of NIHR funds
A number of applications received in the pilot were from individuals not currently undertaking a ‘formal training/career development award’ at the time of application; with individuals identified as ‘in-between career levels’. A decision was made by the Selection Committee that should these applications be deemed ‘fundable’ at the funding recommendation meeting that a personalised formal training and career development plan be put in place for the applicant as part of a conditional offer of award. Going forward, the NIHR Academy will amend the definition of who is eligible to include those applicants currently classified as ‘in-between career levels’, in order to support GHR capacity strengthening at all career levels.
GHR Programmes Official Collaborating Institutions – Definition
A total of 22 applications were received, of which 21 applications were eligible for consideration by the NIHR GHR Training Programme Selection Committee. The NIHR Academy needs to ensure for contracting purposes that applicants go from one “official partner/collaborating institution” to another “official partner/collaborating institution”. An ‘official partner/collaborating institution’ is an organisation which holds a current collaboration agreement with the holder of the NIHR research contract to participate in global health research work, and which may or may not be in receipt of NIHR funds. In one of the 22 applications the NIHR Academy were unable to identify the applicant’s ‘Home Employing Organisation’ and proposed ‘Host Institution’ as “official partners/collaborating institutions” on a GHR Programmes Collaboration Agreement and as such, the application was deemed ineligible.
The Chair and Selection Committee members advised that greater clarification is required within the eligibility section of the NIHR SPARC Guidance notes in order to ensure that both potential applicants and GHR Training Leads are aware of the GHR SPARC award contractual arrangements. As such, in future schemes the eligibility section will state “Only applications in which the applicant’s ‘Home Employing Organisation’ and proposed ‘Host Institution’ (where they wish to undertake their placement) are both listed as ‘official collaborating institutions’ and named parties in the GHR Programme’s current collaboration agreement will be eligible to apply and be considered by the NIHR GHR Training Programme Selection Committee.
The NIHR Academy encourage all NIHR GHR Programme Training Leads to contact the NIHR Academy in the first instance to discuss eligibility when considering an application.
Areas for Applicant Consideration
Applicant Experience
As part of their assessment, the Selection Committee consider the extent to which the GHR SPARC placement will support the professional and personal development of the applicant. Applicants are therefore advised to clearly describe the relevant academic and research skills and experience they have developed to date within their CV and ‘Applicant Experience’ section of the application form.
In addition to supporting the Selection Committee’s assessment of the applicant’s academic global health research career potential, this detail contextualises the placement and training and career development plan and supports the justification provided for the placement and training proposed.
Placement Plan
The Chair and Selection Committee noted that a number of applications lacked detail, structure and justification for the proposed placement and what the intended outcomes and indicators of success would be.
The proposed placement plan for a GHR SPARC award must detail the duration of the placement and how the placement will be tailored around the applicant’s demonstrable training and career development needs, taking into account their previous formal academic training experience, previous research experience and the research area in which they wish to develop their academic career.
Applicants must clearly and concisely outline the specific reasons a particular NIHR location has been chosen for a GHR SPARC placement (facilities, expertise, training opportunities, potential collaborations and synergies with other research groups etc.); as well as providing a clear structure and description of the types of activities and training that will be undertaken and relevant timeframes these will take place within.
Careful consideration should be given to defining clear and measurable outcomes from the placement and what the indicators of success will be. These outcomes will include academic outputs such as publications and conference presentations, as well as specific skills, training, collaborations and experience gained. Finally, applicants should clearly outline how the proposed placement plan will support the applicants’ development in global health research, how it meets and complements their unique training needs, as well as why it is important to undertake this placement at the particular point in an applicant’s academic research career.
Scale and Scope
Proposed GHR SPARC placement durations ranged from 2 weeks – 11 months; with the average length of placements being 2-5 months.
Greater consideration should be given to the length of placement proposed; including whether the activities and training outlined can realistically be achieved within the timeframe. Placements with a limited duration may not be able to provide the added benefits and impacts required; with applicants encouraged to explore the expertise, training and opportunities available to them, in order to maximise the benefits the placement can provide. Conversely, extended placements (greater than 7 months) may lack focus and impact; with clear justification required of the length of placement being requested and benefits and impact this will have.
The need for advanced planning and GHR SPARC placement development
The Selection Committee noted that consideration should be given to planning and developing a successful GHR SPARC application. They encourage applicants to dedicate sufficient time to developing an application, during which they will benefit from the support of their GHR Programme Training Lead, Primary Supervisor and the supervisory team members at their Placement Host Institution (where they will be undertaking the placement).
Benefits and Impact of the Placement
The Selection Committee noted that greater detail and justification of the placement would be beneficial. This is an opportunity for individuals to clearly and concisely articulate the benefits and impact the GHR SPARC placement will have on their research and their academic career trajectory; including what success will look like from a personal perspective and how the proposed placement will enhance their chances of achieving their career goals/ambition (i.e. the development of a competitive research fellowship or research grant application).
Placement Host Institution and Host Supervisor Statement of Support
The Selection Committee observed that the supporting statements submitted by the applicant’s proposed placement Host Institution Supervisor (the main supervisor who will host the placement) varied considerably; with weaker statements of support being noted as ‘generic’ and failing to convey a reassuring level of support for, and understanding of, the placement and the aspirations of the applicant.
Areas for consideration:
• Availability and commitment required from the Placement Host Institution Supervisor; clearly outlining the frequency of meetings and level of support that will be provided.
• Fit of the Placement Host Institutions Supervisor’s expertise with the stated area of research/training that the applicant is looking to develop their research career within and opportunities available to them.
• Clearly outlining what steps the Placement Host Institution will take to ensure that the placement will stay aligned with ODA requirements.
• Providing detail and reassurance to the Selection Committee that the Placement Host Institution and Supervisor will comply with the NIHR Safeguarding Guidance
Finance
The Selection Committee noted there was wide variation in the level of detail provided by applicants in the finance section. Whilst inappropriate or erroneous costings within successful applications will be amended; the Selection Committee felt that a lack of a detailed breakdown of costs and appropriate explanation/justification reflected poor planning and consideration by the applicant and limited engagement and input with the GHR Programme Lead Institution Finance colleagues.
The Selection Committee need to see that the costs being requested represent ‘value for money’ and that the applicant has sought the input and approval of their GHR Programmes Lead Institution.
Areas for consideration:
- The Selection Committee welcomed applications that included links to GHR Programmes Lead Institutions up-to-date ‘Travel, Subsistence and Expenses Policy/Guidance’ that clearly outlined their institutions agreed daily rates for accommodation, travel and subsistence.
Official Development Assistance – Eligibility and Compliance
The NIHR GHR SPARC scheme is funded by Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding and as such an individual applying for this award must be able to demonstrate how the award will directly and primarily benefit patients and the public in countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee List of ODA Recipients (OECD DAC List).
A number of applications failed to clearly demonstrate and provide detailed justification to the Selection Committee that the application and placement was ODA eligible and compliant.
Applicants must:
- Clearly outline which country or countries on the DAC list of ODA-eligible countries will directly benefit, and;
- Describe how the application is directly and primarily relevant to the development challenges of those countries, and;
- Describe how the outcomes of the placement activity will benefit the health and welfare of a country or countries on the DAC list
When looking to outline how applicants/placements meet the three ODA compliance bullet points highlighted above, the Selection Committee felt it might be beneficial for applicants to consider outlining within their application form why this is a priority for country ‘x’ (with data) and why is country ‘x’ particularly disadvantaged in this domain (with data).
Annex A
Table 1: Summary of NIHR GHR SPARC Round 1 Pilot (2019) applications and awards
|
Round |
Applications Received |
Eligible Applications |
Applications Fundable |
Applications Approved for Funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Round 1 Pilot (2019) |
22 |
21* |
11** |
11 |
|
Total |
22 |
21 |
11 |
11 |
* One application was deemed ineligible. As a result, this application was not assessed at the Funding Recommendation Meeting.
** The number of candidates deemed by the Selection Committee to meet the minimum standard for funding through the scheme.
Table 2: Summary of NIHR GHR SPARC Round 1 Pilot applications received and approved for funding per individual NIHR GHR Programme
|
NIHR GHR Programme |
Round 1 Applied |
Round 1 Approved for Funding |
|---|---|---|
|
NIHR Global Health Research Units (GHR Units) |
6 (27%) |
3 (27%) |
|
NIHR Global Health Research Groups (GHR Groups) |
15 (68%) |
7 (64%) |
|
NIHR Research and Innovation for Global Health Transformation (RIGHT) |
1 (5%) |
1 (9%) |
|
Total |
22 (100%) |
11 (100%) |
Table 3: Professional background spread (NIHR GHR SPARC Round 1 Pilot)
|
Professional Background |
Round 1 Applied |
Round 1 Approved for Funding |
|---|---|---|
|
Medically Qualified |
1 (5%) |
0 (0%) |
|
Not a Registered Health Professional |
9 (41%) |
3 (27%) |
|
Other Registered Health Professional |
6 (27%) |
5 (45%) |
|
Allied Health Professional |
2 (9%) |
1 (9%) |
|
Dentist |
2 (9%) |
1 (9%) |
|
Nurse |
2 (9%) |
1 (9%) |
|
Midwife |
0 (0%) |
0 (0%) |
|
Total |
22 (100%) |
11 (100%) |
Table 4: Summary of applications received and approved for funding by career stage (NIHR GHR SPARC Round 1 Pilot)
|
Current Career Stage |
Round 1 Applied |
Round 1 Approved for Funding |
|---|---|---|
|
Masters/Pre-Doctoral Fellowship |
5 (23%) |
2 (18%) |
|
Doctoral Fellowship |
6 (27%) |
4 (36%) |
|
Post-Doctoral Fellowship |
4 (18%) |
0 (0%) |
|
‘In-between Career Development Awards’* |
7 (32%) |
5 (45%) |
|
Total |
22 (100%) |
11 (100%) |
*Of the 7 applications received that were classified as ‘in-between career development awards’; 1 applicant was at the pre-Masters level, 4 applicants were at the post-Masters level (between Masters and PhD) and 2 applicants were at the doctoral level (between PhD and post-doctoral fellowship).