This document provides guidance for applicants submitting research proposals on Diagnostics, plus other topics to help and support individuals with Long COVID, for NIHR's 2021 funding call on Long COVID in non-hospitalised individuals.
ALL applicants are required to submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) by 05 May 2021.
The EoI is for administrative purposes only. EoIs should be top level and provide the underlying objectives and identify lead and key partners. It is recognised that final proposals are likely to continue to evolve up to the application deadline. Therefore, although the full proposal must fully reflect its core elements, the final application need not be restricted to the precise description provided within the initial EoI.
Applications for Theme 2 must be submitted by 1:00 pm on 12 May 2021 through the Research Management System (RMS).
A Word version of the online application form is available for Theme 2. This can be used to assist research teams developing an application. Please note the Word form cannot be submitted as an application. Only applications submitted online via the RMS will be accepted, however information can be copied from the Word template into the online application form.
Section 1: Proposal Summary
Institution
Provide details of the institution who will administer the award.
Title
The title should state clearly and concisely the proposed research. Any abbreviations should be spelled out in full.
Subject Area
Please select from the options which subject area best describes your proposed research;
- Diagnostics
- Other
If your proposed research is more suited to therapies and interventions or management and evaluation of services, please apply to: Long COVID call 2021: First call close: 1. Therapies and Interventions and 2. Management and Evaluation of Services.
Scientific/Technical Summary
Provide an overview of the proposed research which would be appropriate for peer and panel reviewers.
Plain English Summary
A plain English summary is a clear explanation of your research.
Many reviewers use this summary to inform their review of your funding application. They include clinicians, other practitioners and researchers who do not have specialist knowledge of your field as well as members of the public. If your application for funding is successful, the summary will be used on the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and other websites.
A good quality plain English summary providing an easy to read overview of your whole study will help:
- those carrying out the review (reviewers and committee members) to have a better understanding of your research proposal
- inform others of about your research such as members of the public, health and social care professionals, policy makers and the media
- the research funders to publicise the research that they fund
If it is felt that your plain English summary is considered not clear or of low quality, then you will be required to amend it prior to final funding approval.
It is helpful to involve patients/carers/service users/practitioners and members of the public in developing a plain English summary.
When writing your summary, consider including the following information where appropriate:
- aim(s) of the research
- background to the research
- design and methods used
- patient and public involvement
- dissemination
The plain English summary is not the same as a scientific summary - please do not cut and paste this or other sections of your application form to create the plain English summary.
Further guidance on writing in plain English is available online.
For further support and advice on writing a plain English summary, please contact your local Research Design Service (where applicable).
Proposed Start Date
Projects are expected to start during the month of July only, and cannot start earlier than 16 July 2021.
Proposed Duration of Award (months)
Ensure you include sufficient time to complete all aspects of the research including applications for regulatory approvals (where required) and the final report. The maximum duration is 24 months.
Projects Cost
Enter the total amount of research costs requested.
Finance form
The finance application form provides details of the finance required to deliver the planned research. Requested costs for UK based HEI researchers should be 80% of full economic costs (fEC) and, where relevant, for overseas researchers should be 100% of direct costs only.
In line with NIHR funding policy this call will cover 100% direct costs for SME and NHS trusts (across the whole of the UK). Applicants will need to complete all sections of the finance form and provide a detailed breakdown of costs for staff posts and salaries, travel, subsistence, conference, equipment, consumables, patient and public involvement and engagement, dissemination, risk management and assurance, external intervention costs, other direct costs, and indirect costs will need to be provided.
A template of the finance form can be downloaded from the NIHR website and should be uploaded once completed. Please note the proposal budget must be for maximum 24 months only.
Keywords
Please provide up to 10 keywords which can be associated with the application. A minimum of one key word is required.
Grants
Details of your funded grants will display in this section. If there are any missing, please update your account information by selecting ‘Manage My Details’ shown on the ‘Home’ screen and then select ‘Update CV’ to display a list of your funded grants. Select ‘Add Research Grant’ to upload additional grant information.
Section 2: Investigator Details
Complete your name, contact details and other requested information by accessing the ‘Manage my details’ section of your account. An ORCID ID is mandatory for the lead applicant. If any of the details are incorrect you will need to update your account information by selecting ‘Manage My Details’ shown on the ‘Home’ screen.
Industry/Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)
Please select from the options.
Administrative Authority Contact Name
Please provide the details of an administrative lead as a secondary point of contact for any queries relating to the application, should it be supported.
NOTE: This person does not need to be a co-applicant.
Administrative Authority Contact Email
Please provide the name and email address for the Administrative Authority Contact at your organisation.
Co-Investigators
Please provide the name and organisation of co-investigators. The maximum limit for Co-Investigators is 20. Members of the research team will need to be ‘invited’ through the system via email to participate as co-applicants after which they must both confirm and approve their participation. You will not be able to submit the application until co-applicants have confirmed and approved their involvement. Whilst confirming and approving an application can be done at any time during the submission of an application it is strongly encouraged that this is carried out well in advance of the deadline.
Section 3: Importance, Deliverables, Expertise and Resources
Please define the project’s deliverables and describe and justify how these will provide/lead to benefit(s).
Please describe and justify how proposed work and deliverables are unique and value adding compared to existing COVID-19 activities targeting the same or similar knowledge gap(s) and/or need(s).
Please provide a brief description of the resources required in the different contributing environments (staff, materials, data, facilities etc.), including whether these are in hand, or if not, what gives you confidence that they will be accessible when required.
Section 4: Investigators
Please provide evidence that the team has the necessary expertise, track record and contacts to undertake the proposed work and ensure its impact.
Section 5: Patient and Public Involvement
Where applicable, please describe (i) how patients and the public have been involved in developing this proposal; (ii) the ways in which patients and the public will be actively involved in the proposed research, including any training and support provided.
Section 6: Plan of Research
Using all of the headings in the order presented below, please use this section to clearly explain your proposed research. As this is the main part of your application which will be considered by the reviewing panel, you should ensure that the information is accurate, succinct, clearly laid out and provides sufficient methodological detail.
NOTE: Applicants should aim to reserve a significant proportion of the word count for the project plan to enable methodological approaches to be fully specified.
- What is the problem being addressed?
- Why is this research important in terms of improving the health and/or wellbeing of the public and/or to patients and health care services?
- Review of existing evidence – How does the existing literature support this proposal?
- What is the research question / aims and objectives?
- Project plan, including:
a) Research Design
b) Methodological and statistical details
c) Timelines
d) Project milestones which should include SMART objectives and provide key decision making points
6. Team and team management
7. Risks and Mitigation
Section 7: Uploads
Mandatory
One single-side A4 page, listing references used throughout your proposal.
One single-side A4 Gantt chart
One single-side A4 page, indicating a schedule for the completion of work, including the timing of key milestones and deliverables.
Non-mandatory
A total of 10 pages of additional supporting documentation can be uploaded, however these should be limited to key information to assist the panel in its assessment and could include items such as:
- a flow diagram illustrating the study design and the flow of participants
- letters of support from key collaborators
- confirmation of access to necessary datasets
NOTE: Uploads MUST be provided as a Word or PDF document or you may not be able to submit your application or it may be difficult for the panel to view the required information in order to assess your application.
Please ensure that the document uploaded containing the list of references does not contain its own page numbering.
Section 8: Validation Summary
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 co-applicants have completed their CV details as appropriate and review the PDF final version for any formatting issues
- Click 'Save and Close'
- Click the 'Submit' option (this must be completed by 1pm, 12 May 2021)
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.