Introduction
The aim of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is to ensure that high quality research information on the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and broader impact of healthcare treatments and tests are produced in the most efficient way for those who plan, provide or receive care from NHS and social care services. The commissioned workstream invites applications in response to calls for research on specific questions which have been identified and prioritised for their importance to the NHS, patients and social care.
Research question
This is a brief of broader scope from which the programme is interested in potentially funding more than one proposal.
We are interested in proposals for the evaluation of interventions for the management of chronic plaque psoriasis in adults, young people and children. Applicants should clearly define and justify their choice of patient group(s), study design and outcome measures, and explain how the research will fit into the remit of the HTA programme. Primary research, including randomised and observational studies, and evidence syntheses will be considered. Developmental or discovery studies are not included within the scope of this call. We are looking for studies of interventions with a sufficient prior evidence base which show promise to positively impact the translational pathway to potentially change clinical practice.
Examples of topics of interest include, but are not limited to
- research questions identified by the James Lind Alliance priority setting partnership on psoriasis;
- research needs identified in recent Cochrane reviews and other evidence syntheses, including current 'living reviews' in this area;
- research recommendations issued by NICE and professional organisations;
- Additional research suggestions from clinicians and patient advocates who contributed to the brief include research on newer topical treatments; management of comorbidities; management of psoriasis-associated physical and mental co-morbidities; management of treatment burden; primary care, community, and home based interventions.
Rationale
Psoriasis is a common, chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin condition, with a strong genetic basis. The condition can occur at any age, but most cases occur before the age of 35 years. Children may be affected, although this is uncommon.
There are various types of psoriasis, however, plaque psoriasis (also known as psoriasis vulgaris) accounts for 90% of all people with psoriasis. Chronic plaque psoriasis is characterised by well-delineated red, scaly plaques (elevated lesions) with overlying white or silvery scale. The plaques vary in extent from a few patches to generalised involvement. Psoriasis is associated with joint disease and other co-morbidities in a large proportion of patients. Like other skin conditions, psoriasis has a significant impact on people's life and may result in profound functional, psychological, and social morbidity, which can affect employment and income.
Although there is a wide variety of treatment options and pathways, questions remain, as evidenced in research recommendations from evidence syntheses, guideline developers and patient organisations. For this reason, the HTA programme wishes to fund this research to inform clinical practice, patient choice, and future guideline updates to improve the health and wellbeing of people living with psoriasis.
Applicants should utilise the most appropriate and efficient study design for delivering the answers to their research questions, which may include designs that enable multiple questions to be answered simultaneously. Particular consideration should be given to diversity and inclusion, as psoriasis may present differently on different skin colours. Applications should be co-produced, demonstrating an equal partnership with service commissioners, providers and service users (or their advocates) in order to provide evidence and actionable findings of immediate utility to decision-makers and service users. Applicants may wish to consult the NIHR Learning For Involvement guidance on co-producing a research project. Applications which look to address important questions outside of the remit of this particular call may wish to consider the relevant NIHR programme’s researcher-led funding opportunities.
To support the ambitions of NIHR’s Best Research for Best Health: the next chapter, NIHR strongly encourages the inclusion of nurses, midwives and allied health professionals within well-developed research teams responding to this call, to increase the building of nurse, midwife and allied health professional-related research activity, capacity and capability across the professions. Depending on the level of experience, this could be through the role of lead applicant, as joint co-applicant supported by detailed mentoring plans submitted with the application, or as a co-applicant member of the research team. Through this activity, NIHR aims to support nurses, midwives and allied health professionals to become future research leaders and release the potential to lead, use, deliver and participate in research as a part of their job.
Additional commissioning brief background information
A background document is available that provides further information to support applicants for this call. It is intended to summarise what prompted the call and the existing evidence base, including relevant work from the HTA and wider NIHR research portfolio. It was researched and written on the basis of information from a search of relevant sources and databases, and in consultation with a number of experts in the field. If you would like a copy please email htaresearchers@nihr.ac.uk.
Making an application
Your application must be submitted online no later than 1pm on 30 August 2023. Applications will be considered by the HTA Funding Committee at its meeting in November.
HTA Programme Stage 1 guidance notes are available, alongside supporting information for applicants.
Please note that shortlisted Stage 1 applicants will be given 8 weeks to submit a Stage 2 application. The Stage 2 application will be considered at the Funding Committee in March 2024.
Applications received electronically after 1pm on the due date will not be considered.
For commissioned topics, the Programme strongly discourages the practice of the same co-applicant joining more than one competing team. There may be unusual circumstances where the same person could be included on more than on application, for example a lead from a named charity or a unique national expert in a condition.
For such exceptions, each application needs to state the case as to why the same person is included. The shared co-applicant should not divulge application details between teams. Both teams should acknowledge in their application that they are aware that one of their co-applicants is part of a competing application and that study details have not been shared.
Should you have any queries please contact htagb@nihr.ac.uk.