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NIHR Global Health Research Short Placement Award for Research Collaboration GHR SPARC Round 2 (2022) - Chairs' Report

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Published: 25 November 2022

Version: 1.0 - November 2022

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Introduction

The NIHR Global Health Research Short Placement Award for Research Collaboration (GHR SPARC) funds awards of up to £10,000 per individual and allows early career researchers (Masters, PhD and Post-doc) the opportunity to spend time within NIHR 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 optimise and enhance the individuals’ research training experience as well as expand their networks, CVs and academic career opportunities.

NIHR GHR SPARC Round 2 - Overview

At the end of the Round 1 GHR SPARC Pilot, the GHR Training Programme Selection Committee recommended changing the eligibility criteria for the GHR SPARC scheme to ensure that it was more inclusive and better aligned with ODA principles. Therefore, from Round 2 the eligibility criteria for the GHR SPARC scheme were expanded to include:

  • Those who are receiving financial (direct) or in kind (indirect) support from their NIHR GHR Programme Award to actively pursue an academic research career (and who meet the standard GHR SPARC eligibility criteria). This includes individuals between career stages (e.g. post-Masters students being supported to find a PhD) and those who are supported by the GHR Programme award to pursue an academic career but employed and paid by LMIC partner institutions.
  • Individuals who hold a doctoral/postdoctoral researcher support post funded via an NIHR Global Research Professorship award and who are actively pursuing an academic research career.
  • Clarification that the applicant’s ‘Employing Organisation’ (substantive employer) and proposed ‘Placement Host Institution’ (where they wish to undertake the placement) should both be listed as ‘Official Collaborating Institutions’ and named parties in the NIHR GHR Programme’s current collaboration agreement.

The NIHR GHR SPARC Round 2 launched on 26th January 2022 and closed to applications on 17th March 2022. 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 16th May 2022 to discuss the applications and to make recommendations for funding.

During the selection committee meeting, each application was discussed in ranked order based on the reviewers’ scores; the GHR Training Programme Selection Committee agreed that all 6 applications were fundable and recommended that 4 were awarded; the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) approved this recommendation.

NIHR GHR SPARC Pilot Round 2 – Selection committee observations

The chair and selection committee members were pleased with the standard of applications received for this round of GHR SPARC. A number of common themes emerged during the assessment of applications and a brief summary of these observations is detailed below.

Applications for GHR SPARC Round 2 were received from individuals within the NIHR GHR RIGHT Programme (Research and Innovation for Global Health Transformation programme) with the exception of one application from an individual associated with an NIHR Global Research Professorship Award; no applications were received from the GHR Units, Groups or HPSR (Global Health Policy Systems Research) programme. Eighty-three percent of applications were received from early career researchers based in LMICs.

Applications were received from individuals from a variety of professional backgrounds; further details are provided in Annex A.

Observations and recommendations for NIHR Academy

The selection committee recommended including a lay summary section in the application form to summarise in non-technical language the placement plan and make clear how the applicant will benefit from the award.

Areas for applicant consideration

Common points emerged during the assessment of applications can be found below. The observations and recommendations of the chair and the selection committee for Round 2 were similar to those identified in the Pilot Round 1. Please see the Chair's report: Pilot Round 1 for more detailed information. Guidance on the following points is also included in the Guidance notes.

  • Applicants are advised to describe in detail their academic and research skills and experience to date within the CV and ‘Applicant Experience’ section of the application form.
  • Applicants must describe how the placement will support and enhance their personal and professional development.
  • Applicants are encouraged to include details of their future career plans and aspirations within their application.
  • Applicants must provide a clear structure and justification for the proposed placement in the application.
  • The proposed placement plan must detail how the placement will be tailored to meet the applicant’s demonstrable training and career development needs.
  • Consideration must be given to the length of the placement and whether the intended outcomes of the award can be achieved within the proposed time-frame.
  • Applicants are advised to consider the length of courses included in their placement plan and give careful thought to whether they will achieve the intended learning outcomes.
  • Applicants must clearly outline the reasons why a particular NIHR location has been chosen for a placement.
  • Intended outcomes and success indicators should be clearly outlined in the application.
  • Applicants must clearly demonstrate and provide detailed justification that the application and placement is ODA eligible and compliant.
  • A breakdown of the funds requested must be included in the ‘Finance’ section of the application form and must represent value for money.

Annex A

Table 1: Summary of NIHR GHR SPARC Round 2 (2022) applications and awards

Round

Applications received

Eligible applications

Fundable applications

Applications approved for funding

Round 2 (2022)

6

6

4*

4

Total

6

6

4

4

* 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 2 Pilot applications received and approved for funding per individual NIHR GHR Programme

NIHR GHR Programme

Applied in Round 2

Approved for funding in Round 2

NIHR Global Health Research Units (GHR Units)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

NIHR Global Health Research Groups (GHR Groups)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

NIHR Research and Innovation for Global Health Transformation (RIGHT)

5 (83%

3 (75%)

NIHR Global Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

NIHR Global Research Professorship Award

1 (17%)

1 (25%)

Total

6 (100%)

4 (100%

Table 3: Professional background spread (NIHR GHR SPARC Round 2)

Professional background

Applied in Round 2

Approved for funding in Round 2

Medically Qualified

2 (33%)

1 (25%)

Not a Registered Health Professional

3 (50%)

2 (50%)

Other Registered Health Professional

1 (17%)

1 (25%)

Allied Health Professional

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

Dentist

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

Nurse

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

Midwife

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

Total

6 (100%)

4 (100%)

Table 4: Summary of applications received and approved for funding by career stage (NIHR GHR SPARC Round 2)

Current career stage

Applied in Round 2

Approved for funding in Round 2

Masters/Pre-Doctoral

1 (17%)

1 (25%)

Doctoral

1 (17%)

1 (25%)

Post-Doctoral

2 (33%)

1 (25%)

‘In-between Career Development Awards’*

2 (33%)

1 (25%)

Total

6 (100%)

4 (100%)

*Of the 2 applications received that were classified as ‘in-between career development awards’; 2 applicants were post-Masters level (between Masters and PhD)

Table 5: Summary of geographical spread (NIHR GHR SPARC Round 2 applications received and approved for funding)

Employing Organisation (by NIHR GHR Programme)

Applied in Round 2

Geographical region of applications to Round 2

Approved for funding in Round 2

Approved for funding by geographical region in Round 2

NIHR GHR Unit

0

0

0

0

NIHR GHR Group

0

0

0

0

NIHR RIGHT Programme

5

India (2)

Pakistan (1)

UK (1)

Brazil (1)

4

India (2)

Pakistan (1)

UK (1)

NIHR Global Health Policy and Systems Research

0

0

0

0

NIHR Global Research Professorship

1

South Africa (1)

1

South Africa (1)

Total

6

 

4

 

Table 6: Summary of how applicants chose to undertake their placements (NIHR GHR SPARC Round 2 applications received and approved for funding)

How applicants chose to undertake their proposed placement

Applied in Round 2

Approved for funding in Round 2

UK to UK

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

UK to LMIC

1 (17%)

1 (25%)

LMIC to UK

5 (83%)

3 (75%)

LMIC to LMIC

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

Total

6 (100%)

4 (100%)