Internet Explorer is no longer supported by Microsoft. To browse the NIHR site please use a modern, secure browser like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge.

PHR Programme success rates

Contents

Published: 25 November 2019

Version: Updated March 2024

Print this document

Here are the application success rates for our Public Health Research (PHR) Programme.

2022/23 applications

Application stageCommissionedResearch ledPHR summary
Submitted applications (A) 120 19 139
Considered by advisory group (B) 102 15 117
Considered as a percentage of those submitted (B/A) % 85 78.9 84.2
Shortlisted by advisory group (C) 45 6 51
Shortlisted as a percentage of those considered by advisory group (C/B) % 44.1 40 43.6
Funded applications (D) 30 6 36
Funded as percentage of those shortlisted (D/C) % 66.7 100 70.6
Funded as percentage of those considered by advisory group (D/B)% 29.4 40 30.8

2021/22 applications

Application stageCommissionedResearch ledPHR summary
Submitted applications (A) 66 46 112
Considered by advisory group (B) 56 39 95
Considered as a percentage of those submitted (B/A) % 84.8 84.8 84.8
Shortlisted by advisory group (C) 32 11 43
Shortlisted as a percentage of those considered by advisory group (C/B) % 57.1 28.2 45.3
Funded applications (D) 22 7 29
Funded as percentage of those shortlisted (D/C) % 68.8 63.6 67.4
Funded as percentage of those considered by advisory group (D/B)% 39.3 17.9 30.5

2020/21 applications

Application stageCommissionedResearch ledPHR summary
Submitted applications (A) 126 36 162
Considered by advisory group (B) 112 32 144
Considered as a percentage of those submitted (B/A)% 89% 89% 88.2%
Shortlisted by advisory group (C) 59 16 75
Shortlisted as a percentage of those considered by advisory group (C/B)% 53% 50% 52.1%
Funded applications (D) 33 13 46
Funded as percentage of those shortlisted (D/C)% 56% 81% 61.3%
Funded as percentage of those considered by advisory group (D/B)% 29% 41% 31.9%

2019/20 applications

Application stageCommissionedResearch ledPHR summary
Submitted applications (A) 70 41 111
Considered by advisory group (B) 59 36 95
Considered as a percentage of those submitted (B/A)% 84% 88% 85.6%
Shortlisted by advisory group (C) 17 19 36
Shortlisted as a percentage of those considered by advisory group (C/B)% 29% 53% 37.9%
Funded applications (D) 16 14 30
Funded as percentage of those shortlisted (D/C)% 94% 74% 83.3%
Funded as percentage of those considered by advisory group (D/B)% 27% 39% 31.6%

2018/19 applications

Application stageCommissionedResearch ledPHR summary
Submitted applications (A) 65 83 148
Considered by advisory group (B) 53 74 127
Considered as a percentage of those submitted (B/A)% 82% 89% 85.8%
Shortlisted by advisory group (C) 10 36 46
Shortlisted as a percentage of those considered by advisory group (C/B)% 19% 49% 36.2%
Funded applications (D) 3 21 24
Funded as percentage of those shortlisted (D/C)% 30% 58% 52.2%
Funded as percentage of those considered by advisory group (D/B)% 6% 28% 18.9%

2017/18 applications

Application stageCommissionedResearch ledPHR summary
Submitted applications (A) 85 37 122
Considered by advisory group (B) 56 31 87
Considered as a percentage of those submitted (B/A)% 66% 84% 71.3%
Shortlisted by advisory group (C) 20 18 38
Shortlisted as a percentage of those considered by advisory group (C/B)% 36% 58% 43.7%
Funded applications (D) 10 5 15
Funded as percentage of those shortlisted (D/C)% 50% 28% 39.5%
Funded as percentage of those considered by advisory group (D/B)% 18% 16% 17.2%

2016/17 applications

Application stageCommissionedResearch ledPHR summary
Submitted applications (A) 88 46 134
Considered by advisory group (B) 64 40 104
Considered as a percentage of those submitted (B/A)% 73% 87% 77.6%
Shortlisted by advisory group (C) 16 20 36
Shortlisted as a percentage of those considered by advisory group (C/B)% 25% 50% 34.6%
Funded applications (D) 8 9 17
Funded as percentage of those shortlisted (D/C)% 50% 45% 47.2%
Funded as percentage of those considered by advisory group (D/B)% 13% 23% 16.3%

2015/16 applications

Application stageCommissionedResearch ledPHR summary
Submitted applications (A) 101 44 145
Considered by advisory group (B) 88 40 128
Considered as a percentage of those submitted (B/A)% 87% 91% 88.3%
Shortlisted by advisory group (C) 25 19 44
Shortlisted as a percentage of those considered by advisory group (C/B)% 28% 48% 34.4%
Funded applications (D) 13 10 23
Funded as percentage of those shortlisted (D/C)% 52% 53% 52.3%
Funded as percentage of those considered by advisory group (D/B)% 15% 25% 18%

Please note:

  • Fast track applications are submitted as a full proposal and undergo a one stage application process.
  • The data presented are for all calls that were completed during the financial year – a call is only considered to have completed when each application submitted has received a final outcome. Data within a financial year may therefore not reflect calls opened in that year which can result in the overall numbers of applications being inconsistent between years.
  • These data include both primary research and evidence synthesis applications.