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.
This is a brief of broader scope from which the HTA Programme is interested in potentially funding more than one proposal.
Overview
The HTA Programme is interested in proposals for the evaluation of interventions, which already have some evidence to show that they can be effective, to improve the treatment, management and support given to adults following a stroke, which address, or partly address, one or more of the:
- Outputs from NHS England’s Demand Signalling in the area of Rehabilitation and life after stroke.
- Priorities from the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership in Stroke rehabilitation and long-term care.
Rationale
There are around 1.3 million stroke survivors living in the UK, and this number is set to increase in the coming years as the population ages and survival rates improve. Stroke can result in a wide range of physical, emotional and cognitive effects. It is estimated that approximately one third of long-term stroke survivors in England have a moderate or severe disability and one-third a mild disability. As well as the significant impacts on the people who have a stroke and their families, there can be considerable health and social care costs. The current UK annual societal cost of stroke is estimated to be £25.6 billion.
The NHS Long Term Plan identifies stroke as a clinical priority and outlines targets for stroke care in England. NHS England (NHSE) recently published the outputs of a demand signalling process, which identified and prioritised research questions that need answering to support the achievement of these targets, including in the area of rehabilitation and care following stroke. The outputs closely align with a 2021 James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership (JLA PSP) led by the Stroke Association that also looked at rehabilitation and long-term care. Together the demand signalling process and JLA PSP give a clear direction for research in the area.
The HTA Programme is interested in commissioning research that supports addressing the research priorities identified by these two processes. Applicants should explain how their proposed research fits within the remit of the HTA Programme and within the broader context of published and ongoing studies, as well as which demand signalling output(s) or JLA PSP priority(s) it addresses, or partly addresses.
The MRC-NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme has a parallel call in the same area. Applicants wishing to submit proposals focussed on testing the efficacy of interventions should refer to the parallel EME call. Further details about the EME Programme can be found here.
Co-production, which ensures that the research demonstrates an equal partnership with service commissioners, providers and service users (or their advocates), should be embedded throughout the life cycle of the project from application to completion.
Applicants may wish to consult the NIHR Learning for Involvement guidance on co-producing research.
HTA Programme
The HTA Programme funds research when evidence already exists to show that an intervention can be effective. The purpose of an HTA study is to establish the clinical and cost-effectiveness for the NHS or Social Care in comparison with the current best alternative(s). A study may also investigate uncertainty around a technology’s place in the existing care pathway.
For this specific call, the HTA Programme will fund primary research only. We are looking for studies of interventions with a sufficient prior evidence base which show promise to potentially change clinical or social care practice.
Applications
Applicants should clearly define and justify their patient/target group, intervention, study design, setting and outcome measures. Applicants will also need to explain how the proposed research fits within the remit of the HTA Programme and within the broader context of published and ongoing studies, as well as which demand signalling output(s) or JLA PSP priority(s) it addresses, or partly addresses.
Applications are encouraged which include recruitment from geographic populations with high disease burden which have been historically underserved by research activity in this field.
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
If you wish to submit a Stage 1 application for this call, the online application form can be found on the Funding opportunities page. To select this call, use the filters on the right of the screen or search using the call name and/or number.
Your application must be submitted on-line no later than 1pm on the 29 March 2023. Applications will be considered by the HTA Funding Committee at its meeting in May 2023.
Guidance notes and supporting information for HTA Programme applications are available.
Important: Shortlisted Stage 1 applicants will be given eight weeks to submit a Stage 2 application. The Stage 2 application will be considered at the Funding Committee in September 2023.
Applications received electronically after 1300 hours 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 eg a lead from a named charity or a unique national expert in a condition.
For such exceptions (i) each application needs to state the case as to why the same person is included (ii) the shared co-applicant should not divulge application details between teams and (iii) 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 us by email at htacommissioning@nihr.ac.uk.