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Research and Innovation for Global Health Transformation - Call 1 Remit and Guidance for Stage 1 Applications

Contents

Published: 01 June 2018

Version: 1.0 - June 2018

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Introduction

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Global Health Research funding aims to develop and commission new global health research which will deliver primary benefit to the health and economies of the poorest people living in low and middle income countries (LMICs), whilst also strengthening UK and developing country research capabilities and expertise. In line with Official Development Assistance (ODA) principles, between 2016-18 a substantial portfolio of global health research programmes has been established through open ‘Investigator-led’ calls that has positioned the NIHR as a key player in global health research, including support to 13 new NIHR Global Health Research Units and 40 new Groups.

Building on this broad portfolio base, we now want to focus NIHR investments on key areas where a strategic and targeted investment can result in a transformative impact. Through the provision of focused research funding that prioritises implementable results, DHSC support UK researchers in partnership or collaboration with researchers in LMICs in their ability to meet the Sustainable Development Goals while at the same time also benefiting the UK’s own knowledge economy.

The NIHR Research and Innovation for Global Health Transformation (RIGHT) programme forms part of the UK government's commitment to ODA. Through RIGHT we will provide research funding to support cutting-edge interdisciplinary applied health research that addresses the health issues faced by LMICs, as defined eligible for ODA funding by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list.

The Aims and Focus of RIGHT Programme – Call 1

The aims of the NIHR RIGHT Programme – Call 1 are to:

  • deliver research for the primary benefit to the health and wealth of the poorest individuals living in LMICs, typically through research for the prevention of ill health and optimal disease management;
  • strengthen capacity for research and knowledge exchange through equitable partnerships between researchers in the UK and LMICs;
  • promote interdisciplinary approaches to working (including, but not limited to: clinical, health economics, statistics, qualitative and social sciences), to ensure that research objectives can be delivered in three research areas
    • Epilepsy
    • Infection-related cancers
    • Severe stigmatising skin diseases.

Additional detail on the three focus areas is as follows.

Epilepsy

Rationale

Epilepsy is the most common chronic brain disorder globally and affects people of all ages. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) more than 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy of which almost 80% live in developing countries. With treatment, an estimated 70% of people with epilepsy can be seizure-free. However it is estimated that three quarters of affected people in developing countries do not get treatment and in many parts of the world, people with epilepsy and their families suffer from stigma and discrimination. Causes of epilepsy include; head injury, infection by parasites, and birth injuries including a lack of oxygen during birth. In line with the 2015 World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution on epilepsy, which called for improved investment in epilepsy research and increased research capacity, we welcome applications which address one or more of the following areas:

Focus of the call

To reduce the public health burden of epilepsy in LMICs through addressing one or more of the following:

  • research which seeks to improve prevention and/or clinical management of epilepsy in LMICs, in particular in the poorest populations;
  • prevention research (including birth events and/or infections);
  • research into disease manifestation and prevalence in LMICs, which can inform planning and policy making;
  • research seeking to improve appropriate, accessible and acceptable treatment options and addressing stigma;
  • mixed method studies across disciplines, for example how to best support effective interventions and improve access to services to improve treatment;
  • health systems and/or implementation research addressing access, cost-effectiveness and acceptance of available prevention and treatment programmes.

Infection-related cancer

Rationale

According to Lancet Global Health, up to one-sixth of cancers world-wide are attributable to infections, which are acknowledged to probably represent an under-estimate. Of more than two million cases of infection associated cancer diagnosed annually, nearly two-thirds occur in developing countries. Suggested reasons include economic disparities, the biology of infection related cancers, immunogenetics and interactions between behavioural, environmental, and infectious factors that predispose individuals to infection-related cancers. Despite progress in vaccine development and implementation of screen and treat programmes for some infection-related cancers the progress in reducing incidence and mortality is uneven globally.

Pathogens associated with the highest number of cancers in low and middle income settings include:

  • Hepatitis B and C viruses: infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C (HCV) virus may develop a chronic infection that can lead to cirrhosis. The damage that results increases the risk of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma). Access to appropriate vaccination (HepB) or drugs (HepC) is limited in many LMICs.
  • Helicobacter pylori: colonisation of the stomach by H. pylori is an important cause of gastric cancer and of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Although treatable with antibiotics, this remains a significant issue in LMICs.
  • Epstein-Barr virus: Although identified in 1964 as the first virus identified as causing cancer treatment of this aggressive tumour which is caused by white blood cells multiplying out of control remains a public health issue particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, associated with Burkett’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and nose and throat cancer.
  • Human herpesvirus 8: HHV-8 is found in tumours in patients with Kaposi sarcoma, often associated with HIV infection or other immunocompromised individuals.

The aim of RIGHT Call 1 is to support health research in areas of un-met needs or neglected investment. The four listed infection-related cancers above have been prioritised for RIGHT Call 1 to focus on specific cancers where a targeted investment has the potential for a transformative impact. Other infection related cancers are NOT within remit of the call.

Focus of the call

We welcome applications which address research in one or more of the four areas outlined above through:

  • research which seeks to improve prevention and/or clinical management of infection-related cancer in LMICs, in particular in the poorest populations;
  • research into disease manifestation and prevalence in LMICs, which can inform planning and policy making;
  • appropriate and effective tools to promote early diagnosis;
  • research seeking to improve appropriate, accessible and acceptable treatment options and addressing stigma;
  • mixed method studies across disciplines, for example how to best support effective interventions and improve access to services to improve treatment;
  • health systems and/or implementation research addressing access, cost-effectiveness and acceptance of available prevention and treatment programmes.

Severe stigmatising skin diseases

Rationale

According to a WHO report, despite the high frequency of certain skin diseases in developing countries they are not often regarded as a significant health problem when public health strategies are developed. Severe stigmatising skin diseases are some of the most neglected conditions and yet are disabling and disfiguring for those who suffer from them, often the poorest and most marginalised individuals in populations. Treatment of severe stigmatising skin conditions depends on the causative organisms and can involve antibiotic combinations, antifungal drugs and surgery and wound-care.

Examples include (but are not limited to)

  • Buruli ulcer caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Infection can lead to tissue damage and ulcers usually on the legs or arms. Most cases occur in tropical and subtropical regions in Africa, almost half of those affected are children under 15 years. Patients who are not treated early can suffer long-term disability and early diagnosis and treatment are the only ways to minimise morbidity and prevent disability. Treatment relies on antibiotics, wound care and surgery.
  • Mycetoma is a chronic, progressively destructive inflammatory disease usually of the foot. Infection is probably acquired by traumatic inoculation of certain fungi or ?bacteria into the subcutaneous tissue. Mycetoma commonly affects young adults, particularly males between 20 and 40 years, mostly in developing countries. Manual workers such as agriculturalists, labourers and herdsmen are the worst affected. Mycetoma has numerous adverse medical, health and socioeconomic impacts on patients, communities and health authorities. Data on incidence and prevalence is limited and early detection and treatment is important to reduce morbidity and improve treatment outcomes.

Focus of the call

To reduce the public health burden of severe stigmatising skin diseases in LMICs through research which address one or more of the following areas:

  • research which seeks to improve prevention and/or clinical management in LMICs, in particular in the poorest populations;
  • research into disease manifestation and prevalence in LMICs, which can inform planning and policy making;
  • research seeking improvements in prevention including effective tools to promote diagnosis of early infection;
  • research on delivery of timely, appropriate and improved treatment strategies;
  • research on how to address issues related to stigma and other social issues related to these conditions;
  • mixed method studies across disciplines, for example how to best support effective interventions and improve access to services to improve treatment;
  • health systems and/or implementation research addressing access, cost-effectiveness and acceptance of available prevention and treatment programmes.

Please note that research on skin conditions associated with cancer is not eligible under this call.

RIGHT Programme Call 1 – Outline

The NIHR RIGHT call 1 is a two stage competition. Stage 1 is a short-listing outline stage. Stage 2 is for successful Stage 1 applicants to produce a full application. There will be an independent peer review at both stages and an international Panel will consider eligible applications at both stages.
This document sets out the process for Stage 1 applications. It should be read in conjunction with the Finance Guidance for Applicants.

Remit

The NIHR RIGHT programme – Call 1 will support:

  • applied health research projects/programmes that is of primary and direct benefit to people and patients in LMICs, which address the challenges faced by LMICs in the following areas: epilepsy, infection-related cancers and severe stigmatising skin diseases;
  • interdisciplinary applied research teams with demonstrable expertise and a track record of ensuring clinical research is transferred into benefits for patients – this can include teams in LMICs as well as teams and researchers who may want to build new research partnerships with colleagues in LMICs or apply their research expertise to global health challenges in these areas;
  • proposals that incorporate research questions around gender, social barriers to health, economic impact and equity, that demonstrate strong partnerships with institutions in LMICs;
  • applications which include appropriate researchers from disease endemic regions and demonstrate equitable research partnerships;
  • applications which demonstrate plans for equitable partnership building and engagement between UK research organisations and researchers and other partners in LMICs;
  • applications which include relevant engagement with policy makers, patients and the public, civil society organisations and charities.

The NIHR RIGHT Programme – Call 1 will not support:

  • applications with a focus on basic research or experimental medicine, including research on animals, will not be funded through this initiative;
  • costs to establish biobanks, bio-sample collections or new patient cohorts are not eligible under this initiative (samples or data from existing cohorts may be used in applications);
  • applications consisting solely of evaluations of existing services, where the programme of work does not include evidence-based development and improvement of these services;
  • applications solely comprising a single Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT);
  • applications that solely replicate research already undertaken in High-Income Countries – research proposals should be clearly relevant to the LMICs in which the research is being undertaken.

Applicants should also note that NIHR RIGHT – Call 1 would not typically support applications that primarily focus on observational research, secondary research or health policy implementation.

Eligibility

Applications are invited from UK-based (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) Higher Education Institutions and research institutes. Non-UK institutions in High-Income Countries can be included in the application if there is a strong justification as to why the expertise they are bringing cannot be found in the UK or in an LMIC. Evidence for this, needs to be provided in the application. Applications from joint groupings of UK institutions will be considered, though a lead UK institution must be specified.
The research must be focused on improving the health and welfare of the poorest and most vulnerable people in LMICs. In order to be eligible to receive ODA funding, applications must demonstrate how they meet ODA compliance criteria and outline:

  • Which country or countries on the DAC list of ODA eligible countries will directly benefit?
  • How the application is directly and primarily relevant to the development challenges of those countries?
  • How the outcomes will promote the health and welfare of a country or countries on the DAC list?

Selection criteria for Stage 1

The selection criteria for Stage 1 will be:

  • relevance of the proposed research to the research requirement outlined in the Remit (above)
  • quality of the research design and work plan (i.e. clear research questions/ objectives, sound design and detailed methodology to address the questions/meet the objectives; clear milestones, identification of possible risks and factoring in of ethical considerations)
  • strength of the research team (i.e. depth and breadth of relevant expertise and track record of applicants in a related area)
  • impact of the proposed work (i.e. likelihood of significant contribution to the evidence base in the relevant area) and plans for engagement with policy makers, communities and the public at an early stage.

Selection process

All eligible applications will be considered by an Independent Selection Panel that will make recommendations to the Department of Health and Social Care.

  • The timetable for Stage 1 selection process will be
  • call launch – Thursday, 21 June 2018
  • deadline for receipt of Stage 1 applications via the online RMS system – Wednesday, 1 August 2018 at 13:00
  • selection panel review the applications and make recommendations – Friday 19 October 2018
  • applicants notified of outcome of Stage 1 – Tuesday, 30 October 2018
  • Stage 2 opens for successful Stage 1 applicants – Tuesday, 30 October 2018.

Budget

The total amount of NIHR funding available for this competition is £30 million. Awards of typical range £3-5 million over 3-4 years are available for ODA-eligible research, starting June 2019. The amount awarded and the length of the funding period should be fully justified according to the nature of the proposed research.

Eligible costs for RIGHT- Call 1 include:

  • research staff engaged in relevant research
  • research support staff supporting relevant research
  • travel, subsistence and conference costs
  • equipment
  • consumables
  • community and public involvement
  • dissemination
  • risk management and assurance
  • non-pay research costs
  • other legitimate and reasonable indirect costs (e.g. accommodation, HR, finance).

Applicants that are successful at Stage 1 and invited to submit a Stage 2 application will be eligible to apply for funding of up to £10,000 to support proposal and partnership development, and the preparation of the full proposal to be submitted for Stage 2. A one page narrative proposal and a proposed budget for this award should be submitted for approval to NIHR within two weeks of announcement of the Stage 2 shortlisting. NIHR may challenge proposed costs that it does not consider appropriate or does not offer Value for Money, for example Business Class travel. Applicants should then include an invoice for the approved proposal preparation budget with their full application at Stage 2. Please note, Lead Applicant organisations will need to pre-finance these activities once approved by NIHR.

For further information on costs, please see the Finance Guidance for Applicants.

Completing your application

You must complete an online application via the Research Management System (RMS). The closing date for applications is Wednesday, 1 August 2018 at 13:00. A word template of the Stage 1 application form is available on the NIHR website for reference only.

Section 1: Application summary information

Host organisation

Provide details of the organisation who will be the contractor (i.e. the organisation who will sign the contract with DHSC) if the programme is funded. If your organisation does not appear on the list, please contact the Central Commissioning Facility.

Research title

The programme title should state clearly and concisely the proposed research. Any abbreviations should be spelled out in full.

Research type

Select the appropriate research type. If your proposed programme is predominantly primary research, please select ‘Primary Research’. If you are predominantly carrying out new analysis of existing data, select ‘Secondary Research’. If you are not sure which category to select, choose the closest match to your project as this can be adjusted later.

Proposed start date

Note this should be from 1st of the month, regardless of whether this is a working day or not. Please be realistic about your possible start date taking account of the necessary contracting and staff recruitment prior to starting your project.

Research duration (months)

Ensure you include sufficient time to complete all aspects of the research including applications for regulatory approvals (where required) and the final report.

End date

This field will automatically populate once you have entered the start date and research duration information.

Estimated research costs

Enter the total budget for research costs requested on the application form (see Finance Guidance for Applicants)
At Stage 1, applicants are required to provide a total figure for the costs on the application form and to provide further details of the cost breakdown (in particular the anticipated split of funds between the UK, LMICs any other international parties) by uploading a completed Stage 1 Financial Summary Form.

Section 2: Lead applicant CV

Complete your name, contact details and other requested information.

Section 3: Lead applicant research background

Publication record

Provide details of a maximum of six of your most recent / relevant publications (in the last ten years) relevant to this application (using Vancouver or Harvard citation format). Please include DOI reference numbers if needed.

Research grants held

Please select research grants held (as a named applicant) CURRENTLY or IN THE LAST 5 YEARS – as well as any additional previous grants, relevant to this application, stating who the grant is with and the amount of each grant. If no grants are held please enter N/A (as this is a mandatory field). For more information about resubmission of a research/trainee funding application, or joint funding please contact the NIHR Global Health RIGHT programme team; ccf-globalhealth@nihr.ac.uk or 0208 8843 8003.

Has this application been previously submitted to this or any other funding body?

Select ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ from the drop down box to indicate whether this or a similar application has previously been submitted to this or any other funding body. For more information about resubmission of a research/ trainee funding application or joint funding, please contact the NIHR Global Health RIGHT programme team; ccf-globalhealth@nihr.ac.uk or 0208 8843 8003.

Applications submitted to other NIHR programmes

Where this application or a similar one has been submitted to this or another NIHR programme or elsewhere, please click the ‘Add’ button and complete the necessary information.

You must inform us if the application has been submitted elsewhere. This includes, but is not limited to, any facts that, should they come to light at a future date, would embarrass either the programme or the individual who withheld the fact (e.g. if a member of the team holds a patent or has a financial interest within the research area).

Failure to disclose accurately or fully will be considered by the programme as academic misconduct and treated accordingly. You should also include in this section information on whether this or a similar application has been submitted to any programme previously, or to any other funder including other NIHR programmes. You should name, and provide dates and outcomes of these. Please indicate whether you hold or have ever held an NIHR programme contract which has been terminated prior to completion, extended in time or in terms of funding.

Section 4: The Research Team

Specify your (lead applicant) role in this research

Explain in addition to your role as Lead Applicant, the role that you will be undertaking in the research (e.g. co-ordination and project management, analysis, methodological input etc.)

%FTE 

Commitment: This refers to the percentage of your time that you will commit to this project.

Co-Applicants

Add details of all co-applicants and their specific role in the programme. Do not include collaborators or partners, who should be mentioned (if necessary) in the ‘Research Plan’ section of the form.

Co-applicants are those individuals with responsibility for the day to day management and delivery of the project and can include patients, carers and service users. Co-applicants are considered part of the project team and are expected to share responsibility for its successful delivery. 

Co-applicants who are community representatives, patients or carers are not obliged to complete a standard CV but are required to provide a summary of any knowledge, skills and experience relevant to their role in the application.

We recognise and value the varied perspectives that community representatives, patients and carers bring to a project as applicants. In this section, please provide a summary of any relevant knowledge, skills and experience that you will draw upon to contribute to this project.

This could include information about:

  • Previous or present work (paid or unpaid) with any relevant organisations;
  • Links with any relevant groups, committees, networks or organisations;
  • Experience of particular health conditions, treatments, use of services - or as a member of a particular community;
  • Knowledge and experience of research including previous research undertaken;
  • Knowledge and experience of community and public involvement;
  • Skills from any other roles that are transferable;
  • Relevant qualifications, training and learning.

The bullet point list above is not exhaustive. Please include anything else that is relevant to the application.

Section 5: Plain English Summary of Research

A plain English summary is a clear and accessible explanation of your research. 

Reviewers use this summary to inform their review of your funding application If your application for funding is successful, the summary will be used on NIHR and other websites and should therefore be accessible to members of the public.

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 board and panel members) to have a better understanding of your research proposal;
  • inform others about your research such as members of the public, health professionals, policy makers and the media;
  • the research funders to publicise the research that they fund.

If it is considered that your plain English summary is not clear and of a good quality then you may be required to amend it prior to final funding approval.

It is helpful to involve patients / carers / 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;
  • community and public involvement (see below);
  • dissemination.

The plain English summary is not the same as a scientific abstract - please do not cut and paste this or other sections of your application form to create the plain English summary. Find further guidance on writing in plain English. For further support and advice on writing a plain English summary, please contact your local Research Design Service (where applicable). 

Section 6: Research Plan

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. The overall amount of information that you can provide at this stage is limited to 3 - 5 pages (dependent on the type/complexity/scale of study proposed). (Limit: 2000 words).

1. What is the problem being addressed?

Provide a clear explanation of the problem to be addressed, the impact on patients and the community as well as health and care services in LMICs and demonstrate where the evidence gap is.
Explain how your proposed research is within the remit of RIGHT programme and how it addresses the key aim of the programme to deliver research in the areas of epilepsy, infection-related cancer or severe stigmatising skin conditions in LMICs.

2. Why is this research important in terms of improving the health and/or wellbeing of the relevant populations and healthcare services in the LMIC(s)?

It is essential that you clearly identify the applied health and care challenges faced by the LMIC(s) relevant to the geographic and scientific area of your research proposal. Please outline the anticipated value or contribution the research will provide.
Briefly describe:

  • The importance of the proposed research and its relevance to the priorities and needs of the LMICs including a statement of the significance of the research area (e.g. burden of disease).
  • The anticipated outputs, outcomes and impact of the proposed research on the health and wealth of patients, the community and health and care services in LMICs; where possible, quantifying the potential benefits.
  • The anticipated timescale for the benefits to the LMICs resulting from the proposed research, and how this work will create an enduring impact / sustainable capacity or capability enhancement in the LMIC.

3. Review of existing evidence - How does the existing literature support this proposal?

Explain why this research is needed now, both in terms of time and relevance.

Briefly describe:

  • The need for research in this area, please include a summary of existing evidence and the rationale for the particular lines of research you plan to pursue.
  • How your proposed research would add distinct value to what is already known or in progress?
  • Work undertaken previously by the research team, which has led to the proposed programme (e.g. describe any pilot or feasibility data).

Applicants should be aware of ongoing research in this area and comment on any other research that might be deemed to overlap with the contents of the proposal. In particular, applicants are advised to use both PubMed Central and Europe PubMed Central and include reference to recent material on the topic area they are applying for.

Any applications that include primary research should include reference to the existing evidence and explain how this evidence has informed the proposed research. Where a systematic review already exists that summarises the available evidence this should be referenced, as well as including reference to any relevant literature published subsequent to that systematic review. Where no such systematic review exists, it is expected that the applicants will undertake an appropriate review of the currently available and relevant evidence and summarise this in their proposal.

4. What is/are the research question(s)/aims and objectives?

This section should be used to indicate the overarching aims/objectives of the research, outlining the key question(s), which the work will address and, where appropriate, the main hypothesis.

5. Team experience and expertise

Describe the skills, experience and expertise of the team that makes it well placed to carry out the proposed research. Please also list and explain the role of key collaborators or partners (i.e. those individuals who provide a substantial intellectual contribution and/or will play a role in delivering the programme of work).

6. Approach to creating sustainable and equitable partnerships with partners in LMICs

Include details of your approach to, and plans to, create equitable partnerships between researchers in LMICs and the UK. If already established, please give clear details of the involvement of individuals and organisations based in the LMIC in the development of the research proposal and in undertaking the research.

7. Community and public involvement

The NIHR has well established requirements for patient and public involvement in the research that it funds. In this global health research call, we refer throughout to ‘community and public involvement’ rather than ‘patient and public involvement’. This is to emphasise the importance of involving relevant community groups and organisations from LMICs in an early and sustained manner throughout the research process.

The NIHR expects appropriate and relevant involvement of communities, patients, carers and other key stakeholders in the research it supports. It is essential to set out your approach to involving relevant community groups and organisations, patients and carers in the Stage 1 application. Consider the following issues in your response and include anything else that will give us a clear description of your approach:

  • What is the purpose of community and public involvement in your research?
  • How do you plan to identify relevant communities and organisations as potential partners from LMICs?
  • How do you plan to establish effective ways of communicating?
  • How do you plan to support and enable relevant community groups, organisations to contribute to the research as partners?
  • If you have involved relevant community groups and organisations in the development of your application, what you have changed or included as a result?

Information and resources to assist you can be found on the INVOLVE website (a detailed definition of patient and public involvement in research, briefing notes for researchers on how to involve patients and the public and an involvement cost calculator and budgeting guide).

You may also find it helpful to refer to Mesh, a collaborative open-access web space that provides resources, encourages networking and shares good practice to bridge the gap between the research community and the general public in LMICs.
Your community and public involvement plans will be assessed by the peer reviewers and Independent Selection Panel including public members.
Please note that applicants invited to submit a Stage 2 application will also be invited to participate in a webinar / workshop (TBC) on community and public involvement in research

8. Project plan

Provide an expert summary of the project plan of investigation (e.g. deliverables, methods, approach to patient and community involvement, timescales), plus any additional points required to support statements made in the previous sections, and include any key references required to justify the points made (e.g. in the use of particular outcome measures or methods of analysis). References should be provided as an attachment (see section 7: Uploads). Please clearly outline the likely risks and challenges, as well as mitigating actions, in delivering the proposed work.

Section 7: Uploads

Mandatory

  • One single-side A4 page, listing references used throughout your proposal.
  • Budget breakdown – At this stage applicants are required to provide a total figure for the costs on the application form and to provide further details of the cost breakdown (in particular the anticipated split of funds between the UK, LMICs and any other international parties) by uploading a completed Stage 1 Financial Summary Form.

Non-mandatory

If required, an additional supporting (single side of A4) document can be submitted with your application form (e.g. a flow diagram illustrating the study design and the flow of participants, Gantt chart, pictures, diagrams etc.). If submitting a flow diagram, applicants should also describe complex interventions and controls as accurately and fully as possible within their diagram. Alternatively, you may find the EQUATOR Network website useful (www.equator-network.org). The PDF file should be submitted along with your application form.

Section 8: Administrative contact details

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.

Section 9: Research and Development office contact details

Please provide the contact details and job title of a person in the R&D office, so that we are able to notify them of the outcome of this application including any associated feedback.

NOTE: Please note this person does not need to be included as a co-applicant.

Section 10: Acknowledge, review and submit

Conflict checks

Please declare any conflicts or potential conflicts of interest that you or your co-applicants may have in undertaking this research, including any relevant, non-personal and commercial interest that could be perceived as a conflict of interest.

Agreement

As lead applicant, please tick the box to confirm that the information entered into the application form is correct and that you take responsibility for overall management and delivery of the research.

Checklist of information to include when submitting a NIHR Stage 1 research application

Applicants should click the checkboxes to indicate that they have included the necessary information prior to submitting their application.

  • A good quality Plain English Summary 

  • A clear explanation of the problem being addressed

  • A clear demonstration of the need and importance of the research

  • A review of existing literature (primary research)

  • A clear research question / aim(s) and objectives

  • A clear project plan summarising the study design and methods

  • A clear description of team member roles and contribution

  • Appropriate and relevant community and public involvement

  • A single A4 page of references (document upload), mandatory

  • RIGHT Stage 1 Financial Summary Form (document upload), mandatory.