Apply to register a non-commercial study onto the Associate PI Scheme
Register your study for the Associate PI Scheme
Register your NIHR Portfolio research study for the Associate PI Scheme.
Health and care professionals are mentored by a local PI and can help deliver trials.
Why should I register my study for the Associate PI Scheme?
Study teams have told us that having Associate PIs work on their studies:
- increases support for the trial at your site
- improves the quality of data
- speeds up their delivery
- improves recruitment of participants
- builds capacity in the team
- supports a culture of research within your department
Is the Associate PI Scheme suitable for my study?
If the statements below apply to your study, then the Associate PI Scheme could be the ideal opportunity for your research. My study:
- is on an NIHR portfolio
- has received all relevant governance approvals
- has at least 6 months of recruitment activity left
- has a managing organisation - a CTU, sponsor, or equivalent body
- sits under one of the supported NIHR Managing Specialties.
- offers Associate PI trainees the opportunity to experience and develop skills on:
- the local implementation of studies
- being personally involved in recruiting participants (this includes having the opportunity to facilitate or shadow informed consenting)
- reviewing screening and delegation logs
- interacting with the National Study Team
- engaging with, and developing, the local team to deliver a study
Please read see our FAQs for for more full details of Associate PI Scheme eligibility criteria.
How to register a study for the Associate PI Scheme
- Step 1: Check your study meets the Study Eligibility Criteria
- Step 2: Register your study
- Step 3: Promote the scheme to your study sites
- Step 4: Keep track of your Associate PIs
- Step 5: Acknowledge Associate PIs in publications
Before you get started, we highly recommend you watch the study application instructions video below.
Step 1: Check your study meets the Study Eligibility Criteria
For a study to be eligible for the Associate PI Scheme, it must meet the eligibility criteria that is laid out in our study eligibility criteria. If you have further questions about the eligibility of your study, please contact the Associate PI Scheme central team at associatepischeme@nihr.ac.uk.
Step 2: Register your study
It is the responsibility of the study team to register the study for the Associate PI Scheme. Studies can be registered by a member of the Study Team, such as the Trial Manager or Chief Investigator, or the Director/Deputy Director of the Clinical Trials Unit.
- If you wish to register a Non-Commercial study please submit an application form on NIHR Learn.
- If you wish to register a Commercial study, please contact the Associate PI Scheme central team at associatepischeme@nihr.ac.uk.
Once we receive your application, it will be assessed by the Associate PI Scheme Team against the eligibility criteria. Confirmation will also be sought from the CI of the study and the nominated signatory from the study’s Managing Organisation.
Application Tip: Some nhs.uk & nhs.net accounts may experience issues receiving our emails. Please check your 'Junk/Spam' email folder and mark the associatepischeme@nihr.ac.uk as 'not Junk' or 'safe' to avoid future issues. Thank you.
Step 3: Promote the scheme to your study sites
Once we have assessed your study is eligible, you will receive an email confirming that your study has joined the Associate PI Scheme, and that applicants are now able to apply to contribute towards your study on the Associate PI Scheme.
We ask that you make all of your sites aware that your study is on the Associate PI Scheme so that your sites and local PIs can encourage individuals to join the scheme.
To support this we have collated useful resources that provide guidance, suggested prompts, and promotional materials that will hopefully ensure your study and Associate PI trainees gain the most out of involvement in the scheme.
Visit the Associate PI Scheme resources website
Step 4: Keep track of your Associate PIs and Associate PI trainees
The study coordinator for your study will be given access to a dashboard that allows them to view who all of the confirmed Associate PI trainees are for their study(ies), so that they can make contact with them and encourage interaction with the National Study Team. The dashboard also details Associate PIs who have completed the scheme and are now fully certified.
Full details of how to access the Dashboard will be sent to the study coordinator.
Step 5: Acknowledge Associate PIs in publications
We encourage that certified Associate PIs are acknowledged in any publications from the study in a PubMed searchable way, such as in the appendix, as a collaborator.
Further information
If you have any questions, including about the eligibility of a study to join the scheme, please contact the Associate PI Scheme central team at associatepischeme@nihr.ac.uk.
FAQs
You may find the answers to some of your questions in our Associate PI Scheme FAQs.
Resources
Need a little extra help? Based on Associate PI trainee feedback, we have created useful resources that provide guidance, suggested prompts, and promotional materials that will hopefully ensure your study and Associate PI trainees gain the most out of involvement in the scheme.