NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities funding call

  • Published: 13 March 2024
  • Version: V1.0 March 2024
  • 5 min read

The NIHR has launched its first ‘Challenge’ funding call, focused on finding new ways to tackle maternity disparities.

This funding call will bring together a diverse consortium, funding research and capacity building. The aim is to increase the evidence base to address maternity inequalities, facilitating a multidisciplinary whole systems approach to address uncertainties across research, innovation and implementation.

The stage 1 process will invite organisations or small collaborations in the UK to apply to become consortium members. Successful members will come together at stage 2 to develop the work programme including large scale ambitious projects which lead to a step change and measurable improvement in maternity inequalities. Selected organisations forming the consortium will also be expected to draw in wider expertise, such as practitioners, charities, industry, implementation, and systems experts to ensure geographical spread and that research is undertaken where the need is greatest.

Recently announced as part of the Department for Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) women’s health priorities for 2024, the new funding call will target research funding to where it is needed most.

How to apply

Applications are made online via the NIHR's Research Management System. For further information, please read the applicant guidance and the call specification. There is also a frequently asked questions document covering key topics.

Webinar

A webinar was held on 18 March 2024 from 14.00 to 15.00. The recording is now available.

If you would like access to the slides, please email nihrchallenge@nihr.ac.uk 

Aims and scope

The aim of the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities is to increase the evidence base to reduce the impact of inequalities on maternal health and lead to better outcomes.

The purpose of the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities is to: 

  • Bring together a diverse consortium membership, funding research and capacity building, to increase the evidence base to address today’s maternity inequalities and develop the next generation of researchers. Capacity building in this area in the consortium will be as important as the research
  • Determine the priority theme topics within maternity inequalities, drawing upon ongoing and recent activity in this area, and develop and conduct high-quality innovative research to understand and address them
  • Undertake large scale integrated transformative projects spanning the entire research innovation pathway, with associated KPIs, to drive measurable improvements against each research theme
  • Provide a focus for maternity inequalities within the NIHR, as well as provide strategic leadership for the development of maternity inequalities research more generally 
  • Develop methodological rigour and broaden the methodological repertoire, including bringing into maternity inequalities research a number of disciplinary perspectives currently under represented
  • Ensure research is undertaken where the need is and will have the greatest impact where the need is greatest
  • Provide a programme of capacity building awards and opportunities for multidisciplinary training and career development that contribute to ongoing efforts to build research capacity and improve research awareness. Capacity building and training opportunities should be built into the consortium such that the training needs of all staff in the consortium are considered and supported.
  • Disseminate findings and support other knowledge transfer activities

In its nature, the NIHR Challenge: Maternity Inequalities will: 

  • Comprise leading academic centers of maternity inequalities research and other related relevant disciplines, working in collaboration with other relevant organisations, across the UK
  • Draw in expertise outside of the consortium membership from a range of collaborators which could include knowledge mobilization, implementation, industry, practice, community, local authority, charity, and third sector partners spanning a wide geography
  • Build a closer relationship between maternity inequalities researchers and practitioners 
  • Inform the future development of practice and ensure the findings are implementable in the current delivery system
  • Attract, develop and support a cohort of maternity inequalities researchers from a broad range of under-represented disciplines and backgrounds in research 
  • Promote and advance Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity in research subjects and in the research community itself
  • Provide evidence to inform decision-making and best practice 
  • Complement existing NIHR programmes and projects and actively seek collaboration with existing NIHR Infrastructure and other NIHR investments
  • Be directed by co-leads working with a consortium Executive Group (formed from successful consortium organisation members) and be responsible for the day-to-day running of the NIHR Challenge

Eligibility 

To achieve Membership of the consortium, organisations/collaborations will need to have a track-record of world-leading research within an area relevant to tackling maternity inequalities as well as a strong track record of developing research capacity. 

Organisations based in the UK and conducting relevant research with an expected benefit for the population of the UK will be accepted for consideration. 

While organisations are eligible to apply as a single organisation they are strongly encouraged to apply as a small collaboration with other organisations (approximately 2-4 members in total) which could include a mixture of: less established organisations, industry, practice, community, local authority, charity, and third sector, especially involving organisations where the need is greatest and where populations have been historically under-served. 

We expect collaborative applications led by an organisation to fairly and proportionally involve their partners in the application and, if selected for the consortium, in the activity undertaken by the consortium.

Funding 

Over five years, funding of up to £50m will be available to support the consortium. This will be split across research and capacity building, however the specific split will be agreed as part of the stage 2 process. In addition, the consortium will be expected to use its funding to involve organisations external to the consortium, where appropriate.  

Funding for research projects will be up to 80% FEC. Funding for capacity building will be up to 80% including FEC if proposing any PhD or Post-doctoral awards. If proposing any studentships or pre-doctoral level awards, funding will be at 100% of direct costs but no FEC. These will be negotiated via the stage 2 process. 

A portion of the overall funding will be allocated to the successful consortium for the administration of the NIHR Challenge.

The indicative budget over five years (to be confirmed as part of stage 2):

24/25: £5m

25/26: £10m

26/27: £10m

27/28: £10m

28/29:  £10m

29/30: £5m

Continuation of funding over the five-year contract period will depend upon satisfactory performance, as determined by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Please note that non-research costs such as estates and capital investment are out of scope for this award.

The organisations selected to join the consortium will be allowed to badge themselves as members of the NIHR Challenge on maternity inequalities.

Ongoing Challenge funding calls

The Challenge funding call will be the first in a series of focused funding calls, with future topics being announced in due course. The targeted investment means research in DHSC’s priority areas can be accelerated. 

The first stage of the new funding call opens on 13 March and closes on 22 May. Suitably qualified organisations/collaborations can apply to be part of the consortium. Once the consortium is established, specific research projects will be identified. 

Contact

For help with your application or any other enquiries about NIHR Challenge, contact nihrchallenge@nihr.ac.uk