Our mission
To provide expert research design, methodological support, advice and collaboration throughout the pre- and post-funding application process.
Who we support
We provide support for applications to NIHR or external funding schemes which fund research across the NIHR remit. This includes research grant funding and fellowship schemes.
We support new and experienced researchers regardless of geographical location across England.
Types of support
Advice
We can provide advice on
- Refining your research idea and research questions
- Identifying the most appropriate funding stream and their requirements
- Choosing the appropriate methods for your research question
- Building a research team
- Involving members of the public in your research
- Inclusive approaches in research
- How to approach writing your application
- Costing your proposal
- Signpost you to other sources of research expertise
- Post-application advice
Advice and collaboration
In addition, we may link you with potential collaborators across our partners who can collaborate as co-applicants on your funding application. This is particularly for research which requires substantial study delivery infrastructure or specialist or intensive methodological support.
We have substantial expertise and infrastructure to support the design and delivery of RCTs. Our Hub includes three UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) registered clinical trials units. We can also link you up with other clinical trials units across the country through our partnership with UKCRC. Our three trials units have expertise in evaluating a wide range of different interventions ranging from behavioural to pharmacological. Two of our clinical trials units are Royal College of Surgeons Surgical Trials Centres, with specialist expertise in the design and delivery of trials of surgical interventions and devices.
Accessing support
Fill in the request for support form, completing as many of the sections as possible.
When your request is received, we follow a triage process to assess the type and level of support you require. We may allocate you with a single advisor or a group of advisors depending on your specific requirements. We can also provide information including sign-posting to resources to answer your question, or we may link you with the collaborators you need, such as in a clinical trials unit.
If allocated an advisor, they will contact you for an initial discussion about the proposal and further assess specific needs. If appropriate, the advisor will arrange for other advisors to work as a team with you, provide specialist advice, or link you with potential collaborators.
What we need from you
Development of a competitive funding application requires time therefore please contact us as soon as possible, even when your application is at its very earliest stage. We are unlikely to be able to provide the best advice and support if you approach us immediately before a submission deadline. We are unlikely to be able to support you if your submission deadline is less than 5 weeks before your request is submitted.
Where there are agreed action points during advice meetings, it is expected that these will be carried out before further meetings are arranged. This is so that we can ensure the best use of our finite resources.
We ask that you provide us with timely updates on your submission status and inform us of the outcome of your application. We can also provide you with post-application support should you require it.
From time to time we may contact you to ask you about the experience of the service.
Please contact us if you have any questions: nihr-rss@york.ac.uk