RESEARCH FUNDING and PAS from 2012/13 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FROM ALL PROFESSIONS FOR FLEXIBILITY & SUSTAINABILITY FUNDING NUH Department of Research and Innovation invites applications for research funding, including research PAs. Please note that this competition will serve to replace all existing research PAs held in the Trust from April 2012 (other than those allocated by the Trent Comprehensive Local Research Network in support of portfolio clinical trials). All current holders of research PAs funded through the Department of R&I must therefore submit an application, which will be assessed in open competition. The principal source of funding for this competition is National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Flexibility and Sustainability Funding (FSF), which is awarded to NUH in recognition of our success in competition for major NIHR funding schemes. The full support of the Directorate is a requirement for all applications and you are advised to make contact with your Clinical Director at an early stage. Those who have previously coordinated block applications for FSF to support new posts (i.e. the NIHR Biomedical Research Units), are invited to discuss this call with Dr Brian Thomson, Director of Research and Innovation. The principle aims of FSF are to provide continuity of support for researchers engaged in high quality clinical research, and to support researchers who have not yet made a successful application to NIHR or equivalent competition, but can demonstrate the clear potential to do so. This call is open to clinical researchers of all backgrounds, and applications from nurses and other allied Health Professionals are welcome. Funding is also available to clinical academics holding an honorary contract with NUH for projects which further promote the strong research partnership between Trust and University. Eligibility NIHR Flexibility and Sustainability Funding can be used for; Salary costs of the following: research-related salary of a researcher who already holds an NIHR grant (i.e. an NIHR Faculty Member), whose salary is not fully covered by other NIHR sources salary costs of staff who are not yet NIHR Faculty members, but who provide evidence that they are likely to be successful in future applications for NIHR funding or other highquality external funding.
salary costs of existing Faculty members who are between grants FSF can also support: the time of existing NIHR Faculty members in preparing grant proposals the time of existing NIHR Faculty members in contributing to the wider research endeavour (e.g. membership of peer review panels) the research-related time of NHS-employed scientific, administrative and secretarial staff who are supporting Faculty members in their NIHR-related work associated non-pay costs e.g. travel costs (up to 1000 per annum) We will exceptionally consider applications from non-nihr Faculty members for time to prepare and submit grant applications to the NIHR (see form guidance) Note that FSF can only support the research-related time of researchers and support staff and cannot fund the costs of actual research projects. We will consider applications from non-nihr Faculty members for time to prepare and submit grant applications to the NIHR, together with evidence supporting the likelihood of a successful outcome (we anticipate that individuals may need up to 2 research sessions for six months to complete an NIHR Research for Patient benefit grant application and that a larger NIHR programme grant or HTA grant application may require support for 12 months). If you wish to apply for such an award you are strongly advised to identify an academic partner with a track record of successful application for NIHR funding. Assessment Criteria Applications will be assessed on the following criteria The quality of the research plan. This should describe research which is, or demonstrates potential to be, nationally-leading and internationally competitive. Fitness with Trust research strategy objectives Evidence of achievement using any previous NUH research support Evidence that proposed work will lead to a viable application to the NIHR or other high quality research funder Feasibility of proposed work Potential benefit of the proposed work to NHS patients Applicant s track record in research Value for money Project Reporting and Performance Management FSF awards will be performance-managed by the Trust. For consultants who are awarded research PAs, this will be through the annual job planning process. The Trust has appointed a pool of research-accredited appraisers for this specific purpose to ensure that personal development plans are aligned with research ambitions. Researchers who do not have an
existing framework for performance management are invited to discuss with R&I how to set this in place and must agree a set of performance indicators and the schedule of progress reports. All awards will be contingent upon an agreed process of performance management, whether through the existing appraisal process or through R&I. Decision Making Process and Timescales Call for applications opens: Monday October 10th 2011 Deadline for applications: 5pm Monday January 9th 2012 Applications will be reviewed and decisions will be made by the NUH Research Strategy Board, which is comprised of senior academics in both Trust and University. Applicants will be notified of the panel s decision by the end of February 2012. Final confirmation of funding awards will be made once R&I has been notified of the 2012/2013 FSF allocation from the Department of Health. Research Support should start on or after 1 st April 2012. Queries related to this competition should be directed to the R&I department. Please email your question to fsfqueries@nuh.nhs.uk or call extension 70674. Your query will either be answered or escalated within 24 hours.
Form Guidance Section 1 Applicant Details: Please provide your personal details as requested. Only individuals with a substantive or honorary contract with NUH will be eligible to apply for FSF. We welcome applications from both medically and non medically qualified staff. Section 2 Lay Summary: Please provide a summary of your proposed research in lay terms that can be understood by the general public. This should illustrate the problem and how it will be addressed by your proposed project. The Research Plan: You must provide a research plan in sufficient detail to allow the Strategy Board to assess the quality of your application. You must also provide project milestones with Gantt Chart if appropriate. Those already in receipt of NUH R&I funding must provide evidence of their achievements using this funding and why it to should be considered for extension. This should presented in no more that 3 sides of A4. Research plans for a maximum period of three years will be considered, with funding awarded on a rolling one year basis. Section 3 Salary costs: Please provide as accurate an estimate as possible of your salary costs. Note that you will be required to include the costs of your salary in any subsequent bid to NIHR or other external funding bodies. Section 4 Non salary costs: Please provide details of non salary costs to a maximum of 1,000 per annum. These would include travel expenses or administration costs. Research costs, course fees, software, hardware, involvement or engagement costs are not eligible non salary costs for the purposes of FSF. Section 5 NIHR or NIHR partner Grant Development. Please provide a summary on how FSF funding will enable you to prepare a viable NIHR or NIHR partner research grant application, providing details of the specific calls you are aiming to submit to. Nottingham Integrated Clinical Research Centre (NICRC) contact. You are strongly advised to consult with the EM Research Design Services or NUH R&I before submitting a completed application. This is a requirement if applying for support to prepare a grant application.
Clinical Director Approval Your application will not be accepted without agreement from your CD. Please copy your CD into the electronic application and ask him/her to email confirming support for this application to fsfapplications@nuh.nhs.uk, using the following title to the email message: Re: CD support for John Smith s application for NUH FSF. An unequivocal commitment from your Clinical Director to protect your research time within a 10 PA job plan is an absolute requirement for the provision of research support. Please note that for all successful applicants, copies of the job plan/proposed job plan showing the number of research sessions will be requested as part of the performance management plan. Submission guidance Please convert the final version of your application form to pdf format and submit as an email attachment to fsfapplications@nuh.nhs.uk. No other forms of submission will be accepted for consideration by the NUH Research Strategy Board. You will receive confirmation of receipt and any queries within 48 hours of submission. Please do not submit any attachments; please convert any necessary pictures or drawings to jpg format before incorporating in your application form. Chief Executive Director of Research and Innovation