NIHR Programme Grants for Applied Research
Funding for leading applied research teams in England to improve health outcomes in areas of priority or need.
Fund Information
| Funding body: | National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) |
| Maximum value: | Discretionary |
| Application deadline: | 24/07/2019 |
Extended Description
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) works to maintain a health-related research system in which the NHS supports outstanding researchers, based in world-class facilities, engaged in cutting edge research focusing on the needs of patients and the public.
The NIHR Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR) scheme encourages NHS and academic partners to work together, addressing complex healthcare problems in ways that are not always possible through other programmes. Awards are made to leading applied research teams in England to improve health outcomes in areas of priority or need.
PGfAR is a response mode programme aiming to:
- Deliver research findings with a practical application for the benefit of patients within three to five years of the end of the funding award, typically through promotion of health, prevention of ill health, and optimal disease management (including safety and quality), with particular emphasis on conditions causing significant disease burden, where other research funders may not be focused or there is insufficient funding available.
- Enable NHS bodies and other providers of NHS services to tackle areas of high priority or need.
- Provide some stability of funding to support the long-term development of top quality applied research groups working in the NHS.
Individual programmes consist of an interrelated group of high-quality projects focused on a coherent theme, requiring multidisciplinary approaches, including clinical, health economics, statistics, qualitative and behavioural sciences, to ensure that research objectives can be met. Applications in all areas of applied health research are accepted.
Periodically, NIHR issues new themed calls, highlight notices or emphasises continued interest in areas of particular importance or priority. The themed calls for 2019 are:
NIHR Themed Call on Management of Chronic Pain – in partnership with Versus Arthritis
PGfAR is participating in the NIHR themed call on the management of chronic pain, in partnership with Versus Arthritis. The themed call seeks to address its Pain Roadmap priorities (stratification, management and support, and prevention) in arthritis disease management and applied health research. Co-funding is available for appropriate studies for all competitions open in 2019, with potential for ongoing activity in 2020. The aims and scope of applications must fall within the normal remit of PGfAR.
NIHR Themed Call on Frailty – ‘Improving the outcomes of health and social care for frail people and their carers’
Proposals are invited for health and social care research that slows or prevents further declines in health, or supports/promotes healthy ageing, independence and wellbeing. Research should take into account the wider health and social care needs of the individual and their family/carers. This themed call applies to PGfAR competitions 29 and 30.
Note: The PGfAR scheme is open to all relevant research areas, not just the themed calls listed above.
Eligibility Criteria
All NHS organisations and other providers of NHS services in England may apply in collaboration with an appropriate academic partner or partners. Bids may be submitted by consortia including more than one NHS body or other provider of NHS services. Bids may include support for patient/consumer groups leading or participating in programmes of research.
Academic partners can be located outside England if an appropriate case is made in the application.
Value Notes
The amount awarded and the length of the funding period depends on the nature of the proposed work, in particular whether or not the proposal includes a substantial powered trial. Very few awards exceeding £2.5 million beyond six years are made.
Applications terminating in pilot or feasibility trials will receive reduced funding (normally under £500,000 over three years, but up to £1 million for difficult/complex interventions).
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