Information > NIHR Programmes > Programme Grants for Applied Research

Calls for proposals are advertised on the NIHR website. 
 

The grants are awarded competitively to NHS Trusts for a three to five year period, to ensure stability and support for top quality research groups working within the NHS. Each programme funds a series of related projects under a coherent theme in a high priority area or NHS need. The grants will replace programmes of research currently supported by the Priorities and Needs (PNF) component of NHS R&D Support Funding for NHS Providers.

 
Thematic areas

The first competition was limited to research areas in Mental Health, Medicines for Children, Diabetes, Stroke, and Dementias, neurodegenerative diseases and neurology. From April 2007, the NIHR will accept applications in all areas of research.

 
Who it’s for

These awards are directed towards leading researchers who will have to be able to demonstrate an impressive track-record of achievement in research based on publications and previous research funding.

 
Funding

The programme grants will have an annual budget of £75 million once it reaches full capacity. The funding will increase over the three years of the NHS R&D transition. The budget in the first year will be £15 million. Programme grants will be substantial awards of approximately £2 million per programme and will normally last three to five years.

 
Process

The programme will be managed by the NIHR Central Commissioning Facility (CCF). Application is a two-stage process: 1) Potential applicants submit to the CCF a brief (one page) outline of their proposal, and short CVs of the principal applicants; 2) The CCF will invite a full application from those who meet the selection criteria and are short-listed.

 

All applications will be peer reviewed and then considered for funding by a panel of experts that will include a broad range of practitioners from the NHS.

 
Criteria

Applications will be judged on the quality of the research proposed, the significance and potential benefit of that research to the NHS, and value for money.

 
 

Feedback from the Programme Grants for Applied Research Scheme
Information on what makes a successful application from the first round of applications can be found on the NIHR website under ‘the feedback’ on the Programme Grants for Applied Research webpage.

Further information on the Programme Grants for Applied Research funding stream can also be found on the NIHR website.

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