Transcript PC presentation

Funding for research in
Scotland - a CSO view
Peter Craig
Scottish Infection Research Network,
10 February 2010
Outline
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CSO Strategy
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Our place in the funding landscape
CSO application process
What we look for in a good application
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CSO Strategy, 2010-14
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Ambition
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To place Scotland at the international
forefront of clinical translational research and
the development of systems medicine
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Four aims
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Securing benefit
Improving population health
Investing in NHS research
Building and sustaining skills
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Securing benefit
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Support for translational research leading to patient
or population benefit
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Securing benefit
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Support for translational research leading to
patient or population benefit
Refocusing project grant funding
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Experimental and Translational Medicine
Health Services and Population Health
Targeted calls for small translational grants
Healthcare improvement science
Contribute to NIHR HTA and HSR
programmes
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Improving population health
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Strengthen the evidence base for improving
health in Scotland
CSO grants for early phase development and
testing of interventions
Contribute to NIHR PHR Programme, NPRI,
etc., for large scale intervention studies
Strengthen infrastructure for record linkage
and streamline governance processes
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Investing in NHS research
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To create an efficient and effective national
portal through which clinical trials may be
negotiated, costed and progressed on a
Scotland-wide basis.
To strengthen the system of co-ordinated
R&D management approval for multicentre
studies
To implement efficient and equitable funding
formulae that link resources to activity.
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Building and sustaining skills
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Clinical research networks
Core-funded research units
Collaborative ventures, e.g. SCPHRP
Build capacity for research on management,
organisations, services and systems
responsible for healthcare delivery in
Scotland
Personal awards
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Measuring benefits
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Our place in the funding
landscape
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Translational rather than basic research
Investing in research capacity and research
infrastructure
Supporting early phase development, piloting
and testing of interventions
Collaborating with other UK funders to
support large-scale intervention studies
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Full grants
Outline
application
Resubmit
outline
Referee
reports
Resubmit
application
Full
application
Referee
reports
Reject
Funding
committee
Fund
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Small grants
Full
application
Referee
reports
Applicants
CSO RMs
Reject
Fund
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Approach
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Get to know your funder
Respond constructively to referees, etc
Work as a team
Pay attention to detail
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What do we look for in a good
grant application?
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Introduction
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Pilot studies
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Concise, systematic review of the evidence
Handle with care
Aims and research questions
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How many?
Original, answerable, relevant
Appropriate to research phase
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What do we look for in a good
grant application?
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Methods
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Fit for purpose
Use guidelines where possible
 CONSORT, STROBE, TREND, etc. (www.equator-
network.org/home/)
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Resources
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MRC – complex interventions
(www.mrc.ac.uk/complexinterventionsguidance)
Timetable
Expertise available
Justification of requirements
What is ‘value for money’?
Reporting, dissemination, implementation
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Range of outputs
Realistic expectations
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Common pitfalls
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Inappropriate objectives
Too many research questions
Over-complication
Sample size determination
Recruitment, attrition, exclusion criteria
Inadequately developed interventions
Keys skills (stats, economics, etc.) missing
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Some general rules
Applications should
 Address a worthwhile question
 Use appropriate methods
 Fit the funder’s remit
 Be able to deliver with the resources
requested
 Be well-written, clear and convincing
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Further information
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Chief Scientist Office
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www.cso.scot.nhs.uk
For advice on grant applications
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Hilary Lapsley (Health services, health improvement
science, mental health): 0131 244 2254
Peter Craig (Public health, screening, health
informatics): 0131 244 2077
Alan McNair (Experimental and translational
medicine): 0131 244 2255 (from March 2010)
Elaine Moir (Personal awards) 0131 244 2215
Email: [email protected]
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