The Pre-Application Support fund allows individuals keen to develop their career in health and care research to protect their time, undertake relevant training and gain additional support to develop a competitive application for a future NIHR personal fellowship.
About the Programme
NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West Midlands has been awarded funding to offer Pre-Application Support Funding in our region.
Successful applicants will receive funding to protect their time and receive dedicated support, to develop an application for an NIHR personal fellowship scheme in the future. This local scheme complements the national NIHR Pre-Application Support Fund, which is open three times a year.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is open to anyone intending to make an application for an NIHR personal fellowship award, but we will be prioritising:
- researchers in professional groups underrepresented in the NIHR (including but not limited to):
- regulated healthcare professionals (nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, pharmacists and healthcare scientists)
- social work and public health professionals
- researchers based in local authority settings
- researchers in methodology
- those at the early stages of an academic career
- those working in the region.
What Can You Apply For?
Funding is available to:
- buy out of time from/extend your current role (at the same salary) to allow an individual to spend protected time to work up a research idea ready for fellowship application within 12 months of the award end
- support patient and public involvement and engagement costs, funded to align with NIHR guidance
- cover conference attendance and training costs that will enhance the application
- supervisor costs, anticipating that supervisors will be senior researchers and will commit to providing dedicated time to support the awardee.
We will also provide:
- Training needs analysis
- Sign-posting to an extended supervisory team and mentorship
- Sign-posting to institutional resources, including inclusive staff networks
- Bespoke training and supervision as needed including patient and public involvement and engagement, relevant methodologies, study design and data analysis, working across professional boundaries
- Pitch-to-peer sessions to develop ideas and improve applications, with access to expert academics
- Critical appraisal of draft applications and mock interview preparation.
Deadlines
All applications must be received by 5pm on Wednesday 4th December 2024.
All applicants must be able to complete their award by 31st March 2025.