Deadline for applications: 1 Mar 2020 23:59 (UK)
The NIHR-MRC Trials Methodology Research Partnership has made available funds for small pump-priming grants of between £2000 and £10000 specifically for methodology research projects relevant to Low and Middle Income Countries.
The way clinical trials are designed, conducted, analysed, reported and interpreted should continually be questioned so that they are optimal and responsive for a broad range of stakeholders. As such, the past decade has seen the new field of clinical trials methodology research – research about the way we design, conduct, analyse, report and interpret trials. A new MRC/NIHR Trials Methodology Research Partnership (TMRP) was initiated in June 2019 to increase capacity for trials methodology research, with the following Working Groups: Stratified Medicine, Health Informatics, Adaptive Designs, Outcomes, Trial Conduct, Health Economics, Statistical Analysis, and Global Health.
The Global Health Working Group aims to ensure that the voice of those working in clinical trials in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) is heard, as it cannot be assumed that the same methods will be important, relevant or acceptable in every context; clinical trials methodology researchers in low resourced settings may both benefit from, and contribute to, ongoing developments in clinical trial methodology research globally.
To build a global health trials methodology research community, the Global Health Working Group will aim to raise awareness of the field and scope of clinical trial methodology research to those in LMICs, signpost them to the other working groups of the TMRP and provide freely accessible information on a dedicated website, Global Health Methodology Research, hosted by The Global Health Network.
We are delighted to announce that the TMRP has made available funds for small pump-priming grants of between £2000 and £10000 specifically for methods research relevant to LMICs. These may be used for three types of activities:
- To cover the costs of conducting a small trials methodology research project (typically proof-of-principle studies to facilitate further funding through other funders)
- To host a local, national or regional workshop/meeting about trials methodology research with a view to subsequently developing a project
- To fund an exchange visit(s) to or from another TMRP member/partner working on the same project or with a view to developing a collaborative project
Eligibility
To qualify for these grants the lead applicant should:
1) Be a member of The Global Health Network (if you’re not already, just sign up now – it’s free – at https://globalresearchmethods.tghn.org/login/).
2) Be employed either by an organization in a low or middle-income country. Details of LMICs are available at www.oecd.org/dac/stats/documentupload/DAC List of ODA Recipients 2014 final.pdf or by a UK institution.
3) For exchange visits, be eligible for a visa for the host country. The awardee will be responsible for obtaining a business visa for travel to the host. The TMRP can send a letter of invitation but will take no further part in obtaining the visa. If the awardee is refused a visa, the award will be forfeited.
We are particularly interested in supporting networking within the TMRP. So, your application may be enhanced by inclusion of other individuals from other TMRP working groups. Please contact the group directly or us should you need an introduction.
For more details, or to apply, visit the call webpage.
