Liver Disease Webinar 16 September 2019 Presenters Dr Andrew Cook, Consultant Advisor, NETSCC Dr Claire Kidgell, Assistant Director, NETSCC
Session overview • Introduction • The research brief • Tips for successful applications
Questions Please type any questions you have as we go along and we will attempt to answer them at the end of the webinar We will make copies of the slides, questions and answers available following the webinar
About NIHR • The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) invests in research to help the NHS and care providers meet the major health and social challenges they face • NIHR funds research that has the potential to improve the health of patients, the public and health and care services
Participating programmes
What is applied research? • Research with the capacity to improve patient and public outcomes and NHS services • Multiple methodologies - not only trials Not • Discovery science • Work involving animals or animal tissue See remit of participating programmes - if in doubt ask
Liver disease – Purpose of the call Research proposals evaluating: • public health measures • health care interventions • health and social care services To improve the prevention, diagnosis and the acute and/or long-term management of liver disease.
Context (1) • 90% of liver disease is preventable but…. • Liver disease mortality has increased by 250% since 1971 • Damage can be caused by: infection (viral hepatitis) alcohol (alcohol related liver disease) excess weight/type 2 diabetes mellitus (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) iron overload (haemochromatosis) immune-mediated diseases such as primary biliary cholangitis, autoimmune hepatitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis.
Context (2) • 10-20% of the population of England at risk of developing liver disease in their lifetime • 6/700,000 individuals may have a significant degree of liver damage at any one time • 9yr gap in median age at death from liver disease in 5 most deprived areas compared 5 least deprived
Research following patient need Ensuring that NIHR research activity follows patient need by encouraging the nation’s best researchers to conduct research in areas where the health needs are greatest.
Research following patient need (1) A B
Research following patient need (2) A B
NIHR Research Development Award • A new initiative by NIHR • A small amount of additional funding (up to £10K) to incentivise and support those NHS organisations with limited research activity to undertake high quality research and increase patient participation. • Justification as to the need for the award and details of how this additional funding will be used, for example, to ensure protected research time for front line staff. • A letter of support from the recipient NHS organisation is required as part of the stage 1 application guaranteeing support for the award and how this would be strategically important to the organisation. • Details of these additional costs and justification should be included in the overall budget as part of the stage 1 application.
What are we looking for? (1) Welcome applications which address one or more of the eight recommendations highlighted in the Lancet Standing Commission’s fourth report (Williams, 2017). Also consider the research priorities identified amongst others through the: • Alcohol-related Liver Disease James Lind Alliance (JLA) Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) • Non-alcohol-related liver and gallbladder disorders JLA PSP • Updated NICE guidance on Alcohol interventions in secondary and further education
What are we looking for? (2) • Several broad themes with examples of particular areas of interest which include the evaluation of both local and National initiatives • All research proposals should address the potential impact on health inequalities and equity of access. • These are EXAMPLES of potential areas of interest for research and DO NOT represent an exhaustive list.
What are we looking for? (3) • Reducing health inequalities • Identification strategies and engagement between services • Behavioural interventions • Management of serious complications of cirrhosis • Organ transplant • What to do once liver disease has been identified • Non alcohol related fatty Liver • Hepatitis • Paediatrics
What are we NOT looking for? • Existing published and ongoing projects • There are a number of existing published and ongoing projects in the area of liver disease across the NIHR research programmes and more widely • It is important for potential applicants to be aware of the existing NIHR research portfolio
General Points • Applicants will apply to the cross-programme call, not to a specific programme • Applications must be in remit of one, some or all of the NETS programmes – EME, HTA, HS&DR and PHR – info on website • Welcome ambitious applications spanning several remits and comprising of co-ordinated teams of investigators spanning several disciplines and centres • Research following patient need – ensuring that NIHR research activity follows patient need by encouraging the nation’s best researchers to conduct research in areas where the health needs are greatest • Co-production
How to make a good application • Explain why your research is important • Clearly state how research addresses an explicit evidence gap – refer to ongoing research and justify • Consider user acceptability and uptake – involve PPI • Consider and justify why the research is good use of public money. How does it have the potential to improve health and care? • Consider your dissemination methods and audience from the outset – how will you demonstrate the impact of your research? • Consider and explain any potential conflicts of interest
How to make a good application • Get the right team – multidisciplinary, relevant skills • Realistic estimate of costs at stage 1, full costs at stage 2 – allow enough time for information gathering • Presentation to committee – information should be clear to non-experts in the area • Include diagrams, such as flow diagram or consort diagram for a trial • Reference major or related work in train and how your application will add-value to the existing evidence base
Scientific robustness • Appropriate and robust design and methodology to deliver the required study outcomes • Clear and well justified sample size and effect size – show your workings • Outcome – appropriate to proposal • Backed by a Clinical Trials Unit (where appropriate)
Involve the public & patients Public and Patient involvement (PPI) matters to the NIHR • Embed in your study at early stage and throughout the life of the project • Consider how public and patients will be involved in o Study design / application o In the study itself o In dissemination of the results • Clarify in the application how public and patients will be involved • Explain how PPI will benefit the research - include rationale, activity and training
Stage 1 applications • Internal remit and competitiveness check • Stage 1 applications will then be considered by the most appropriate funding committee
Stage 2 applications • If shortlisted you will have about 8-10 weeks to produce a second stage application • Stage 2 applications will be peer reviewed • Applications will then be considered by funding committees and a recommendation to fund or not is made – if funded usually fund with changes
How to make a good full application • At stage 2 – feedback received from the funding committees is meant to be helpful • Applicants should ensure they respond fully to all areas highlighted by the funding committee • Proof read – errors in application lead to reduced confidence in the team – ensure changes made between first and second stage application are consistent throughout
Further support for researchers • NIHR Research Design Service • NIHR Website, NIHR Journals Library website, NIHR Open Data Platform, NIHR Funding and Awards website • Enquiries - whether remit or process, contact the email address provided in commissioning brief crossprogramme@nihr.ac.uk
Apply by 1.00pm on Wednesday 27 November 2019 GOOD LUCK!
Any questions?
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