Renewed Research for Patient Benefit Programme Ben Morgan, Interim Assistant Director RDS WM Workshop – 05 April 2016

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Overview NIHR Research for Patient Benefit –Programme remit and new application process –Programme changes –Funding limits Preparing a research proposal –Common areas of feedback to applicants –Things to keep in mind when applying –Plain English summary guidelines –Costing applications

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) The RfPB Programme Response mode funding programme Grants may be: –Costed up to £350,000 –Feasibility applications costed up to £250k –More upstream studies costed up to £150k Three funding competitions per year Eight Regional Advisory Panels > 700 awards made to date totalling nearly £160m Overall success rate of ~22% (peer reviewed applications)

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) RfPB West Midlands Chair: Professor Scott Weich (Professor of Psychiatry, Warwick Medical School) Programme Manager: Bob Scott Project portfolio of 73 projects funded to date totalling £16.7 million WM success rate of 20% (peer reviewed applications)

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Research for Patient Benefit Supports high quality investigator-led research projects that address issues of importance to the NHS Supports qualitative or quantitative research that could: –Study the way NHS services are provided and used –Evaluate whether interventions are effective and provide value for money –Examine whether alternative means for providing healthcare would be more effective –Formally assess innovations and developments in healthcare –Assess feasibility of projects requiring major applications to other funders

Biomedical Research Centres Basic Research National Institute for Health Research This pathway covers the full range of interventions - pharmaceuticals, biologicals, biotechnologies, procedures, therapies and practices - for the full range of health and health care delivery - prevention, detection, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, care. Patient Safety Translational Research Centres Research for Patient Benefit Programme Grants for Applied Research Health Technology Assessment Invention for Innovation Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care Centre for Reviews & Dissemination, Cochrane, TARs Development Pathway Funding Public Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research INVENTION EVALUATION ADOPTION DIFFUSION Efficacy & Mechanism Evaluation NHS Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups Commissioning National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence Guidance on Health & Healthcare NHS Supply Chain Support for Procurement NHS Evidence Access to Evidence Innovation Academic Health Science Networks Patient Care Providers of NHS Services Clinical Research Facilities Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres Research Schools Horizon Scanning Centre Centre for Surgical Reconstruction & Microbiology Biomedical Research Units Medical Research Council The central role of NIHR research in the innovation pathway

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) RfPB Applications

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Funding Success Rates

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) RfPB Spend Mental Health 20% Cancer 14% Oral and Gastrointestinal 8% Neurological 7% Stroke 5% Cardiovascular 5% Musculoskeletal 5% Renal and Urogenital 5% Respiratory 6% Generic Health Relevance 4% Infection 4% Reproductive Health and Childbirth 3%

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) RfPB funding limits guidance Introduction of three funding tiers that aim to balance the probability of a proposal achieving patient benefit against its cost. Upper limit of £350,000 for research with a clear and close trajectory to patient benefit Soft ceiling of £250,000 for feasibility studies (in exceptional circumstances a well argued application could cost more) RfPB will also now consider research that is ‘higher risk’ (further from patient benefit), but should cost less than £150,000 (exceptions for proposals that might have more immediate patient impact can be made)

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Examples of £150,000 projects Observational studies Developing and refining interventions Developing new scales or outcome measures Exploratory studies that might provide insights into an intractable problem Additional follow up of patients in a completed clinical trial Post-market surveillance for unknown side-effects of a drug (Phase IV trials) Systematic reviews where the number of relevant studies is likely to be limited

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) New Investigators New investigators are encouraged to apply The team as a whole is assessed Relatively inexperienced lead applicant with sufficiently experienced and resourced co-applicants is fine RfPB is a good option for researchers looking for their first grant

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Challenges ahead Need to show efficient delivery of the programme Need to enhance engagement with the NHS by offering a more supportive assessment process

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) A renewed RfPB Two changes introduced from January 2016 (Competition 28) 1.Ten Regional Advisory Committees reduced to 8 Regional Advisory Panels (‘Panels’ to ensure consistent naming across NIHR) by merging regions 1.A new Stage 1 formative assessment to triage weak applications and offer advice/support to other applicants

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Regional Advisory Panels Merging of smaller regions for administrative efficiency South East Coast and South Central to merge: South East and Central Yorkshire and The Humber and North East to merge: Yorkshire and North East

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Regional Advisory Panels Ten regions Eight regions

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Two stage application process NIHR Standard Application Form (SAF) burdensome for ‘smaller’ RfPB grants Stage 1: Complete main sections of SAF for a formative assessment by Panel Stage 2: If invited, revise and complete rest of SAF for a summative assessment

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Stage 1 Panel assesses the main sections of application (no external reviews) – Names of applicants – Background/rationale for study – Research question(s) – Methods – Estimate of costs Is Panel interested in seeing full application? What could be done to improve it?

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Stage 2 If invited to Stage 2, Stage 1 application copied across to SAF Applicant revises Stage 1 sections in light of panel comments and completes other sections Applicants given 6 weeks to complete SAF for current round or defer until next Stage 2 application assessed by panel

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Timetable Details of new processes now available for applicants on website Competition 28 Stage 1 applications assessed in January 2016 Competition 28 Stage 2 applications (along with new Competition 29 Stage 1 applications) assessed in May 2016 Competition 30 Stage 1 to open shortly

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) How’s it going so far? All eight panels meetings occurred in late January On average, eight applications were invited to Stage 2 at each meeting Aim of 50% success rate at Stage 2 looks likely Outcomes sent to applicants much quicker (especially those who were declined at Stage 1) Initial feedback on application process and assessment has been positive from applicants and RfPB panel members

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) How can the RDS help? Highlight changes to the programme when advising applicants or at any workshops Particularly focus on the research question and the methods when advising (Stage 1) Advise of what would be required at Stage 2 (if invited) Potentially be ready to provide advice during Stage 2 submissions Provide feedback to the RfPB team

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) How can RfPB help the RDS? Programme Managers are always happy to take scope queries directly from the RDS or provide further detail on the application process Application guidance plus Word versions of both the Stage 1 and Stage 2 forms on the RfPB website Regional Programme Managers can attend away days and workshops etc, if required.

Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Questions?