Frequently Asked Questions

Commissioned stream

Three times a year the Public Health Research programme advertises selected research topics under the commissioned research stream.  The selected topics will have previously been prioritised as being important to public health by the Programme Advisory Board. 

7.1 How are commissioned proposals submitted?
7.2 How will commissioned proposals be assessed?
7.3 Who can suggest a research topic?

7.1 How are commissioned proposals submitted?
Outline applications can be made through the Public Health Research programme website using a standard application form.  For evidence syntheses, researchers may be invited to submit a full proposal, without an outline proposal having been submitted previously. 

7.2 How will commissioned proposals be assessed?                                                
All proposals are initially assessed against the remit of the programme (see FAQ 1.1). Proposals considered within remit will then follow this 2-stage process:

Stage 1: Outline proposals are assessed for scientific quality, feasibility and value for money by the Research Funding Board.  Adherence to the commissioning brief will also be assessed by the Research Funding Board.  Applicants shortlisted at this stage will be invited to submit a full proposal to its next meeting.                                                                                            

Stage 2: Full proposals are then considered for scientific quality, feasibility and value for money by the Research Funding Board.  Proposals may be rejected at any stage of this process

7.3 Who can suggest a research topic?
Anyone.  We welcome research suggestions from researchers, service providers, health professionals, members of the public and anyone else wanting to influence the area of public health research.  Suggestions can be made online at www.phr.nihr.ac.uk/suggest , and all suggestions received will be carefully considered by the Public Health Research programme’s research team.