Frequently Asked Questions

Proposals

5.1 How will topic proposals be generated?
5.2 Can an applicant submit more than one proposal?
5.3 Can I submit a full proposal without having submitted an outline proposal?
5.4 If my outline proposal is shortlisted by the Research Funding Board, how long is allowed to submit a full proposal?
5.5 Is feedback provided on rejected proposals?
5.6 Are resubmissions of proposals permitted?
5.7 What happens if my application is rejected?  Will my idea be used by others?
5.8 At what stage will my application be externally reviewed?
5.9 Who can become an external expert to undertake review of applications?
5.10 How does the NIHR support researchers in developing their proposals?

5.1 How will topic proposals be generated?
There will be two streams of work in the Public Health Research programme: i. Researcher-led: topics proposed by researchers.
ii. Commissioned: topics suggested from a range of sources, prioritised and selected by the Programme Advisory Board and then advertised to the research community. 
From time to time the Public Health Research programme may also carry out ‘themed calls’ asking for submissions of research proposals on specific topics.  

5.2 Can an applicant submit more than one proposal?
Yes, an applicant is welcome to submit more than one proposal.  If an individual is listed as an applicant on more than one proposal, and particularly if that individual is named as the main applicant, the Research Funding Board would carefully consider whether enough time had been allocated to each proposal to carry out the work effectively, should more than one be funded. 

5.3 Can I submit a full proposal without having submitted an outline proposal?          
No, an outline proposal needs to be submitted initially and then the applicants whose proposals become shortlisted will be invited to submit a full proposal.  Applicants will be given feedback from the Boards to inform the development of the full proposal.

5.4  If my outline proposal is shortlisted by the Research Funding Board, how long is allowed to submit a full proposal?
For the full proposal to be considered at the next Research Funding Board, applicants have 8 weeks to complete the full proposal form.  We require the form to be submitted online, together with an original signed hardcopy of the electronic form.  The guidance notes for the full proposal form are available to view. 

5.5  Is feedback provided on rejected proposals?
Applicants will be advised if their proposals fall outside the remit of the Public Health Research programme, and the reason for this decision.  If a proposal has been rejected following a meeting of either the Programme Advisory Board or the Research Funding Board, a summary of the relevant Board’s decision for rejecting the proposal will be sent to the lead applicant.  The decision for rejecting a proposal is final, and correspondence cannot be entered into on this decision.

5.6  Are resubmissions of proposals permitted?
Yes.  The Research Funding Board will invite some research teams to resubmit their proposals when considered appropriate.  Although feedback from the Boards should be taken into account when revising a proposal, it does not guarantee the success of a resubmitted proposal.  If a proposal has been rejected by any of the NETSCC Programmes, resubmission is not permitted within the following 12 months to either the Programme originally submitted to, or any of the other NETSCC Programmes.

5.7 What happens if my application is rejected? Will my idea be used by others?
Applicants should not resubmit their proposal within twelve months of their original application. If the resubmitted application is unsuccessful, or no resubmission is received within 12 months, but the topic is prioritised as important by the Programme Advisory Board, the PHR programme may review the potential for research in the topic area and may advertise for research proposals in this topic area. Previous applicants will of course be welcome to put in a proposal in response to this call.

sources. So there are occasions when the same topic is being developed by the programme and coincidentally suggested by researchers. When this occurs both processes may be allowed to proceed in parallel.

In the rare event that the nature of the question proposed is so specific that it is not possible to extrapolate a generic topic with reference to other sources in the way proposed above, the original applicant may be invited to submit a revised proposal within a year of the original application. If no such resubmission is received within this time, the Programme Advisory Board may consider advertising the question under the commissioned workstream.

5.8 At what stage will my application be externally reviewed? 
The Public Health Research programme will ask external referees to review your proposal once a full proposal has been received but before it is seen by the Research Funding Board, so that the Board can take the comments of referees into account when considering which projects should be funded.  You will be given the opportunity to respond to any questions raised by referees, and your response to these questions will form part of the paperwork reviewed by the Research Funding Board.

5.9 Who can become an external referee to undertake review of applications? Experts in the fields of public health (researchers and practitioners), associated methodological fields or members of the public who are willing to disclose their potential conflicts of interest can become referees. Please email info@phr.ac.uk if you wish to join our pool of referees.

5.10 How does the NIHR support researchers in developing their proposals?

The NIHR provides specific support to help researchers develop and design high quality research proposals through the NIHR Research Design Service and through the involvement of Clinical Trials Units in your research. For further information visit:
http://www.netscc.ac.uk/funding/developing_your_proposal.asp