Funding opportunities

NIHR Manchester BRC Pre-Application Support Fund

Open for applications

Are you a Nurse, Midwife, Allied Health Professional (AHP) or other regulated healthcare professional working within the NIHR Manchester BRC partner NHS Trusts*? Are you looking to advance your clinical academic career?

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) has been awarded additional Pre-Application Support block funding from NIHR. This funding is now available to support healthcare professionals at all career stages who need additional assistance in preparing competitive and successful applications for future NIHR career development fellowships or research grants. Please note that the availability of this funding is subject to confirmation of availability of NIHR funds.

The aim of this funding is to provide enhanced opportunities to those who may not otherwise have sufficient support to apply for NIHR career development funding. We encourage applications from healthcare professionals from all backgrounds and communities to promote diversity and inclusivity in the research field. The availability of this funding is contingent on receipt of this money from NIHR and may be subject to change.

Priority will be given to:

• Applicants seeking to apply for NIHR fellowships or research grants, including:
  • Pre-doctoral Fellowships
  • Development and Skills Enhancement (DSE) Award
  • Pre-doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship (PCAF)
  • In-practice Fellowship
  • Senior Clinical and Practitioner Research Award
  • Pre-doctoral Local Authority Fellowship Scheme (PLAF)
• Individuals who can clearly demonstrate the need for additional support and how this funding will strengthen their planned application to an NIHR career development scheme.

What the funding can be used for:

•  Salary contribution up to £10,000: To allow time for the preparation of an application.
• Training and development: Relevant training, mentorship or supervisory costs directly related to developing your application.
• Additional support: For instance, costs associated with Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE).

Please note if successful, you will be required to submit your competitive application to NIHR for the career development fellowship or research grant supported by this funding by December 2027.

How to apply

To apply, please complete the Pre-Application Support Fund Application Form and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Form linked below, outlining your clinical-academic experience and detailing how you intend to use the funding to support your career ambitions. Applicants must also outline their supervision plans and include approval from their line manager.

• Application Form
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Form

If you are currently applying to another NIHR career development scheme, please state this within your application.

Please note, the awards are competitive and will be reviewed by a panel.

Key dates:

• Submission deadline: Monday 2 December at 12pm.
• Outcome announcement: Thursday 12 December 2024.
• Awards start by January 2025.

For an informal discussion or to submit your application, please contact Lisa Murray, BRC Education and Training Manager at lisa.murray@mft.nhs.uk

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*Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

NIHR Manchester BRC Core Pump Prime Funding Call

Open for applications

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) is committed to delivering pioneering, impactful translational research across our diverse, all age populations with a key focus on directly benefiting health outcomes. Children’s research is a core strategic priority, and we are looking to support, facilitate and grow further projects and collaborations.

We are inviting researchers and collaborators to apply for funding of up to £50,000 to support research focused on understanding and improving the mental health and well-being of teens and young adults living with long-term chronic health conditions. This new funding call aims to address the unique mental health challenges faced by this population and to develop interventions, strategies, and resources to enhance their psychological well-being and quality of life. Applications are expected to demonstrate cross discipline collaboration which requires more than one disease area to be included.

Applications are invited for research that explores, but is not limited to;

• Psychosocial Impact of Long-Term Health Conditions
• Intersectionality of Health Conditions and Mental Health
• Access to Mental Health Support
• Transitioning from Paediatric to Adult Care
• Prevention and Early Intervention
• Digital and Technological Interventions

Applicant eligibility

This funding call is open to researchers with expertise in mental health, long-term health conditions in young people, youth and adolescent health experts, and related areas. Applications from early career researchers, are encouraged as are applications from nursing, allied health professional, psychologist, pharmacist, and healthcare scientist staff groups, along with other healthcare professionals.

We actively encourage and promote applications which demonstrate meaningful collaboration with any Higher Education Institute (HEI) within the Greater Manchester area.

The lead applicant must hold an appropriate contract with a Manchester BRC partner organisation and/or with a Higher Education Institute (HEI) within the Greater Manchester area.

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Funding Call Timeline

• Project duration: 12 months
• Funding Call open: Monday 18 November 2024
• Open Teams meeting: 10 December 2024, 1.00pm – 2.00pm. (This online meeting will include an introduction to the funding call, PPIE introduction and provide an opportunity for Q&A’s. Please register your interest in attending using the contact details below.)

• Deadline for Vocal PPIE support: 17 January 2025
• Funding Call closes: 14 February 2025
• Panel Review: 18 March 2025
• Award Letters Issued: Week beginning 31 March 2025
• Project Start Date: 1 April 2025
• Project End Date: 31 March 2025

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To apply for this funding opportunity, please fill in the application form here.

For further information, please review the Funding Call Terms and Conditions document here before applying.

For more details on the award assessment, applicant eligibility and timeline, click here.

For ‘A brief guide to patient and public involvement and qualitative methods within health and social care research’, click here.

For Voice Up’s Top Tips on Writing health research documents for children and young people, click here.

For more information on ‘Qualitative research and patient and public involvement in health and social care research: What are the key differences?’, click here.

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• For further enquiries please contact Lynsey Priest, Manchester BRC Strategic Project Manager: lynsey.priest@mft.nhs.uk

View current funding opportunities from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) on their website.

• Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
• Horizon Europe
• Innovate UK
• Medical Research Council (MRC)
• Wellcome