How the Research Design Service can help research teams to address JLA PSP Priority Questions
Published: 04 January 2022
You may have seen the lists of funded research on the JLA website showing where research projects are addressing priorities from James Lind Alliance (JLA) Priority Setting Partnerships (PSPs). But where can researchers get help and advice about their funding applications, to give them the best chance of receiving funding for their work?
The NIHR’s Research Design Service (RDS) offers free, confidential support to health and social care researchers across England on all aspects of developing and writing a funding application, including research design, research methods, identifying funding sources and involving patients and the public. RDS advisers have lots of experience and proven track records in supporting high quality funding applications. The service supports researchers applying to NIHR research programmes, such as through the NIHR rolling call for research addressing JLA priorities, or applications to research councils and other open, national peer-reviewed funding programmes.
They are often approached by researchers wanting to use one of the JLA PSP priorities to design a research study. Using JLA PSP priorities to design a study is a really good place to start, as the importance of the research question to patients, carers and clinicians is already clear. That work of deciding which are the important questions for research has already been done by the PSP and can be highlighted to funders, who are aware of the rigorous process that JLA PSPs go through.
To make the best use of the RDS, contact your regional service at an early stage to discuss your research ideas for addressing priority areas identified by JLA PSPs.
The national RDS network operates from 10 regional centres across England. Details of how to contact your local centre can be found on their website https://www.nihr.ac.uk/explore-nihr/support/research-design-service.htm
The RDS also publishes helpful monthly blogs and you can read those here https://www.rdsblog.org.uk/