Visit to University of Stirling Pam Hicks and

Visit to University of Stirling Pam Hicks and Jennifer Anderson Research Funding Policy and Delivery Medical Research Council 29 September 2015

Contents • MRC Mission • Current MRC grants at Stirling • MRC remit and funding opportunities • Opportunities for early Career researchers • The end to end process – submission to award • Common errors in applications

Stirling Grants Grant Ref MR/N 020030/1 MR/L 017938/1 MR/J 000523/1 Title Partnership Grant: UK funding for the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility and UK Node of the INCF Identifying and measuring key cognitions in suicidal and nonsuicidal self harm Alcohol policy interventions in Scotland England PI Prof Leslie Smith Call Research Boards Sep/Oct 15 Status In progress Dr Andrew Siddaway CRTF Pre-doc Active Dr Anne Marie Mac. Kintosh NPRI Active

Collaborations - Inbound Research Organisation (Non-UK) Number of COI Grant Reference Australia University of Wollongong 1 MR/J 000523/1

Collaborations - Outbound Collaborations Research Organisation (UK) Number of COI Edinburgh University of Edinburgh Gloucestershire 1 MR/K 023209/1 University of Bristol Lanarkshire Grant Reference 1 MR/K 025643/1 University of Glasgow MR/M 009807/1, 2 MR/L 006367/1 Glasgow Caledonian University 1 MR/L 003287/1 Nottinghamshire University of Nottingham 1 MR/K 023195/1

MRC mission • Encourage and support high-quality research with the aim of improving human health. • Produce skilled researchers. • Advance and disseminate knowledge and technology to improve the quality of life and economic competitiveness in the UK and worldwide. • Promote dialogue with the public about medical research.

MRC strategy Research Changes Lives 2014 -2019 Strategic intent: to support excellent discovery science and partnerships to promote translation to accelerate the pace of improvements in health and wealth. • Strategic Aim One: Picking research that delivers Setting research priorities which are most likely to deliver improved health outcomes • Strategic Aim Two: Research to people Bringing the benefits of excellent research to all sections of society • Strategic Aim Three: Going global Accelerating progress in international health research • Strategic Aim Four: Supporting scientists Sustaining a robust and flourishing environment for world-class research

MRC remit and partners • MRC: basic research to early clinical trials – – – • – Government departments, especially Health – Other Research Councils – Medical Charities – Industry – Innovate UK (was Technology Strategy Board) Underpinning and aetiological Prevention Detection and diagnosis Treatment development & evaluation Phase 1 & 2 trials Basic research Discovery Preclinical Other funders/partners Early Clinical Late Clinical HTA MRC BBSRC NIHR Medical Charities Innovate UK (TSB)

MRC’s Translational Research Funding Innovate UK Translational Research Support BMC: Confidence in Concept Biomedical Catalyst: DPFS Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Programme BMC: Major Awards Committee Biomedical Catalyst: RMRC Health Technology Assessment Programme Proximity to Discovery Industry Engagement Fund Basic research Prototype discovery & design Pre-clinical development Early clinical trials MRC Lead Continued commitment to basic research Late clinical trials Health Technology Assessment NIHR Lead MRC/NIHR Methodology Research Programme BBSRC & EPSRC Medical Charities

Our emerging strategic interests • Enable a more productive research base • Lead the UK response to major world-wide health challenges • Breakthroughs in complex diseases from human studies • Informatics and computation at the heart of modern interdisciplinary medical research • Promote innovative, discovery science and high-risk, high -gain basic research • Encourage interdisciplinary science • Accelerate translation and economic growth through creative working across academia and industry

Devolved funding Expand opportunities to devolve a portfolio of funding to Universities for mutual benefits in agility, flexibility and creativity Planned investment of at least £ 20 m in 2015 towards: • Translation – bridge funding gaps, support speculative early interactions, encourage collaborative R&D • People – give flexibility to tailor training and develop specific skills, encourage people exchange • Discovery – accelerate development of critical mass in important new areas of basic or interdisciplinary science

MRP Remit The programme includes: 1. Methods development to underpin biomedical and health-related sciences. 2. Methods evaluation, refinement and implementation: 3. 'Methods in research’ for developing methods and their implementation in research standards with the aim of improving quality and consistency in practice, eg consensus statements. MRP covers: – Research methods in disciplines including: biomedical, behavioural and social science, experimental medicine, randomised trials, cohorts and other designs of health, health care, health services and health policy research; 1. Developing and evaluating theory and models relevant to health sciences; 1. Methods for effective regulation (including indices for decision making), approval, adaptation and reporting of new interventions (including behavioural); 1. Research methods for valid measures of health, e. g. health outcomes, exposure and risk (including behaviour, cognition and emotion), and wellbeing.

MRP Remit Development of underpinning methodologies for areas such as: • • The design, conduct and analysis of clinical trials: methods for the assessment of risk, efficacy, safety and other issues related to regulatory approvals for new medicines, devices and diagnostics Health economics Biostatistics, mathematical and computational modelling Bio- and Health-informatics Epidemiology Behavioural sciences and health psychology, qualitative analysis and mixed methods, medical sociology, organisational and management science and bioethics Methods for effective regulation (including indices for decision making), approval, adaptation and reporting of new interventions Research methods for valid measures of health, e. g. health outcomes, exposure and risk (including behaviour, cognition and emotion), and well being.

MRP does not cover: • Wet lab methodology development, or • Technology development (although does cover statistical and computational analytic methods for data arising from these)

MRP Highlight Notices • • • Observational data in clinical decision making Multiple testing/subgroup analyses Missing data and propensity scores Assessing quality of life in carers Improved measurement methods for population science research • Methodology for stratified medicine • Improving cross-sector comparisons; Beyond QALY • Methodology for Eliciting Expert Opinion

Proximity to Discovery: Industry Engagement Fund A new funding scheme to support research organisations to use creative approaches to building relationships with industry partners. Support to allow RO to be proactive in developing new opportunities for collaboration. v Enhance academic understanding of industry or vice versa v Enabling universities to highlight opportunities for potential industry partners v People exchanges to enhance skills, knowledge and understanding v Exchanges are not expected to exceed 6 months Ø Providing awards up to £ 250, 000

Tackling the Research Challenges in AMR – a Cross Council Initiative AMR Funders Forum - research councils, DH, government bodies and charities • Antimicrobial resistance – a thematic approach £ 30 m available for research under four themes: 1. Understanding resistance – two research collaboratives and 11 innovation grants funded 2. Accelerating therapeutic and diagnostics development – calls closed 3. Understanding real world interactions – two calls launched, deadlines 6 October and 3 December 4. Behaviour within and beyond the healthcare setting – in development, call to be launched early 2016 For more info: amr@headoffice. mrc. ac. uk Europe: Joint Programming Initiative – AMR • To develop integrated approaches to pursue unique world-class research

Funding Opportunities – Managed Mode Calls • Call to lead MRC-NIHR workshop on Effect Size Methodology: Closes 1/11/2015 • Proximity to Discovery: Industrial Engagement fund: Closes 15/10/2015 • Public Health Intervention Development Scheme: Closes 19/11/2015

Funding Opportunities – Highlight notices • These areas with current MRC strategic interest. Response mode applications within these scientific remits should be submitted to the relevant board/panel • • Economic Impact Environmental Exposure and chronic disease Mechanistic research in nutrition Novel tools and technologies for vaccinology • Further information can be found at http: //www. mrc. ac. uk/funding/how-we-fund-research/highlightnotices/

Funding Opportunities for Early Career Researchers

Capacity, Skills and Infrastructure update Ø Skills review Ø Refresh priority areas Ø Build skills to complement recent capital investments Ø Careers review Ø Delivering clarity on career pathways – ‘map’ Ø Review of impact and identify barriers: Student and Fellows next destinations Ø Review mechanisms to ensure right support at right time Ø Signposting non-clinical career options Ø Supporting transitions Ø Promoting flexible opportunities Ø Aligning training investments to skills priorities

Revising skills priorities Consultation of ‘vulnerable’ skills, conducted in partnership with BBSRC: main cross-cutting themes emerging: • Quantitative skills (developing digital excellence) as applied to variety of data sources (from ‘omics’ to health records) • Interdisciplinary skills (at all interfaces including chemical/physical/engineering, social/economical and clinical, including for example imaging, health economics, antimicrobial resistance etc). • Whole organ/ organism physiology (maintains profile and priority for high-cost in vivo training – mainly for studentships) Ø Refocus Skills fellowships – early career/change discipline Ø Alignment of studentships to skill priorities Ø ‘Networked Training Investments’

MRC Fellowships - before Non Clinical, Clinical and Strategic Skills fellowships

MRC Career Framework – Going Forward

Interactive Framework (map)

MRC Early-Career Grant New Investigator Research Grants – Researchers who are capable of becoming principal investigators and who are now ready to take the next step towards that goal. – Can provide early-career scientists with a route into a permanent lectureship position. For those with a post: funding and ‘protected time’ with which to establish an independent research career – Currently between 3 and 10 years post doc research experience and should either be in first lecturer appointment, hold a junior fellowship, or be in a senior post-doctoral position – Time attributed to the NIRG project is commensurate with career stage and academic responsibilities – Usually 3 years funding – not renewable – Requires commitment from your host organisation NB Criteria currently under review

Fellowship or Research Grant? Fellowship Research Grant (inc NIRG) Only open to non-tenured staff and researchers from other research organisations Open to tenured, non-tenured and researchers from other research organisations Opportunities for predoc and postdoc researchers Postdoc researchers only for NIRGs (predocs can apply for research grants but would not be competitive) Focused on the person, then the project Focused on the project, then the person Applicant invited to interview Proposals discussed at board/panel 3 to 7 year’s funding depending on fellowship 3 year’s funding

The end to end process – submission to award

Elements of Successful Proposals • A clear rationale for the research − Background − Hypothesis − Aims • Preliminary data • Methodology • Have a plan B − Risk & Mitigation! • • People, environment − Training for fellowships Resources well justified

Making a successful application: The Abstract • Summary of the entire proposal – write it last! • Understandable by researchers outside the field – don’t underestimate the importance of the lay abstract either! • Will be the first thing read by primary reviewers • May be the ONLY thing read by other committee members (but not at MRC of course) • Will influence the way reviewers approach the rest of the proposal

What happens to your application once you hit the ‘submit’ button

Pathways to Impact Input Outputs/Outcomes Generation of new Knowledge/ publication Trained people Impacts (Academic/Economic/Social) Improvements to health (living longer and with better quality of life) Academic impact (effects on further research including other disciplines) Development of collaborative networks Funding for Research and Training Improving the performance of existing businesses Intellectual property/ Licensing Creating new businesses (that contribute to economic growth and further R&D) Research materials/ Technologies Influences on policy & practice Development of new products/processes Dissemination of research Delivering highly skilled people to the labour market Attracting R&D investment (from global business and non-UK funding sources) Improving public policy and public services (including the NHS) Engaging public support for medical research

Common reasons why applications are returned • • CVs and publications listed on one document Costs requested for open access/publishing Letter of support is not signed and/or dated Letter of support for human tissue not provided (when applicable) • Equipment costs requested at 100% • For New Investigator Research Grants: − Letter of support not signed by both Head of Dept and Vice-Chancellor (or equivalent) − Research Organisation letter of support does not include salary details − CV not on NIRG CV template

Expectations on Experimental Design in MRC Grant Applications Aims • To increase reproducibility • Ensure appropriate use of animal numbers All applications for research funding with animals must include: • Justification for use of animals • Calculations for determining sample size requested • Justification of size used • Plans for avoidance of experimental bias If these are not included in the proposal form’s ‘Statistical Analysis’ section, the application will be returned for amendment. If the issues are not satisfactorily addressed, the application will be rejected.

Expectations on Experimental Design in MRC Grant Applications For further information • Guidance: (http: //www. nc 3 rs. org. uk/arrive-guidelines ) • MRC Guidance for applicants, section 8. 2 p 39 (http: //www. mrc. ac. uk/funding/guidance-forapplicants/)

Two-stage Review Process Referee Assessment • Detailed evaluation of scientific quality, importance and resource request • Inform short-listing decisions (triage) and final funding decision • Minimum of 3 reviewers per application, mix of UK/international reviewers • Score 1 -6 • Role of Board / Panel is to consider the comments of the referees more carefully than the score, which is only ever an indicator. Board Assessment • Make funding decisions on behalf of MRC taking into account broader strategic considerations (Council & Board) and portfolio balance • Score 1 -10

Starting the process • Talk to the MRC • Consider all the options • Types of Grants − Fellowships − New Investigator Research Grants − Research Grants • Different Calls − Managed mode calls looking at specific science areas − Response Mode – Boards rounds take place 3 times a year, standing panels in field of Translation, Methodology Research Panel etc also take place on a regular basis − Studentships – Case Studentships • Take account of feedback provided to improve future applications • Ensure application fits the remit of the call applied for

Board and Panel recruitment MRC are currently recruiting for board and panel members for the following: Closing Date 4 pm on 2 October • Boards: All 4 boards • Funding Panels: • Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme • MRC-NIHR Methodology Research Programme • Training and Career Development Panels: • Clinical Training and Career Development • Non-Clinical Training and Career Development • Skills Development www. mrc. ac. uk/board-panel-vacancies

Going Forward For further information please contact rfpd@headoffice. mrc. ac. uk