Call for Applications: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Infrastructure and Schools Pre-Application Support Fund 2024

Are you a researcher with an interest in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or blood-borne viruses (BBVs)? Do you want to develop a successful funding application for an NIHR fellowship but need additional support to prepare a high-quality application?

The NIHR Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Blood Borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections (BBSTI) at UCL is excited to announce up to 6scholarships (worth up to £20K each) to help researchers in the field of STIs/BBVs develop their applications for NIHR career development schemes (see appendix below). These scholarships are designed to provide protected time, resources, and mentorship to help you prepare a successful funding application.

What the Scholarship Offers:

·     Funding up to £20K, tailored to your needs(e.g., salary buy-out, training, pilot research, PPIE work).

·     Mentoring/ peer support: Support from anexperienced academic/public health researcher and/or buddying with an HPRUresearcher of a similar grade.

·     Public and patient involvement and engagement (PPIE)Support: Access to the UCL Institute for Global Health Sexual Health Community Advisory Panel to assist with PPIE.

·     Opportunities to present your research plans to key stakeholders at the annual HPRU Research Meeting.

·     Application feedback and interview preparation ,including peer review and mock interviews.

Eligibility:

·     Researchers with an interest in developing an academic career in STIs/BBVs.

·     Applicants must be preparing to apply to an NIHR career development scheme within the next year (see appendix below).

·     Preference will be given to those working in one of the following areas:

         a.   regulated Healthcare Professionals (Nurses, Midwives, Allied Health Professionals, Pharmacists and Healthcare Scientists)

          b.   social work and public health professionals

          c.   researchers in methodology

          d.   researchers based in local authority settings

·     If you are not within one of these professions or groups, then you can still apply but should outline how the support requested will enable you to submit a competitive application.

·     Preference will be given to those affiliated with the BBSTI HPRU at UCL or who have potential for collaborative work with the BBSTI HPRU.

IMPORTANT: All activities must be completed, and all funding spent, by 31^st March 2025.

Please note that no overheads can be paid on any salary buy-out.  Before you apply, therefore, you must ensure that your line-manager has approved the application and that they have agreed to give you the time to work on this application if successful. Please attached a signed letter of support from your line manager with the application.

How to Apply:

Please contact Pat Withington (p.withington@ucl.ac.uk) for an application form that requests information on:

·        The rationale for your requested budget (up to£20K) and how the funding will help you to develop a high-quality NIHR application.

·        The specific NIHR funding award you plan to apply for and expected deadlines.

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Application Deadline:

·        Applications close at 5pm of 13^thNovember 2024.

·        We will aim to notify successful candidates by Monday 18^th November.

·        Applications should be sent to Professor Caroline Sabin c.sabin@ucl.ac.uk

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This is a fantastic opportunity to gain the time, resources, and mentorship you need to propel your research career forward.

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