The Research Design Service for the East Midlands (RDS-EM) offers fit for purpose advice and support on research design and methodology to researchers making funding applications for submission to national, peer-reviewed funding competitions for applied health or social care research. Priority will be given to supporting proposals to be submitted to an NIHR scheme.

How can the RDS-EM help you?

The RDS-EM can advise on all aspects of preparing grant applications including:

• Focusing ideas and refining the research question
• Building an appropriate research team
• Involving patients and carers in all stages of the research process
• Overall research design
• Choice and application of research methodologies for quantitative research e.g. statistical issues, health economics and qualitative research e.g. sampling, analytical strategies
• How to undertake systematic reviews
• Identifying the resources required for a successful project
• How to conduct literature searches
• Regulatory issues
• Lay summaries
  
• Identifying suitable funding sources
  
• Signposting to other research support and advice services, where appropriate.

One RDS-EM advisor will take the lead in coordination the support with other RDS-EM staff becoming involved to bring complementary skills. We also have a wide range of other contacts in academic and clinical disciplines to facilitate any necessary additional input where required.

RDS-EM slides: How the RDS-EM can help you 

RDS EM also supports research design through training, workshops and other educational events having regard to the needs of the health research community in the East Midlands and to national developments in NHS R&D.