What are the aims and objectives for the study?

It is important to be clear and concise about what your study is about. Consider the questions:

• What is your aim?
• What is your hypothesis?
• Is your idea novel?
• Why does is matter?
• Why does it need to be done now?
• How will NHS patients or service users benefit from your research?
• Is your study title clear?

Review the literature

It is essential that existing sources of evidence, especially systematic reviews and/or appropriate syntheses of qualitative research, are considered carefully prior to undertaking research. Consider the questions:

• Is your background section comprehensive?
• Has a literature review been performed?
• How does your project differ from other research that is being performed or has been completed in the same subject area?
• Have you checked appropriate registers of research (eg the NIHR portfolio or the clinical trials website) for work that is ongoing?

Study approach, methodology

It is important that you use the most appropriate method for your research project. Consider the questions:

• Who or what will be studied?
• What is the outcome measure?
• What other variables or issues are to be considered?
• What method will give me the most useful data to answer the main research question Qualitative/Quantitative research methods?
• Have you given enough detail on the methodological approach you've chosen and how you will use it in your research?
• Have you considered the full range of qualitative methods available?
• Have you explained how your sample size has been calculated? Or have you clearly justified your sampling strategy and described how you will implement it?
• Have you provided clear details on how the analysis will be done?
• Is the time frame realistic to complete your data collection?
• Is preliminary pilot work needed first to provide evidence to support a full scale project?
• Does your project involve a randomised controlled trial? If it does then you will need to have your local CTU involved (this will need to be costed into your project).
• Do you show in your proposal how those who might be affected by the research will be involved in its design and conduct?
  
• Does your project have ethical approval yet?

Health economics

It is becoming increasingly important to demonstrate cost effectiveness of both the study and implementation of any findings. Consider the questions:

• Are you aware of all the costs involved?
• Have you performed a cost-benefit analysis?
• Can you demonstrate the outcomes in 'Quality-adjusted life years'?
• What are the costs associated with a particular disease or condition you are studying?

Team

The research team needs to be fit for purpose. You will need to demonstrate that the team is multidisciplinary with a good track record, so that the funding panel can have confidence in their ability to deliver what they promise. Consider the questions:

• Is the team suitably experienced?
• Does the team cover the mix of disciplines necessary for the project?
• Are there any potential knowledge gaps in the team?
• Have you considered collaborating with other researchers?
• Do you have any public, patient, carer or other relevant stakeholder members on the research team?
• Are there any training requirements for members of the team?
• Does the team have appropriate specialists as team members? (eg the project is looking at nursing interventions then a nurse should be a team member. Similarly if you put a cost effectiveness section in the bid you will need to have a health economist on the team.)
• Does the team have enough appropriate members to support the practical side of the research intervention?

Funding

There are many NIHR funding streams and national, peer-reviewed funding competitions available with varying eligibility criteria and scope. Consider the questions:

• Have you read the criteria for the funding stream?
• Is the funding stream appropriate for the proposed research project?
• Is the project in the scope of the programme ie with RfPB is the benefit to patients within 2-3 years of project end or is the benefit further away time wise?
• Have you read, and acted upon, the guidelines given on how to complete the application?

Public and patient involvement (PPI)

Health research and social care is becoming increasingly focused on patient and public involvement at all stages of the research process. It's very important to include PPI from conception of the research idea to dissemination and to emphasise the roles of patients, carers, or other relevant stakeholders. Engaging with users during the design can ensure that the study works well in the real world. Consider the questions:

• Will PPI add value to your bid?
• Is the PPI a well thought out involvement of users - a true partnership?
• Is the PPI appropriate and fit for the purpose of the project?
• Does the design or methodologies pose practical or ethical problems for those taking part?
• Do you need to contact local and/or national user involvement groups?
• How will members of the public be accessed?
• Will there be any incentives for taking part in the study?
• Is your proposed PPI possible within the time scales of the project?

Costing

You need to be thinking about costing from the earliest stages of your project design. You should aim to contact the relevant Research Support Office(s), and relevant Trust R&D offices, several weeks before the deadline and to have familiarised yourself with the current research costing guidance. Consider the questions:

• Have you contacted your R&D office or Research Support office?
• Are the costs realistic?
• Is your research project value for money?
• If your study is potentially eligible for the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) Portfolio you can use the NIHR Coordinated System for gaining NHS Permissions (CSP). Indicate in the IRS Project Filter that you wish to use CSP to obtain NHS Permission. Projects not eligible for the Portfolio should make applications for R&D Permission directly to the relevant R&D Office.
  
• Are you paying patients or public involved in your project?
• Will you need to pay for any other assistance or do you have enough staff within your research project?
• Do members of the research team need training and does this have cost implications?
• Have you considered costs for equipment procurement, software licences, travel expenses, office supplies (printing, photocopying, postage, stationery, advertising), literature reviews, access to available publications, dissemination costs etc? 
  
• Do you have CTU involvement in your project - as this will need to be costed?
• Have you taken into account the three main types of cost - Research costs, NHS support costs, and treatment costs?
• Have you allowed sufficient time for the costings to be verified by the host institution finance office and the finance office of any collaborating partners?

Obtaining ethical and trust approval

All projects need to be reviewed by a research ethics committee and you must get permission from all NHS organisations where you will be conducting your research

• All applications for new projects should be made using the Integrated Research Application System (IRAS).
• Site-Specific Assessment (SSA) has been transferred to R&D offices for NHS sites
• Researchers wishing to conduct research in the NHS must obtain NHS permission for each NHS site.
• If your study is potentially eligible for the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) Portfolio you can use the NIHR Coordinated System for gaining NHS Permissions (CSP). Indicate in the IRS Project Filter that you wish to use CSP to obtain NHS Permission. Projects not eligible for the Portfolio should make applications for R&D Permission directly to the relevant R&D Office.
• You may need to set up Research passports for researchers in your team who don't have an NHS contract.
• Does some of this work need to be done prior to your bid submission to improve your chances of funding success?

Other issues to consider

Here are some other issues that you may want to consider:

• Would your research proposal benefit from a peer review prior to submission?
• Would your research proposal benefit from a lay review prior to submission?
• Is your bid well written and consistent?
• Are the proposed reviewers for your proposal appropriate?
• Have you considered the data protection and confidentiality issues?