How we can support you with the research funding application process

At Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust Research and Innovation Department, we can support you from the initial stages of conception of a research idea, to identify and apply for funding;

• To develop your career as a researcher. 
• To carry out a research project or a programme of research activity. 
• To attend a conference, to obtain funding for research specific equipment. 
• Patient Public Involvement funding.

We are also here to assist you to prepare and submit a high quality research funding application.

Your first point of contact is the Research Grant Funding Development Manager, Sam, who is based within the Research and Innovation Centre by emailing leedsth-tr.researchfundingopps@nhs.net with your queries. Sam leads on the identification and communication of relevant funding opportunities in line with the priorities identified in the Research and Innovation strategy, key research themes and priorities as identified with Research & Innovation Leads from each Clinical Service Unit. Working closely with the Leeds Hospital Charity, Sam helps to source current funding opportunities and develop new funding opportunities to address unmet needs. Due to the complexity of of the funding process, it is important to work in a matrix environment across multiple teams, actively working with them to open up and expand high priority research collaborations, diversify research income sources and help streamline the application processes.

There are many aspects to a grant funding application. Here are some ways in which the R&I team can help.

Application Support

The Research Funding Opportunities inbox is always open. Please reach out to us if you have any queries regarding funding applications, whether you have:

• A potential research proposal you would like to discuss
• Collaborators you would like to link up with
• Funding sources you would like highlighting
• Reading through an application
• Finance/costing help
• Schedule of Event Cost Attribution Template (SoECAT) help
• General queries – if we can’t help you directly we will find someone who can!

SoECAT Queries

The Schedule of Events Cost Attribution Template is used across the country to ensure site-level costs are attributed appropriately (see AcoRD). This ensures that the NHS and its partners can identify, recover and attribute the costs where necessary. A SoECAT  is also seen as a tool that informs the CRN that the sponsor is aware of the application, and is happy to support the study.

SoECATs must go through an approval process. Sponsors must be aware of any SoECATs and if LTHT is not the sponsor, we still need to be involved. A study protocol/application/case for support should be submitted with the SoECAT.  LTHT must approve the content (up to 10 working days), after which it is forwarded to the local clinical research network (LCRN) for validation (up to 10 working days). If any changes are required, this will reset the 10 day validation period.

When submitting SoECATs, it may be useful to provide some extra information to explain reasons for specific attributions, to avoid any queries coming back from the LCRN.

For further information:

• Watch our SoECAT training video here: 21-12-20-SoECAT-Training-Video.mp4
• Visit the NIHR webpage: Schedule of Events Cost Attribution Template (SoECAT) guidance (nihr.ac.uk)
• Visit the Department of Health and Social Care Research webpage: Attributing the costs of health and social care research - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Finance Requests

Applications for research funding require accurate costing of many aspect of the study, including salaries, travel, consumables etc.

For a more in depth list of research costs, visit the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) Research & Innovation General Costings Checklist.

To request costing from the R&I finance team, please send an email to leedsth-tr.researchfundingopps@nhs.net containing the following information:

1. Full name
2. CSU
3. % WTE (for salary)
4. Funding body
5. Duration (if required)
6. Start & end date (if required)

Please note that this information will be required for all members of the team needing salaries costing. i.e. collaborators, fellows, technicians, research nurses etc.

Please allow 10 working days to process any cost requests.

LTHT Sign-off

When submitting a research funding application, it is extremely important to make the R&I department aware well in advance so the team can support you as best as possible. Sign off by study sponsors and hosts is required, and this is not always a simple task. It is vital to ensure that signatories are aware of upcoming deadlines to guarantee that the application is submitted on time. Deadlines involving J-es are often not met by applicants as they are not aware that there is a “submission pool” after pressing submit. This sends the application into a pool for signatories to approve and this MUST be completed prior to the final deadline.

R&I must see the application and the SoECAT (if required) in order to sign off on a study. The department is extremely busy, so please ensure you are in contact with the funding team at the earliest stage using leedsth-tr.researchfundingopps@nhs.net.

Sign-posting

The Funding Opportunities inbox is always open to queries. If we find we cannot directly help you, we are more than happy to put you in contact with the relevant team, or you can see the Contact Us webpage for further details.

Other Useful Sources of Support

Research Design Service RDS Yorkshire and Humber

Website: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/explore-nihr/support/research-design-service.htm
Email: rds-yh@sheffield.ac.uk
Tel: 0114 222 0828

Research Design Service RDS North-West

Website: www.rds-nw.nihr.ac.uk
Email: rds.nw@nihr.ac.uk
Tel: 01524 593 209

NIHR Coordinating Centres

NIHR Academy

Email: academy@nihr.ac.uk
Tel: 0113 532 8444

Central Commissioning Facility

Email: ccf@nihr.ac.uk
Tel: 020 8843 8000

NIHR Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre

Email: netscomms@nihr.ac.uk
Tel: 023 8059 5586

Wellcome Trust

Contact via this link: https://wellcome.ac.uk/about-us/contact-us/funding-enquiry

For Grant Tracker Issues

Contact via: https://wellcome.ac.uk/about-us/contact-us/grant-tracker-enquiry

Medical Research Council

For general MRC eligibility questions
Email: RFPD@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
Tel: 01793 416440

For Je-S system issues
Email: JeSHelp@je-s.ukri.org
Tel: 01793 444164.