International Primary Care Respiratory Group

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Introduction Research Policy Research Strategy
Research Needs Statements Contribute to research agenda Apply for Research Grant

Research Policy

Aim
The UK Respiratory Research Foundation (UKRRF) of the International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG) aims to raise standards in primary care respiratory medicine by improving management and care of people with respiratory disease through collaborative research, innovation and dissemination of best practice. Research is carried out in line with charitable and national research priorities. UKRRF research focuses on real-life studies (featuring real people in real settings) in order to be of genuine, practical value to primary care practitioners, policy makers and patients.

Governance
The Foundation is overseen by the Board of the IPCRG, which is supported by a team of Foundation Guardians, namely:
  • Dr Rupert Jones
  • Professor David Price
  • Dr Dermot Ryan
  • Professor Robert Horne
  • Dr Hilary Pinnock
Research application

Applicant eligibility
The IPCRG welcomes applications from any primary care professional with a special interest in respiratory disease, typically: GPs with an academic interest in respiratory disease; primary care nurses with respiratory qualifications; respiratory physiotherapists and exercise therapists; other primary care professionals who have a special interest in respiratory disease. It is anticipated that applicants will have (and be able to demonstrate at the point of application) significant experience of primary care and other community settings.

For their proposal to be eligible for consideration by the UKRRF review panel, applicants must also meet the following requirements:
  • Lead applicants must have a tenured position at a UK university, or similar research institution, or have at least one tenured individual listed as a co-applicant.
  • Be able to provide signed declarations (in the form of a letter) indicating consent to cooperate in the research programme from each of the collaborators, where the research involves collaboration between workers at different institutions.
  • Come from UK research groups. Collaboration with overseas groups may be acceptable if the research can be shown to provide clear benefit to people with respiratory disease living in the UK.
  • Declare the involvement of any UKRRF review panel member in the proposed research. Where a panel member is involved, they will be excluded from any part of the adjudication or monitoring processes relating to their application.
Eligible research
To warrant review by the UKRRF panel, proposed research must be relevant on a national (rather than regional) scale, be broadly applicable, offering a high degree of generalisability, and provide real, practical value to primary care practitioners, policy makers and patients.

UKRRF-funded research will focus on chronic respiratory diseases commonly diagnosed and managed in primary care, including: child and adult asthma; smoking dependence; allergic rhinitis; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and comorbidities. To a lesser extent it will also address infectious respiratory diseases handed in primary care, including lower respiratory tract infections (LTRIs), infection trends and pandemic flu.

Proposed research would normally be expected to address issues highlighted by the Foundation's Research Needs Statements, or relevant needs outlined by:
Applications will be subject to the IPCRG's peer review process, which will grade and prioritise applications. Those applications marked as a priority for funding will receive support subject to the availability of adequate IPCRG research funds and on a descending basis until funds are exhausted.

Peer review process and feedback
Only full applications will be considered by the review panel; summary applications will not be acceptable.

Proposals will undergo an internal and external review process. Applicants may be required to provide further information or clarification during either stage of the review process. The reviewers must abide by the IPCRG's declaration of interests policy.

Triage
The UKRRF internal review panel will decide which applications should proceed to external review. Decisions will be based on the principles detailed in the eligibility criteria (see above) and on the funds available.

The research eligibility requires that the application be relevant to primary care respiratory medicine and must describe how it will help to meet the Foundation’s mission to benefit the UK public good. The originality, quality, feasibility and educational value of the research will also be taken into consideration. In addition, a detailed dissemination plan must be outlined.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the triage process.

Internal review
Panel Selection
The internal review panel will be made up of nominees from active UK primary care respiratory researcher units to ensure all active respiratory primary care research institutions are represented: University of Aberdeen; University of Edinburgh; School of Pharmacy; Peninsula Medical School; University of Bath; University of Dundee; University of East Anglia, and University of Leicester. The current panel is made up of the following primary care respiratory representatives:
  • Dr Rupert Jones (currently Chair) (Peninsula Medical School)
  • Professor David Price (University of Aberdeen)
  • Professor Robert Horne (London School of Pharmacy)
  • Dr Hilary Pinnock (University of Edinburgh)
  • Mike Thomas (University of Leicester)
  • Dr Kevin Gruffydd-Jones (University of Bath)
  • Ms Gaylor Hoskins (University of Dundee)
  • Dr Erika Sims (University of East Anglia)
In addition to the primary care respiratory researchers, the review panel comprises the following:
  • One non-academic GP based in the UK: selected on a project-by-project basis. Where appropriate, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) may be involved.
  • One secondary care respiratory researcher: Dr Richard Russell (London).
  • One UK patient representative, nominated by the BLF (all other panel members are nominated by panel consensus).
  • One non-UK primary care academic (for comment, but with no voting rights): Dr Alan Crockett (Australia).
Panel members can serve for up to 5 years, renewable for one further term.

External international review
The applications selected for external review will be considered by two members of the IPCRG Research Committee. The Committee Members will be selected on the based on their knowledge of the topic, and will be approached by the administrative team.

The appraisal of selected applications will result in the assignation of one of the following gradings:
  • Top priority for funding
  • Highly recommended for funding
  • Recommended for funding
  • Appropriate for funding
  • Only appropriate for funding if changes were to be made
  • Not recommended for funding
Decision
The UKRRF panel will consider the external review gradings on a quarterly basis. Decisions will take into account the UKRRF's research strategy and the availability of finances. Integral to the funding decision will be the degree to which proposed research reflects the funding priorities of the UKRRF and those of other relevant bodies (see section on “Eligible research”).

Academic time can be included in costs and will be considered, but there will be no guarantee of funding.

Feedback
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application within one week of a decision being made. Unfortunately, the panel will not be able to enter into discussions with applicants as to the reason for the decision.

Evaluation of awards
Once approved for funding, successful research programmes will be required to produce progress reports at agreed intervals. Exception Reports must be provided quarterly detailing any changes to the initial research proposed. There is also an obligation for funded research teams to copy the UKRRF panel into any Steering Committee communications and, if appropriate, to have membership of the Steering Committee. Reports will be assessed by the Executive Officer for risk management issues, and by the Chair of the Panel for research issues.

Site visits will not be made.

Grant terms
Research grants may be provided for a maximum of 3 years. If an additional period of funding is sought, grant-holders must reapply through subsequent grant rounds.

Seeking applications
The UKRRF will advertise via e-alert and on its website.

Deadlines for submission
In 2009, applications will be considered if they are submitted by the following deadlines:
  • Monday 20th April 2009
  • Tuesday 1st September 2009
  • Monday 7th December 2009
Applicants will be notified of the result of their submission by the end of the following quarter.

However, applications will be considered throughout the year in the case where applicants bring a significant proportion of the research funding to the partnership.

Apply
Applicants are advised to read the UKRRF's Research Strategy and Research Needs Statements, to confirm the relevance of their proposed research and assist in the application process.

Click here to apply for a research grant.

Contribute to the research agenda
The IPCRG also encourages researchers to contribute to its research agenda. Contributions can be submitted to the UKRRF Research Editor (submission instructions are detailed on the relevant forms).

Click here to make your suggestion for the research agenda. (Word document, opens in new window)

Siân Williams
Executive Officer

1 May 2009

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Page updated on 1 June 2009 10:10

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