NMAHP Research Capacity Building Fund

Available year round

The research capacity building fund is open all year round. Applications will be reviewed by the Research Capacity Building & Futures Group, held bimonthly.

To support timely review, please be aware of the dates below in relation to the latest date applications can be received to enable consideration at the next group. Any applications received after the cut-off date will be held until the next meeting.

Research Capacity Building and Futures Group Meetings – 2025

Summary

One of our commitments at Newcastle Hospitals is to inspire and enable nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals (NMAHPs) to lead and develop research that makes a difference to our patients’ lives.

At both national and local level, commitments have been made to embed a research-active culture into the NMAHP workforce. Chief Nursing Officer, Ruth May’s strategy “Making Research Matter” and the Health Education England Allied Health Professions’ Research and Innovation Strategy for England have set out clear aspirations to develop research capacity and capability.

In line with these aims, Newcastle Hospital’s most recent 5-year NMAHP strategy, launched in July 2022, aims to support NMAHPs into research. Underpinned by these strategic objectives, this funding will increase opportunities, creating a more research focussed NMAHP workforce.

Supported by a grant awarded by Newcastle Hospital’s Charity, our Research Capacity Building (RCB) Support Fund is available to help support NMAHPs into research-related activity.

The RCB Fund is available all year round to NMAHPs at all stages of their research career, from pre- to post-doctoral, offering flexible and accessible grants to cover a range of research-related costs.

Applications are open all year round – there are no deadlines related to this funding. Please submit your completed application to [email protected] with the funding stream clearly stipulated in the email subject line.

What support does the RCB Fund provide?

The RCB Fund offers access to a range of different research-related funding. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Post-doctoral bridging funding for dedicated research time (non-competitive)

The fund will provide access to 0.2WTE salary backfill for 12 months (pro rata) for individuals returning from completed doctoral training schemes. This will allow them dedicated research time alongside their clinical role.

Aims of funding

To provide dedicated time for NMAHPs immediately returning from doctoral programmes to develop research alongside their clinical work. There are a range of different ways individuals can use this time. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Consolidation of learning and seeking further collaborations
• Disseminate findings from your Doctoral programme for maximum impact, uptake, and knowledge transfer
• Prepare and submit high quality publications to peer reviewed journals from your doctorate
• Prepare conference presentations
• Develop a funding application for a post-doctoral fellowship in your area of expertise which will be of benefit to your clinical field

Eligibility

All applicants must:

• Be employed substantively within Newcastle Hospitals under one of the NMAHP professions between band 5 – 8a
• Hold a doctoral qualification, having completed a viva and finished the award in the last six months.
• Aspire to build a clinical academic career
• Have the support of your line manager/service lead

2. Pre-doctoral bridging funding (competitive)

For NMAHPs who need time to prepare a competitive regional or national funding application, the RCB Fund will provide access to pre-doctoral backfill up to 0.2WTE over 9 months.

Aims of the funding

This funding is aimed at enabling the individual to develop a robust research proposal and doctoral funding application, to be submitted within 12 months of the start date. Within this, the individual should

• Ensure that all costings (research costs, service support and treatment costs) have been considered
• Link closely with the NJRO regarding study design and sponsorship
• Consider PPI within your application
• Identify academic partner, supervision, and appropriate mentoring to assist with the development of the application.
• Identify training and development needs as appropriate
• Seek support from the Research Design Service

4Ps Programme

• It is expected that if you are successful in securing this funding, you will attend all modules in the 4Ps programme if you have not done so already. The 4Ps is a welcoming jargon-free modular programme, covering the areas of Plan, Place, Person, and Project, and will aid you in developing your application. For more information please click here.

Eligibility

All applicants must:

• Be employed substantively within Newcastle Hospitals under one of the NMAHP professions between band 5 – 8a
• Aspire to undertake a doctoral programme and build a clinical academic career
• Have the support of their line manager/services lead

3. PhD tuition fee shortfalls (non-competitive)

The RCB Fund will provide access to help with PhD tuition fee shortfalls for individuals successful with national doctoral applications, where the tuition fees exceed the maximum available funding. All applicants must inform the NMAHP research team of any shortfall at the time of the fellowship application (or as soon as possible thereafter).

All applicants must:

• Already have successfully been awarded PhD tuition fees through a national fellowship award
• Consider the amount of RCB support funding they will require to make up the shortfall
• Be employed substantively within Newcastle Hospitals under one of the NMAHP professions between band 5 – 8a
• Aspire to build a clinical academic career
• Have the support of your line manager/services lead

4. Flexible grants to support project costs (competitive)

The RCB Fund could provide costs for PPI activities, and transcribing costs, for example. Other costs will be considered on application.

All applicants must:

• Attend a 1-1 research support slot with a member of the NMAHP research team prior to application to discuss how you plan to spend funds
• Consider the amount of RCB support funding you will require to allow them to carry out research activities
• Provide a costing with quotes where appropriate
• Be employed substantively within Newcastle Hospitals under one of the NMAHP professions between band 5 – 8a
• Aspire to build a clinical academic career
• Have the support of your line manager/services lead

What to do next if you are interested in applying

Request an application form with the type of funding you are interested in clearly stated in the subject line to [email protected]

Submit all applications and direct any questions to email address supplied above.

Information for managers

We ask managers to read through the guidance notes carefully prior to confirming support for any fellowship application. We would also encourage you to access and read the Research Support Policy, which provides guidance in relation to research fellowship awards.

Indicating your support for an individual application carries with it a commitment to safeguard the proposed protected time for the applicant to successfully carry out the requirements of the funding award. Your confirmation of this support as a manager also confirms the applicant is employed substantively by the Trust for the duration of the award. Please discuss with the applicant their research and support needs within the clinical department. Any queries you may have relating to the NMAHP Research Capacity Building Support Fund or the main RDI fellowships can be directed to [email protected]