17/04/2020
Research Design Service North West
Dr Nancy Preston

• East of England
• London
• South West
• West Midlands
• North East • Yorkshire and Humberside
• South Central
• South East Coast
• North West
• East Midlands

• To help people design and develop high quality research proposals.
• Focus on NHS-based researchers applying to peer reviewed open competition funding
• Particular focus on:
– Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) programme
– NIHR Programmes for Applied Research

• Relatively high proportion of low quality applications
– Relatively high proportion not ‘in scope’
– Not enough collaboration
– Public involvement weak
– Simple administrative errors in applications

A regional service delivered locally
The North West of England
Cumbria and
Lancashire local office
Lancaster University with
Universities of Cumbria and
Central Lancashire
Central coordinating office based at
Lancaster University
Mersey and Cheshire local office
Liverpool University with
University of Bangor
Greater Manchester local office
University of Manchester

• Research synthesis
• Methodology (qualitative & quantitative)
• Statistics
• Health Economics
• Specific application advice for schemes
• Facilitate collaboration: ‘ building a dream team ’
- including public involvement

How to access the service in the North West of England
• Via central coordinating office telephone helpline: 01524 593209
• Via the website: http://www.rds-nw.nihr.ac.uk/request-advice/

How to access the service in the North West of England
• Via a local office:
Mersey and Cheshire
Tel: 0151 795 5303
Email: rds-nw-mc@liverpool.ac.uk
Greater Manchester
Tel: 0161 306 8009
Email: rds-nw-gm@manchester.ac.uk
Cumbria and Lancashire
Tel: 01524 592976
Email: rds-nw-cl@lancaster.ac.uk

What happens when you contact the service
Depending on your needs you may be:
• Provided with information on first contact with the service
• Directed to our online resources for information
• Directed to another source of help
• Eligible for our advisory service if you are looking for support with proposal development to apply for funding from an open peer reviewed competition scheme.

• You will be asked to complete an advice request form which gathers information needed to assess your case.
• Your case will be assessed and if eligible you will be passed on to one or more of our specialist advisers
• Advisers will then provide the support needed to develop your proposal.

• Face-to-face
• E-mail
• Phone
• Road shows
• Targeted funding stream support meetings
• Online Support

http://www.rds-nw.nihr.ac.uk
.
• Provides a signposting service
• Offers a growing number of self-help resources
• Provides news and funding alerts
• Provides access to our advice service and much more

PPI – ‘How to Guide’ http://www.rds-nw.nihr.ac.uk/public-involvement/how-to-guide/
Dr Sue Hinder (RaFT Consulting) and Dr Tracey Williamson (RDS Adviser, University of Salford) had significant input into producing the content of the guide and providing feedback.

Please visit the service’s website for further information: