Starting your research proposal
- First talk about your research proposal with your supervisor. Your supervisor will advise you on writing your research proposal
.
- Consider how you get input from users in the development process (see section 3) and ideally have several involved throughout the development process
- You should contact your proposed sponsor and discuss your proposal.
- The researcher has a responsibility for developing proposals that are scientifically sound and ethical.
- No two proposals are the same, but they will all have a similar structure:
- title
- abstract/summary
- background or rationale of the project
- aims/objectives
- experimental design and methods
- ethical considerations
- benefits of the study
- resources and costs
(Adapted
from material by Keith Chantler, R&D Manager, Central Manchester and Manchester
Children's Hospitals)
- Key
elements in a research proposal (from Hull & East Yorkshire Hospitals
NHS Trust R&D Resource pack)
- Use the following to check if
you have included everything you need in your research proposal:
'Writing
a research proposal: some thoughts to consider'
- Specimen online
application forms for grants/awards can be viewed on RDFunding
- When writing a proposal it is important toconsider who will be reviewing it (e.g. for funding and/or peer review),as often it will be scrutinised by lay members of committees. The following offers advice on writing clearly & effectively
Peer Review
-
Every proposal for health and social care research must be subjected to independent peer review by experts in the relevant fields who are able to offer advice omits quality and suitability. The following web sites provide reasons why peer review is important
- Arrangements for peer review must be commensurate with the scale of the research.
-
Many organisations allow established research teams to determine details of the elements of an overall programme of research, which has been reviewed externally.
- For student research projects the university supervisor will normally provide an adequate level of review.
- Guidance from the Research Governance Working Group of the NHS R&D Forum
- The NorthWest Peer Review System Guide for Researchers, particularly their
overview leaflet, offers an outline and answers some questions about the process.
- You can also check the Southampton University NHS Trust Scientific Peer Review Form for the assessment criteria.
Sponsor Issues
The Research Governance Framework for Health and Social Care for the NHS made clear that no research with human participants, their organs, tissue or data, may
begin or continue in the NHS until a sponsor accepts responsibility.
- The designation 'sponsor' describes a set of functions for which one of the lead organisation to take on overall responsibility. It will normally be one of the following:
- the lead health or social care organisation,
- the lead employer of the researchers, or
- the main funder.
- The sponsor needs to be involved in finalising your protocol to ensure any of their standard systems and templates are built into the study.
- The sponsor must be satisfied that clear agreements are reached, documented and carried out, providing for proper initiation, management, monitoring and financing.
- A list of recognised sponsors was on the DH website. With the expected implementation of Directive 2001/20/EC, organisations on the list are being given the opportunity to reconsider their position in the light of the Directive's requirements. The list of sponsors will now be reconstituted, and a link will be provided to the updated document when available.
- Speak with your supervisor or mentor
- Contact RDLearning for courses and workshops for additional skills and knowledge about writing research proposals
- Contact RDDirect for further advice: telephone 0113 295 1122 or email info@rddirect.org.uk
