CSO is inviting applications for applied health research programmes. An applied health research programme is envisaged to comprise a coherent group of inter-related projects that together can have a high level of direct impact to address an important Scottish population health or NHS challenge within the lifetime of the programme or soon thereafter.
Applications should have a well-defined focus related to a topic of major importance to health in Scotland. Topic areas might, for instance, include research towards addressing substance misuse and drug-related deaths, obesity, mental ill health, long-term conditions and multi-morbidity, and/or health inequalities.
However, these examples are only illustrative; this scheme is open to applications addressing topics spanning the range of significant population health or NHS challenges in Scotland, provided a clear and strong justification for the importance of the research and its potential for impact are presented.
Applications for applied health research programmes should:
- provide a strong case for the research programme, demonstrating the value, importance, and potential impact of the research for patients, the public, the Scottish Government, NHS and/or wider health system in Scotland;
- clearly demonstrate how patients, the public, and organisations that may use the research findings have and will be engaged in the design and conduct of the research;
- present a clear pathway for translation and implementation of the research into policy and/or practice, including where appropriate health economic analyses, and well-developed plans for the dissemination, and knowledge mobilisation of the research findings;
- justify the added value of a coherent programme of inter-related projects;
- justify the methodological approaches that will be employed.
Applications for early stage or basic research or animal-based studies should not be submitted.
Applications may be from a single Scottish institution or a consortium of institutions as long as a single lead institution in Scotland is taking overall responsibility for the consortium. The principal applicant must be a permanent salaried member of staff at a Higher Education Institute, NHS Board, or eligible Research Institution in Scotland.
Funding is available for research programmes of up to five years in duration and up to a total of £1 million at 80% full economic costs with an expectation that annual costs should not appreciably exceed around £200,000 per annum. It is anticipated that up to around four research programmes may be funded from this call. Funding requested should support usual research costs and can also include some programme management or coordination support. Equipment costs should be kept to a minimum, and the research infrastructure needed should be in place and provided by the applicants’ host institution(s); requests for funding for new research infrastructure should not be included. If appropriate to the delivery of the research programme, applications may include as part of the resource requested one or more PhD studentships. Additional institutional, public, charity or industry sector funding is welcomed (a letter of support that describes and confirms the support must accompany the application).
Applications will be reviewed through external peer-review with funding recommendations made by an independent expert review panel convened by CSO.
How to apply
The application forms with guidance on their completion are given below.
CSO is operating a staged application process summarised in the table.
| Timetable | Stages |
| 29 March 2023 | Call issued |
| 5 pm, 28 April 2023 | Deadline for intention to submit email |
| 5 pm, 2 June 2023 | Deadline for outline applications submitted |
| July 2023 | Review of outline applications by independent review panel |
| July 2023 | Applicants informed about outcome of review of outline application and whether or not a full application is invited (applicants will be given at least 8 weeks to prepare full application) |
| August/September 2023 | Full applications submitted |
| October/November 2023 | Independent expert peer-review of full applications |
| November/December 2023 | Applicants interviewed by independent review panel |
| December 2023 | Applicants informed of outcome |
It is essential that applicants send an intention to submit email to CSO Grants Team by 5 pm on 28 April 2023.
This should provide details of the lead investigator, the working title of the programme and a brief overview of the proposed work. These will be used for planning purposes; no feedback will be provided on the content of the intention to submit email. Please note that CSO will not consider applications that have not sent through an intention to submit email by the above deadline.
If the work involves the use of any NHS resource applicants must discuss this with the relevant NHS R&D lead before submitting this email. Details of NHS R&D contacts by territorial board are available here.
Completed outline application forms should be submitted by the relevant NHS or University R&D Office to CSO Grants Team by 5 pm on 2 June 2023.
Enquiries can be directed to Dr Kerrie Kingsley.
Documents