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Could your research project enable better health and social care for people in our region? 

Our Open Funding Competition for 2021 will open for applications on Monday 1 March, 2021.

We are inviting original and high-quality research proposals that are focussed on regional health and care priorities, and that share our vision of achieving ‘better, fairer health and care at all ages and in all places’.

We encourage and welcome applications from a wide range of collaborations. These could include individuals working in the NHS, social care, local authorities, charities, voluntary sector organisations, businesses and universities.

What should your proposal include?

Proposals should aim to improve health and social care outcomes in communities and sectors facing the greatest challenges, as well as generate original applied research outputs.

The proposal must aim to benefit people living in the North East and North Cumbria region.

All proposals must have a Lead and a Co-Lead from within the region. One must be a university representative and the other from another organisation category, but either can be the Lead.

Funding and costs

A maximum of £60,000 funding over two years will be available, but it is expected that costs for most proposals will be lower and all will be scrutinised for value.

Proposals must be formally costed and agreed by a responsible finance officer in the host organisation. A matched support estimate is required from the applicants, such as the cost of their time spent working on the project.

Other essential criteria

The full proposal must include evidence of Public Involvement / Community Engagement, and a plan for impact on health and/or care within the region.

Proposals must be linked to an ARC NENC theme and include evidence of support from the relevant theme Lead or Deputy Lead (if they are not already involved). The themes are listed below:

• Multi-morbidity, Ageing and Frailty
• Supporting Children and Families
• Prevention, Early Intervention and Behaviour Change
• Integrating Physical, Mental health and Social care
• Inequalities and Marginalised Communities
• Knowledge Mobilisation and Implementation Science
• Enabling Methodologies (including data science)

Timescales

Registration for the competition will be available online between 1st March and 30th April 2021
An application pack will be sent to you following registration.
The closing data for submission of an application is: 12pm on 30th June 2021
Proposals which are submitted without prior registration will not be processed.
Applicants will be informed of the outcome in November 2021.
Projects must aim to start between 1st December 2021 and 31st March 2022.

Find out more

Webinars to explain the competition process and answer general questions will be held on:

2nd March 1pm – 2pm
5th March 1pm – 2pm
8th March 12pm – 1pm (for non-research partners including the voluntary and community sector)
11th March 9am – 10am (for non-research partners including the voluntary and community sector)

Register for the event you’d like to attend, here