• Can RDS London continue to support me after 30 September 2023

    Yes.

    As long as you submit a Request support form before 30 September 2023, we will be able to offer one-to-one support up until March 2023.

    However, depending on your area of research and specific support needs, the preferred option may be to refer you directly to the new NIHR Research Support Service.

  • It’s after 1 October 2023, can I still approach RDS London for support?

    No.

    From 1 October 2023 we will no longer be able to offer one-to one support for new projects. You will need to submit your request directly to the NIHR Research Support Service.

    More information about how to access the new service will be announced before the start of the scheme.

  • Who do you support?

    RDS London supports all health and social care researchers – whether you’re at early career stage or are more experienced.

    If you are applying for national, peer-reviewed applied health and social care research funding, we:

    • offer free, professional advice on developing a grant application
    • allocate an adviser to provide support and guidance
    • provide feedback on draft proposals in a timely manner using face-to-face meetings, or other forms of communication as appropriate
    • treat all discussions and the information provided confidentially
    • facilitate the identification of a suitable funding stream for your project
    • facilitate the identification of suitable collaborators
    • give you access to a range of research support materials and signpost to further helpful resources.
  • When should I contact RDS London?

    As soon as possible (and before 30 September 2023!).

    Ideas stage

    If you are in the initial stages of designing your study, you can book a drop-in session as early as possible in advance of your intended submission date.

    Proposal stage

    If you have a more developed proposal, we recommend that you contact us as early as possible, and no later than four working weeks before your submission date, by filling in our Request Support form.

    This timeframe gives us time to provide an overall review of the study and provide more detailed and specialist advice where required.

    During busy or holiday periods there may be a small delay in response times. Please keep this in mind when submitting your request.

  • What type of support do you offer?

    We can help you at all stages of preparing your grant applications by:

    • guidance and expertise on study design and research methods
    • making sure that your research topic is within the scope of the chosen funding programme
    • gelping you identify suitable funding streams
    • supporting you to plan and facilitate your public involvement
    • gelping you get the narrative right
    • identifying enhancements to the proposal to improve chances of success
    • advising on the common pitfalls encountered with funding applications
    • interpreting your feedback and supporting resubmissions.

    We are able to advise on all aspects of designing research, including:

    • focusing an idea and refining a research question
    • study design
    • choice and application of appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods
    • advice on trial design and economic evaluations
    • statistics
    • involving the public in all stages of the research process
    • embedding equality/equity, diversity and inclusion into your research
    • developing your impact strategy.

    We also offer help with the following:

    • Data science
    • Clinical observations
    • Epidemiology
    • Ethics
    • Health psychology
    • Social Care, Local Authority, Policy, and Public Health research.

    If we unable to offer a particular service in-house, we will refer you to the right support through the NIHR and other research networks.

    Find out more about the support we offer.

  • I have filled in your Request support form, what happens next?

    Once we have received your request for support, your local centre administrator will be in touch to gather any additional information or documents (if required).

    An RDS London Adviser will then be allocated to your request. This adviser will provide some initial feedback on your proposal, and then coordinate input from other advisers and specialists from across the team where required. In some instances, your adviser may arrange a meeting with you or your team to fully understand the project or issues you may face.

    We may also need to share the documents that you have provided with other advisers or colleagues working for RDS London.

    All discussions and information that you provide us remains confidential.

  • How many consultations may I have?

    Our service is not limited to just one consultation. Our advisers will work with you across the required time period to make you have the greatest chances of success.

    If you have previously used RDS London, you are welcome to return to request support on any new funding applications or resubmissions.

  • Can RDS London help with applications to funding bodies like the MRC?

    Yes.

    Our advisers can provide a range of practical advice to those submitting applied health and social care research proposals to recognised funding bodies – including the Medical Research Council (MRC),

    However, please be aware that our advisers have limited experience of basic science/lab-based research, so are unlikely to be able to give the same level of expert advice in this area.

  • I'm applying to a rapid funding call - can you help?

    Yes.

    If you are responding to a rapid call, please get in touch by filling in our request support form. We will contact you within 1-2 days upon receipt of your form. We will then assemble a team of specialists and advisers who will provide feedback within 4-5 days.

    Our public involvement team can offer an extra fast-track review service for your plain English summary and we strongly encourage you to apply for our Public involvement fund.

  • How should I contact you?

    Book a drop-in session

    Fill in our Request support form

    And if you have a question not covered by the above FAQs, please email us

  • Do I have to pay for the support given by RDS London?

    No.

    Our advice is provided completely free of charge.

    Please note that if you would like a member of the RDS London team to be a co-applicant then their time must be appropriately costed into your bid, so that their RDS commitments can be covered by other staff.

  • Does RDS London offer training courses?

    We do not have a research capacity building role with the exception of our Public involvement workshops.

    We run twice-yearly NIHR fellowship information sessions.

    From 2021-2023 we co-ran a national RDS events programme in conjunction with the NIHR Programme Teams. If you would like to know more please email us.

    We also have a resources section on our website and a YouTube channel.