NWICB helps and supports academics and health care professionals applying for funding from the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR). We work closely with research offices at many universities to facilitate the grant submission process.

We provide support and advice on:

• The most suitable sources of funding, particularly for submissions to NIHR funding streams

• Research design, methods and conduct of research in out-of-hospital settings

• Planning and delivery of robust community involvement strategies (public and patient involvement and engagement; PPIE) from development through to project delivery

• Ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion in PPIE and recruitment strategies (for more information, see the RDS Toolkit)

• The content and strength of a grant application (particularly for NIHR grant submissions)

• Writing a clear and concise Plain English Summary

• Identifying potential academic, ICB/NHS, and other external collaborators

• Identifying and costing the relevant NHS costs of a research project

• The completion of a Schedule of Events Costs Attribution Template (SoECAT), when required

• Addressing NIHR grant feedback

• For drafts of the application form (Word document versions are available on the funding calls' webpages)

• To be copied into drafts of a proposal as it develops, so we are aware of the changes that are made in the proposal/study design

• For an initial costing meeting

• (if we are the contractor) to review the finished application prior to submission.