Episode 23: Demystifying the NIHR

Established in 2006, the NIHR has an annual budget of more than £1bn. It funds health and social care, and has been seen as the ‘research arm of the NHS’.

However, many who do research that is relevant to the funder are deterred from applying because its structure can seem confusing, its priorities obscure, and its processes unclear.

This podcast is a recording of a live event we held in March 2022, which provided a clear, straightforward overview of how the funder is structured, its 10 basic schemes, and how applications are assessed, together with insights into how you can frame your application for the best chance of success, and where you can find out more. 

Taking part in the event were four colleagues involved in two Research Design Services, which provide help and support for applicants to the NIHR.

• Prof Andrew Bateman is based at Essex and is Director of the NIHR Research Design Service for the East of England as well as Head of Division of Interdisciplinary Research and Practice in the School of Health and Social Care.
• Prof Garry Barton is a Professor of Health Economics at UEA, as well as Deputy Director and site lead for the NIHR RDS EoE. He is a panel member for NIHR Advanced Fellowships (PDF) and Programme Grant for Applied Research (PGfAR) applications.
• Dr Ferhana Hashem is a Reader in Health Services Research in the Centre for Health Services Studies at the University of Kent. She is Kent site lead for the RDS South East of England. She has written for Research Professional explaining the focus and structure of NIHR for those unfamiliar with it.
• Prof Tracey Sach is also a Professor of Health Economics at UEA. She is currently Chair of the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit East of England Research Advisory Committee.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko