What are the characteristics of an application (or team) which are associated with success or failure of an application to the NIHR HTA programme for research funding?

Sheila Turner,Peter Davidson,Elke Streit,Louise Dent,Victoria Bowness

doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-s1-a58

Abstract

Background Previous studies have shown that gender or seniority of applicants can be linked to success in obtaining research funding, but we found little evidence about other features of successful applications for trials funding. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between items or features in a funding application and success when considered by a research funding board. This knowledge will be useful to potential applicants to the HTA programme and to other programmes, and to funding boards of this and other research programmes. The work was not intended to set ideal standards for applications, rather to extend knowledge of current practice and to explore what may be learnt from this.

Highlights

Previous studies have shown that gender or seniority of applicants can be linked to success in obtaining research funding, but we found little evidence about other features of successful applications for trials funding
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between items or features in a funding application and success when considered by a research funding board
The gender of the chief investigator and proposed trial costs were not significantly associated with success or failure

Summary

Introduction

Previous studies have shown that gender or seniority of applicants can be linked to success in obtaining research funding, but we found little evidence about other features of successful applications for trials funding. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between items or features in a funding application and success when considered by a research funding board. This knowledge will be useful to potential applicants to the HTA programme and to other programmes, and to funding boards of this and other research programmes. The work was not intended to set ideal standards for applications, rather to extend knowledge of current practice and to explore what may be learnt from this

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion