The 30-Second Guide to Research Funding

By Katherine Burke (Neonatal GRID Trainee, Wales Deanery; Welsh Clinical Academic Trainee)
[email protected]
Twitter: @DrKNeely

Following on from the presentation at the WREN Autumn Study Day 2017, here's the 30-second guide to the best resources to use to get involved in research and get funding! 

Being ‘Involved’ in Research:
 
https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/improving-child-health/research-and-surveillance/research-opportunities/get-involved-research/get-in
 
http://www.peruki.org/
 
Lists projects which are ongoing.
 
https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/bpsu/bursary
 
Fantastic opportunity to design and carry out a project in partnership with the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit.

Potential Sources of Funding for PhD
 
For projects which are already ’set up’ i.e. designed and funded, see www.findaphd.com
 
https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/research_funding_opportunities
The RCPCH curate a list of funding opportunities – you need to be logged in with your college account but it is really comprehensive, and great for ‘specifics’ i.e. funding streams and opportunities related to particular conditions.
 
https://wellcome.ac.uk/funding
Wellcome provide grants for people undertaking particular projects. If you have an idea and a supervisor in mind, there are multiple streams under which you can apply i.e. Biomedical Sciences, Medical Humanities (for society/ethics projects) or International Development.
 
https://www.mrc.ac.uk/funding/how-we-fund-research/
Similar to Wellcome.
 
https://www.sparks.org.uk/
https://www.action.org.uk/our-research/apply-research-grant/apply-project-grant
 
Dedicated to funding Paediatric Research. Again, need a project idea and a sponsor and supervisor in place.
 
Disease specific opportunities….. (NOT comprehensive, just some examples!)
https://www.kidneyresearchuk.org/research/paediatric-research-applications
http://christopherssmile.org.uk/research/
https://www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk/research/for-researchers/funding-opportunities/
https://www.epilepsyresearch.org.uk/research-scientists/apply-for-funding/

Writing a ‘Research Proposal’
 
When developing a project idea, a good place to start is by carrying out a ‘literature review’ outlining the current status of knowledge for a particular area or field. If you contact the library at UHW, there is regular training available on ‘how to do….’ literature searches, among other useful things.
 
https://www.nbt.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/attachments/How_to_write_a_research_proposal.pdf