NHS trusts in England will have a chance to win a share of £30m and revamp their research infrastructure thanks to the first of a series of annual capital investment calls from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
Trusts will be eligible for between £50,000 and £1.5m, with a minimum cost per item of £15,000.
The NIHR says the funding can be used for the latest equipment, building refurbishments or modular builds as long as it would boost the health service’s capacity to carry out innovative research.
The NIHR has identified four main aims for this year’s investment. They are for/to:
- Improve access to research and better reach underserved communities
- Pharmacy, imaging and other clinical support services
- Expand research capability within smaller NHS organisations in rural and coastal areas
- Decentralised study delivery
“Cutting-edge equipment and facilities are essential to enable the highest quality research and care to benefit patients and the public,” explained the NIHR’s scientific director for research infrastructure, Professor Marian Knight MBE.
“This funding will ensure that expert researchers based in NHS trusts in England are provided with the investment they need, to shape the future of health and care in this country.”
The NIHR highlights that, while any procured equipment or facilities can be used for clinical practice, they should be mostly used for research purposes – at least 50% in the first five years and at least 20% from the sixth year.
The new annual competition follows the NIHR’s highly successful call last summer which saw more than £96m awarded to 93 NHS organisations across England.
This upcoming investment will be allocated over a period of up to 30 months starting from 1 October 2024, with all funding needing to be spent by 31 March 2027. Applications for funding close at 1pm on 19 March 2024 and outcomes will be announced this August.
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