Changing Policy and Practice Award

The Medical Research Foundation is inviting MRC and Foundation-funded researchers to apply for the Changing Policy and Practice Award. The aim of this award is to support the dissemination of medical research beyond the scientific peer reviewed press, with the aim of influencing healthcare and behaviour.

In this context, dissemination goes beyond making research results available through the traditional vehicles of journal publications and academic conference presentations. The award will involve communicating a key message to a specific target audience intended to benefit from the research. This could include patients, healthcare practitioners and policy-makers, or specific groups within the general public. The dissemination plan should encourage the target group to act upon the outcomes of the research results, creating positive changes in behaviour, practice or policy.

Applications are welcomed from researchers whose findings have the potential to inform and influence healthcare policy or practice, improve patient care, or to change patient and public behaviour and opinion. All areas of medical research will be considered in this funding competition and applications can focus on any specific target group outside of the scientific press.

How much funding is available?

The Medical Research Foundation is an independent charitable foundation. Formed by the Medical Research Council, we grow and nurture people and ideas wherever we see research opportunities with great potential. Support for this funding competition comes from the Fleming Memorial Fund for Medical Research, which was established in 1959 in memory of Sir Alexander Fleming.

Applicants may apply for up to £30,000 over a flexible time period, typically across one year.

The impacts of COVID-19 on your research

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant and variable impact on researchers' careers. The Foundation is committed to helping mitigate this is much as possible through our grant-making policies and practices. We are pleased to support the Academy of Medical Sciences Cross-funder COVID-19 memory statement as co-signatories.

We are providing applicants with a dedicated space within our funding application forms to detail how their career progression has been impacted by COVID-19. Additionally, guidance will be given to our Panel Members so that they are able to take the impact of the pandemic on an applicant’s career into account, when they are making funding recommendations

Who can apply?

This competition will run twice a year and is open to MRC and Foundation-funded grant and fellowship holders based at eligible institutions, as well as MRC-funded and MRC core-funded researchers in MRC research institutes, units and centres. To be eligible, the MRC or Foundation funding supporting the research should be within one-year prior to termination or within two years post-termination of grant. This time restriction may be reconsidered in exceptional circumstances i.e. for large scale clinical trials which take longer to publish their findings.

Applicants must hold a PhD, DPhil or MD. The specific research finding they propose to disseminate must have been published in a peer reviewed journal prior to applying to the scheme and must have been funded by their MRC or Medical Research Foundation grant.

To assess eligibility, applicants are required to complete an Expression of Interest form. Applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be invited to submit a full application.

Applicants whose eligibility was confirmed in a previous round but did not apply should contact the Medical Research Foundation Research Team.

Please note applicants who previously applied but were not successful may not re-apply unless invited by the Expert Review Panel. Resubmissions should be a substantially revised proposal and applicants should submit a list of changes made.

Timeline

Applicants must submit an online Expression of Interest form for approval in advance of the deadline. Following eligibility assessment, eligible applicants will be invited to submit a Full Application.

• Deadline for Expression of Interest: 12:00 Wednesday 06 December 2023
• Deadline for Full Application submission: 12:00 Thursday 08 February 2024
• Funding decision: March 2024

How to Apply

Applicants should apply online using our online grants management system.

Please see here for Guidance for Applicants.

If invited to submit a full application, applicants will be required to submit a Résumé for Researchers CV.

Queries

Any queries on the competition, the application process, or eligibility should be sent to research@medicalresearchfoundation.org.uk or via 020 7395 2403.

For public engagement funding, MRC and Foundation-funded researchers can apply to the MRC Public Engagement in Science Activities Seed Fund. This scheme enables scientists to pilot new activities and develop innovative engagements, to encourage and support engagement with the public and other stakeholders. For further details, please visit the MRC website.

Terms and Conditions of Award

Awards funded through this competition will follow standard Medical Research Foundation terms and conditions. The terms and conditions spell out the responsibilities of the Principal Investigator and the Lead Research Organisation. The Principal Investigator and the Lead Research Organisation are required to indicate their formal acceptance of the proposal, their acceptance of the terms and conditions of an award, and the approval of the salaries and resources sought in the application.

The Medical Research Foundation may add additional conditions to a grant award to reflect the particular circumstances and requirements of the funding, or the nature of a particular award. Acceptance of an award constitutes acceptance of both the core conditions and any additional conditions. The Medical Research Foundation reserves the right to vary these terms and conditions.