A new Centre for Access to Research has been launched by the BRC with the announcement of the first round of a small grants scheme.
The Centre for Access to Research (CAR) brings together UCLH clinicians, UCL academics and patients to pool experience and expertise and initiate practical actions that researchers and clinical services can take to break down barriers to access to health research. The vision of the CAR is that no section of society is excluded from participating in, inputting into, or benefitting from health research.
The CAR, which is overseen by the Patient and Public Involvement team at the Biomedical Research Centre at UCLH, will identify and initiate new work looking to find out what stops health research being accessible to all and what can be done to make it accessible.
The small grants scheme means interdisciplinary teams can apply for funds to work up rigorous and competitive research proposals.
The aim is to take local action and build up an evidence base for ways of making research accessible to all which can be shared across the UK.
The centre was launched at an event addressed by UCLH Chief Executive David Probert, UCLH Director of Research Prof Bryan Williams, and Managing Director of Research at UCLH and UCL Dr Nick McNally.
CAR’s small grant scheme
The centre is seeking to instigate projects which:
- investigate barriers to equitable access to research
- trial measures to address inequities in access to research.
The centre will not be funding entire projects but partnership teams of patients, clinicians and academics can apply to the CAR for small grants (under £5000) to enable them to devote time and effort to design and develop robust and rigorous research proposals, including the gathering of pilot data, that establish a compelling case for further research and a competitive case for grant funding from other organisations.
Deadline for applications is 12noon on 1 November 2023.
The funding call is open to interdisciplinary teams, comprising researchers, clinical and management NHS staff, patients and public contributors working as a collaborative partnership. Collaborative partnerships should involve:
- At least one affiliated researcher or clinician from UCL or UCLH
- One or more public contributors or patients
- An employee of an NHS service provider
The leadership of the partnership can be assumed by public contributors, patient interest groups, academics, clinical teams associated with UCL, UCLH, and local health service providers.
Find out more about the funding call.
Photo credit: blvdone via Adobe Stock
