The NIHR Research Design Service for the North West
This is a temporary web page for the new NIHR Research Design Service for the North West's (RDS-NW) website. This replaces the old www.hrdn.org site.
We have provided some basic information for the new RDS-NW service below. The new site will provide much more...
Here you can find the answer to the following questions:
- What is the RDS?
- Who can use the RDS?
- How can the RDS help me?
- How does the RDS work?
- Who works for the RDS?
- How do I Contact the RDS?
What is the RDS?
The NIHR Research Design Service for the North West is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) as part of a network of regional Research Design Services in England.
The RDS exists to provide help to people preparing research proposals for submission to peer-reviewed funding competitions for applied health or social care research. The RDS essentially consists of a team of people based in universities and the NHS across the North West, able to advise and provide practical support when you are developing your grant application. As the RDS is funded by the NIHR for this purpose, such help is provided free of charge.
Who can use the RDS?
The RDS will advise NHS researchers, and others working in partnership with the NHS, developing an application to a suitable funding body. Priority is given to NHS researchers applying to the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) funding scheme.
How can the RDS help me?
The support available includes all aspects of research design and conduct including:
- How to formulate a research question.
- Research design for quantitative studies including advice on: randomised controlled trials, ethical issues in study design, feasibility issues, blinding and allocation to trial arms, power calculations and other underpinning statistical advice including analytical strategies.
- Advice for observational and quasi-experimental studies.
- Advice on economic aspects of studies.
- Research design for qualitative studies, including: sampling strategies, data collection methods and analysis techniques.
- Advice on how to identify and apply to appropriate funding schemes.
- Public involvement in research design and conduct.
- Advice for contacting appropriate collaborators in research.
How does the RDS work?
Advice and support is best provided face-to-face. RDS staff will be happy to meet with you at a convenient time and place to discuss your research. You may want an RDS Advisor to become a full collaborator in the research, involved in drafting sections of the proposal, but that is not always necessary. At an appropriate time, you may be advised to involve other collaborators, for example patients, other clinicians or methodologists with specific expertise.
When should I contact the RDS?
You may contact the RDS at any stage of your proposal development, but it is preferable to contact us at an early stage to discuss your ideas.
Who works for the RDS?
The RDS team has a wide range of methodological expertise and all RDS Advisors have many years experience in working collaboratively to develop grant applications. They are employees of NHS and Academic organisations and consist of:
- A central office based at Lancaster University (the Hub).
- Three Local Academic Networks (LANs): Cumbria and Lancashire LAN hosted by Lancaster University. Cheshire and Merseyside LAN hosted by Liverpool University; Greater Manchester LAN hosted by Salford University.
- The three LANs bring together senior academics at Universities and the NHS across the region.
How do I Contact the RDS?
Contact our Coordinating Centre on:
Tel: 01524 593209.
e-mail: rds-nw@lancaster.ac.uk.