Optimising opportunities for capacity building within programme grants: the example of the IMP2ART programme (ID 510)
The University of Edinburgh
Funding: Funding: NIHR PGfAR (RP-PG-1016-20008)
This abstract presents independent research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research under its Programme Grants for Applied Research Programme (Ref: RP-PG-1016-20008). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care
Abstract
Background: Exposure to research for undergraduates and postgraduates may help build capacity and this is particulary important in disciplines such as primary care where academics are under represented.Aim: To optimise the opportunities offered by a programme grant to involve students and build interest and capacity in applied health service research in primary care.
Methods: Throughout the IMP2ART programme grant we have sought opportunities to align student projects with our research.
Progress made: Five years into the programme of work, a total of 22 students/trainees/registrars have been involved with, and contributed to the IMP2ART research. This includes twelve undergraduates (BMedSci/BSc/medical students), two MPH students, three Academic Clinical Fellows, and an international visiting PhD student who contributed to the developmental work, process evaluation data and qualitative work with patients. They have presented eight abstracts (four at international conferences) and contributed to eight papers (three as first authors).
In addition, three PhD students (funded by CSO/THIS/UoE) have explored supporting self-management in remote reviews, the role of facilitation, and asynchronous consulting, have presented 21 abstracts, and published three first author papers.
In addition, we are supporting IMP2ART early career researchers to apply for the newly-launched NIHR ‘mid-programme development grants (PDGs)’, for example on the challenges of reducing inequity in provision of supported self-management.
On-going challenges: Global health grants typically include a budget for capacity building, enabling teams to allocate funded time for supervising student projects, develop on-line training modules, or supervise an aligned PhD student. This is rarely explicit within UK grants, limiting the contribution specific research projects can make to capacity building. The newly launched NIHR PDGs are a welcome move towards an approach that embraces capacity building as the norm within research.
Trial registration: ISRCTN15448074.
Funding: NIHR PGfAR (RP-PG-1016-20008).
This abstract was presented as a poster at the Annual Scientific meeting of the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research, and as an oral presentation at the Society for Academic Primary Care
Conflicts of interest: None
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