Introduction
The Council has recommended that as well as continuing to fund quantitative scientific research it wishes its research funds to be used to assist in qualitative medical/healthcare research.
Current Membership of Research Awards Sub-Committee (RAC)
Dr A V Roberts (Chair)
Prof M Brunt (NSMI Trustee representative)
Mrs D Leopard (Lay member)
Prof M Mamas
Dr P Wu
Prof G Wynne-Jones
Dr M Bowerman
Dr M Rashid
Prof K Karunanithi*
Dr A Cooke *
Research Awards Administrator: Mrs J Forrester
*Co-opted University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) Attendees. NSMI is in grateful receipt of an external funding contribution from the UHNM for the 2024 NSMI Research Awards, temporary co-opted members are therefore included within the 2024 RAC.
Functioning of the Research Awards Sub-Committee
The Sub-Committee should meet at least once per year. It will report to the Finance & General Purposes Committee.
Sub-Committee make up:
-The sub-committee is up to 12 members.
-Chair to be one of the members.
-One member to be the NSMI Trustee representative.
-Membership should include at least one lay member.
An elected member of the Research Awards Sub-Committee shall serve normally for a period of 3 years with the opportunity to discuss a second term.
Nominations (including self-nomination) to the Research Awards Sub-Committee will be made by any Member of the Institute and ratified by Council. If necessary, there should be a vote at a meeting of Council.
The membership of this Sub-Committee will reflect the wide research interests of all aspects of healthcare within North Staffordshire.
Applicants will be notified of the Committee’s decision as soon as possible after the meeting and will be given limited feedback on request. No further correspondence or discussion on the decision will then be entered into.
North Staffordshire Medical Institute Research Awards Sub-Committee
Sub-Group of the North Staffordshire Medical Institute (NSMI) Council’s Finance & General Purposes Committee (NSMI) Council
Terms of Reference
Scope: The purpose of the NSMI Research Awards Sub-Committee (RAC) is to primarily facilitate the awarding process of the NSMI research grants. It is responsible for the peer review of the research applications received by the NSMI. It makes recommendation to NSMI F & GP Committee based on deliberations following the Sub-Committee’s peer review process. The Trustees are responsible for the allocation of funds for research.
RAC Terms of reference:
- To oversee, coordinate and complete the NSMI Research Awarding process, including peer review of research applications, attending RAC award deliberations, deciding successful applications for recommendation to NSMI F&GP Committee.
- To encourage high quality research applications for grant funding from all sections of the Healthcare Service where work impacts upon patient care, directly or indirectly.
- To ensure confidentiality throughout the awarding process and peer review of applications.
- To ensure awarded projects are aligned with the remit, principles ethics and Charitable Objectives of the NSMI.
- To have regard for the promotion of the NSMI, it’s mission and future prospects.
- Within RAC Committee activity, RAC members are to act as individuals, making subjective, independent decisions on research awards in the best interest of the NSMI, objective to other affiliations or employments.
- To be quorate, there must be 50% of members of the Committee to be within agreement. The Chair is a member of the RAC that does have a vote within the scoring of grant applications.
- Members of the Research Awards Committee will declare Conflicts of Interest at the beginning of the review process of applications. A register of interests will be kept.
- To monitor the status of previous awards and report mentionable actions to NSMI Council.
Terms of Members:
The Research Awards Committee (RAC) will reflect the wide research interests of all aspects of healthcare within North Staffordshire. The RAC makeup will be reviewed annually by the RAC Chair, NSMI Chair/deputy Chair and the NSMI Chief Operating Officer to ensure best expertise across the Committee. The RAC should include a Deputy Chair, Lay member, and NSMI Trustee; all other members will hold membership at the NSMI. There should be a fair representation of age, sex and ethnicity within membership of the RAC. If necessary, the Chair of the RAC will be responsible for recruiting/consulting with external expertise, such as patients and regulators.
Terms of Chair:
The Chair of the RAC ideally will have served on the RAC for at least two years. The Chair is appointed for a term of three years which is renewable for a second term. The Chair of the RAC is appointed by the Trustees of NSMI. Nominations (including self-nomination) to the RAC can be made by any Member of the Institute and ratified by Council. Where applicable, such as when external funding sources are included, temporary co-opted members will be appointed.
Further note on Conflicts of Interest
RAC members decisions and review should be made in the best interest of the NSMI and are objective to outside affiliations and employments.
RAC members should not review, score or vote on applications on which they are an applicant, co-applicant or collaborator on. This must be identified, declared at the beginning of the awards meeting and managed, if possible, by removal from the room during the discussion.
RAC members should not review grants that have been submitted from applicants with whom they have a personal relationship with.
RAC members may apply for grants, however no more than 50% of the RAC be in active receipt of charitable funds from the NSMI. Trustees may also apply for grants; this must be completed in accordance with NSMI’s Articles of Association
EDI Statement:
NSMI recognises the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion. At the NSMI RAC, we wish to engage with and maximise the inputs from a diverse range of stakeholders who also best represents the community that NSMI supports. Having a wide range of perspectives, opinions and research strengthens our ideas, expertise and research outputs. Our work will provide equality of opportunity to participate and receive benefits from our Institute, which is ensured through our mission to bring together diverse teams, memberships and research groups.
Frequency of meetings:
The RAC will meet at least once per year. Meetings will take place within 5 weeks of the project submission deadline, at the Wade Conference Centre, North Staffordshire (to be determined by the Chair).
Reporting:
- The Chair is to provide a research progress report to the NSMI Council at the Annual General Meeting.
- To provide a Research Awards Recommendation report to NSMI Council. This will detail a brief summary of deliberations, how many applications have been received, which applications the RAC recommends awarding grants. It will also include any declared Conflicts of Interest of RAC members of grant applications and how they are acted on if needed.