Originality

• Will the project provide new insight into the problem?
• Would the project be valuable in confirming the results of existing studies?

Importance (clinical or otherwise) of the work

• Is the project area already receiving much attention i.e. is further support warranted?
• Will the project contribute to furtherance of knowledge in the field?
• Will the project be of ultimate benefit to patient care?

Scientific, reliability – project design and methods

• Is the project well designed?
• Are the methods outlined appropriate to achieve the objective?
• Will the project be statistically sound i.e. have the requirements for statistical analysis been considered in advance?
• Is the sample size justified i.e. not too small to answer the question, or too large, wasting resources?
• Is the use of controls appropriate?
• Are supporting references up-to-date and relevant?

Feasibility

• Can the project reasonably be undertaken, given time, resources and other constraints?

Experience of applicant, facilities, and support 

• Is the applicant sufficiently experienced and qualified to carry out the study?
• Is the applicant’s department, work setting or level of supervision of a high enough calibre to support the project adequately?

Appropriate use of funds

Please note: The NSMI does not fund substantive staff costs (where staff have a permanent contract with the host Institute), please see the NSMI Grant Making Policy for details. Staff costings are limited to fixed-term contracts (e.g. hiring a technical professional for laboratory work or a data analyst).

• Will the supplies/services for which funding is requested, provide a valuable contribution to the project?
• Is the funding requested appropriate for the supplies/services detailed i.e. has the applicant given an accurate quotation or realistic estimates?
• Is completion of the project dependent on the applicant securing funds from other sources?
• Would funding for this project be available from non-voluntary sources?

FAQS

Where do I submit my Grant?

• On the NMSI Grant submission portal

I was unsuccessful last year in my Grant application; can I apply again this year?

• Yes

Do you accept applications from non-Higher Education Institutes?

• Yes, NSMI welcomes applications from other Charitable Organisations and private companies.

Do you accept experiments that use live animals?

• No, other than human participants, NSMI does not accept experiments utilising live animal research.

Do you require a letter of support from a Head of Department?

• We do not require a Letter of Support from your Head of Department, however they must sign the form expressing their support and agreement for the proposed research.

Can I apply for both a Standard Grant Application and a PhD Studentship at the same time?

• No, only one application per year please

Do you support stipend fees for PhD students?

• No, it is expected living costs and stipend are sourced elsewhere (e.g. match funding or self-funding students).

Do I need to have the fixed-term staff member or PhD student recruited already?

• No, you may write this into your grant time plan (GANNT).

Are PhD projects full-time or part-time?

• Both full time and part-time projects will be considered by the Committee.

What is timeframe a grant should be completed in/how long should a project run?

• There is no minimum or maximum length of time for a grant, they are typically approx. 24 months given the funding amount. PhD studentships should include the full length of time needed to complete on a full PhD programme of research (unless intended to support work that has already commenced).

Are previous example applications available to see?

• Applications are not available, however applicants are encouraged to attend NSMI Research Awards nights where successful research is presented. Midlands Medicine and posters at the Wade conference Centre also detail successful examples of work.

Do I need ethical approval before applying?

• You do not need approval before applying, however realistic timelines must be factored into the project start date and duration (and reflected in GANNT).

I have a query regarding Grant applications not listed on the website/application form

• Please contact Jeanette Forrester (jeanette@nsmedicalinstitute.co.uk) or Abigail Roberts (RAC Chair) v.rutter@keele.ac.uk
• Please note we do not help with idea generation or discuss Grant ideas with applicants.
• Please refer to the “NSMI Grant-Making Policy” for full details and Terms and Conditions.