The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has opened a funding call for new projects which are equally led by researchers and communities.
NIHR first introduced this concept last year through the Developing Innovative, Inclusive and Diverse Public Partnerships three-year pilot, which promotes collaboration between the research sector and the members of the public that they serve.
The projects funded in 2022’s call include a partnership identifying the barriers facing those with learning disabilities and investigating how to help them become equal partners in research.
A collaboration assessing the diet quality of vulnerable groups such as people with severe mental illness and an initiative helping people tell their story through participatory arts were also included.
“The first round of funding was one of the most successful in our programme's history.”
The second funding call will be open until 25 October 2023, with NIHR looking for more programmes which are led by the community and explore a new way of partnering with researchers.
The assistant director for NIHR programme grants for applied research and programme development grants, Rajinder Flora, said: “We received 35 applications and we were really impressed with the quality of them.
He continued: “We were delighted to be able to fund 16 applications in this important area. In the second round, we haven't specified a cap on the funding, and subject to approval, all applications recommended for funding will be supported.”
NIHR deputy director for public partnerships, Zoe Gray, added: “It’s the communities, service users, patients and the public that really know what makes a difference.
“They are well placed to help find solutions for health and care problems which affect their community or the people they support. This can only happen through genuine, equal partnerships with researchers.”
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