Up to £30m is being made available to pay for cutting-edge equipment, associated building refurbishment and modular buildings to enhance the ability of NHS Trusts to carry out innovative research.
The funding is from the NIHR, which has launched the first in a series of annual capital investment calls for NHS Trusts in England following last year’s highly successful NIHR Infrastructure capital competition*. While NHS Trusts may use the equipment or facilities for clinical practice, they should predominantly be used for research purposes; at least 50% in the first five years and at least 20% from year six.
All NHS Trusts based in England are eligible to apply for between £50,000 and £1.5 million, with a minimum cost per item of £15,000. Funding may also be requested for building refurbishment to house the equipment.
The following areas of priority have been identified:
• Reaching underserved communities and improving access to research
• Pharmacy, imaging and other clinical support services
• Improving capacity and capability for research in smaller NHS organisations in rural and coastal areas
• Decentralised study delivery
The closing date for applications is 1pm on March 19, 2024. Funding will be awarded over a period of up to 30 months starting on October 1, 2024. All funding awarded to successful applicants must be spent by March 31, 2027.
Professor Marian Knight, Scientific Director for NIHR Infrastructure, says: “Cutting-edge equipment and facilities are essential to enable the highest quality research and care to benefit patients and the public. This funding will ensure that expert researchers based in NHS Trusts in England are provided with the investment they need, to shape the future of health and care in this country.”
* This saw more than £96m awarded to 93 NHS organisations to pay for new research equipment and technology, with winning projects including imaging devices, mobile research vehicles, ultrasound equipment and specialist fridges/freezers that are essential for storing samples used in research.
