Guts UK/BSPGHAN Grants

Every two years Guts UK and The British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (BSPGHAN) co-fund a grant call for research studies on paediatric gastrointestinal, hepatological and nutritional disorders.

RESEARCH SCOPE: Guts UK and BSPGHAN are inviting applications for research studies on any topic within the spectrum of paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition.

These awards are envisaged as development grants for the collection of pilot or proof-of-concept data that will enable a high-quality competitive application to be made subsequently to a research council or other large funder, such as the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR).

BUDGET AND RESEARCH DURATION: The maximum allowed budget is £40,000. Only the direct costs associated with the project will be funded. Overhead allocation or other indirect costs, and salary of applicants which are already covered by other funding, will not be allowed. Equipment or capital costs will not be funded either. The maximum duration of the projects should be 24 months.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: Guts UK are keen that the research starts as soon as possible and it is expected that the research project will start within 6 months of the award date. Ethical approval, if required by the project, will be needed before the work commences. All licenses pertaining to research using animals must be valid and in place.

Provided the study meets the NIHR’s definition of a ‘research study’ the selected project(s) will also be eligible for adoption by the UK Clinical Research Network and therefore will be eligible for NIHR support. For clinical research proposals applicants are encouraged to contact their local NIHR Clinical Research Network for advice as early as possible.

Applications will be assessed for plausibility, feasibility, importance, originality, suitability of research team, as well as for the potential to elicit clinically useful results, further funding and/or follow up studies.

The grant call is open to clinician and scientist investigators, including Academic Clinical Lecturers, based at a UK university or hospital. The principal applicant must have a contract of sufficient length to cover the duration of the research project. At the time of applying the principal applicant must have their salary guaranteed for the entire period of the research project. This award is not for a fellowship; the principal applicant must not be a fellow though co-applicants may be. Funding will be available only in the UK.