Research Partnership Catalyst Award

Funding seeks to support applicants to develop and deliver on projects in translational medical research, particularly studies of disease mechanisms in humans and the translation of these insights into early detection and interventions. This includes use of diagnostics and devices, patient-reported outcome measures, and the development of proof of concepts, such as through early phase clinical studies of new treatments and development of advanced therapies. Applicant’s research projects should align to the priority areas and themes below and demonstrate clear contributions to the strategic priority areas for health research at the KHP organisations, including how the research will seek to reduce health inequity.

Discovery science projects and/or those involving animal models are not eligible. 

We particularly encourage applications that:

• Aim to harness combined strengths across King's College London faculties and KHP organisations;
• Bring together multidisciplinary, cross-partner and/or cross-faculty research and expertise, which may be reflected in the supervisory team;
• Connect mental and physical health (and/or links to the NIHR Maudsley BRC).

We aim to encourage applications from all registered health professionals. Our ambition is to broaden the health professions represented amongst CTM funded research and therefore we are specifically encouraging applications from nurses, midwives and allied health professionals.  

Visit the Centre for Translational Medicine webpages to see examples of previous projects funded.
 

For the duration of the award, in addition to pursing their research projects, recipients will:

• Prepare future research plans and collaborations;  
• Prepare submission to external funding bodies to secure funding to support your research; 
• Publish research outputs for peer-reviewed journals;
• Prepare and present your research at internal and external meetings;
• Actively participate in research meetings and public engagement activities.
   

• Health professionals (registered with a UK health professional regulatory body) are eligible to apply, including nurses, midwives, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, healthcare scientists, psychologists and all other registered professions allied to healthcare;
• Applicants need to have a research qualification (PhD or MD);
• Applicants need to be at consultant or senior level roles (Agenda for Change band 7 and above).  In this role you should be working at a senior level with specialised knowledge and demonstrable capacity for professional independence and leadership;
• You should not be undertaking any substantive research activity and have limited or no research funding. We expect you will have less than half a day per week dedicated to research within your current contract. For example, one programmed activity, a week within your current job plan; 
• You must have substantive employment at one of the KHP partner trusts - South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust - that does not terminate before the end of the award (Sep 2027); 
• You must have the support of your NHS organisation who can guarantee your research time will be protected.
   

• Funding will cover two programmed activities/20% FTE/one day per week (eight hours);
• Up to £7,500 per annum can be requested for research running costs/consumables. As part of this award, it will be expected you have a budget line for PPIE activity. This may come out of the consumables budget or another source but needs to be indicated in the application;
• Each awardee will also have access to up to £1,000 per year flexible bursary e.g. for travel to meetings or external training not provided by KHP organisations.

Salary cost: the NHS Trust Research and Development (R&D) office will help determine salary costs for the duration of the project. Please request this straight away, as it can take up to four weeks for a costing request to be processed. 

NHS Trust R&D office contacts are:

• Joint R&D Office of the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust - Lauren Moult, lauren.moult@kcl.ac.uk; 
• Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust R&D Office - rdcosting@gstt.nhs.uk ;
• King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust R&D Office - kch-tr.rd-researchcosting@nhs.net.
   

After an initial eligibility check, an independent representative review panel from across King’s 
Health Partners, including patient/public representation, will evaluate all applications.

Applications will be ranked, and shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview where the panel will assess: 

• The research track record of the candidate;
• Quality of the research project described and its likelihood of creating a platform for attracting external funding;
• Alignment of research with the strategic research priorities across KHP organisations; 
• How this award will support a step change in your research career;  
• Strength of the PPI/E plans. 
   

Successful applicants will be required to submit regular reports on progress.

Timeline   

•  Call launched: Early January 2025;
• Application deadline: 11.59pm (GMT) Sunday 9 March 2025;
• Shortlisted candidates notified: w/c 7 April 2025;
• Candidate interview panel: w/c 28 April 2025;
• Decisions confirmed: w/c 5 May 2025;
• Expected start date:  September 2025. Flexibility on start date will be considered on a case-by case-basis.

Events

We are holding an engagement Q&A webinar on Monday 20 January 2025 12-12:30pm. To register to attend, please sign up via registration form.

Drop-in sessions on PPIE are available for applicants to support the development of ideas on how to involve PPIE members in early stages of research while writing grant applications. 

Dates: Thursday 9 January 2025, Tuesday 21 January 2025, Monday 3 February 2025, Thursday 20 February 2025, Tuesday 4 March 2025. All Sessions will be held 12-1pm. Location: MS Teams. Please sign up via the registration form.