The NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme is inviting outline applications for research proposals that are concerned with the day-to-day practice of health service staff, and that have the potential to have an impact on the health or wellbeing of patients and users of the NHS.
As a researcher-led programme, RfPB does not specify topics for research but instead encourages proposals for projects that address a wide range of health service issues and challenges.
The programme aims to fund high quality quantitative and qualitative research with a clear trajectory to patient benefit. It particularly encourages applications that have a strong element of interaction with patients and the public and that have been conceived in association with a relevant group of service users.
This is a two-stage, commissioned funding opportunity. To apply for the first stage you should submit an outline application. If invited to the second stage, you will then need to complete a full application.
Application guidance
While many aspects of the application form will look familiar to those who have applied to the NIHR through the research management system, there are many differences too.
Please read our domestic outline application guidance to help you complete all aspects of your application. You must read this alongside the information below, which details specific application requirements and guidance for this funding opportunity. You can also refer to the RfPB FAQs.
Contracting Organisation
Please note that for RfPB, applications must be made through an NHS body or other provider of NHS services in England. ‘NHS body’ means: (a) the Board; (b) a Clinical Commissioning Group; (c) a Special Health Authority; (d) an NHS trust; and (e) an NHS foundation trust. ‘NHS provider’ includes: Community interest companies. If the application is successful, the NHS body or other provider of NHS services in England will act as the contracting organisation, meaning that it will be the recipient of the funds, and will ultimately be responsible for the delivery of the research.
If you have any queries, please contact rfpb@nihr.ac.uk before submitting your application.
Duration (months)
The maximum duration of an RfPB-funded project is 36 months
Total cost to NIHR
The programme has an upper limit of £500,000 for research costs requested from the NIHR and all applications must fall within this limit. We will not accept applications that have asked for funding which exceeds the funding cap per project.
Value-for-money is considered at both the outline and full application stages and applicants should read the Guidance on funding limits page to ensure the work planned in their application aligns with what is expected of an RfPB application at a particular level of funding.
Broadly, these it may be helpful for applicants if they work within three cost tiers for their research:
- up to £500,000 for research that might have fairly immediate patient benefit (such as a randomised controlled clinical trial),
- up to £300,000 for research in preparation for full trials, including feasibility studies and pilots depending on the extent of uncertainties,
- up to £200,000 for more upstream research, such as observational studies or proof of concept studies, that will generate results that may be useful for more downstream investigations or might carry a higher risk of failing to achieve patient benefit.
These are not fixed cost limits but indicative ranges. Costs will be accepted if they are well justified and demonstrate value for money in terms of the potential for realising patient benefit.
Lead Applicant and Research Team
RfPB grants must be administered by an NHS body or other provider of NHS services in England and the lead applicant must have an appropriate relationship with the lead body submitting the application to ensure proper governance and accountability. This means that the lead applicant (if they are not already employed by the NHS body or other provider of NHS services) will need to arrange an honorary contract with that organisation. However, it is not necessary for the honorary contract to be in place when the application is submitted, as long as the lead body is able to confirm that it intends to provide an honorary contract if the application is successful.
Early career researchers leading applications to RfPB are encouraged to apply as Lead Applicant, with a more senior colleague fulfilling the role of mentor and Joint Lead Applicant. For a joint-lead applicant, ensure there is a clear description in the ‘Proposed role’ section of how they will provide mentorship and guidance for the early career researcher fulfilling the role of Lead Applicant. Please summarise the proposed Joint Lead Applicant’s relevant expertise and track record in applied health research, in terms of skills and experience, previous publications, grant funding and impact on health service provision.
Please note that RfPB allows a maximum of 11 members on a research team (either one lead applicant and 10 co-applicants or 2 joint-lead applicants and 9 co-applicants).
Research Plan
Do not upload a research plan that is more than 4 pages. We will not accept applications with a research plan that is more than 4 pages. If invited to submit a full application, this will have a 15 page limit.
Background and rationale
Please remember to provide a clear explanation of the health problem to be addressed, the impact on patients/service users, carers, practitioners as well as health and care services, and how this research would fill a demonstrable evidence gap, addressing patient/service user and carer needs and DHSC priorities (at national or local levels).
Explain how your proposed research is within the remit of the RfPB programme and how it addresses the key aim of the programme to produce research findings that will have practical application for the benefit of patients, service users, carers, the public or populations, and the NHS or social care sector in the relatively near future. Your application should also demonstrate its likely trajectory to patient benefit and the anticipated timescale of this.
Applicants are reminded that the application will be reviewed by assessors who may not have a detailed understanding of the particular clinical, public health or social care area that your application relates to. It is vitally important that you clearly tell the story of why this research is important, and how it will make a stepped change to practice and/or outcomes. The committee is looking for novel approaches. Research which, in the committee’s view, represents only an incremental development on current practice, or is unlikely to have general application / uptake is unlikely to be supported. Research which improves efficiency and effectiveness (rather than increasing workload in an already stretched NHS) is welcomed.
It is essential that you clearly identify the health and care need that your research aims to address. Please outline the anticipated value or contribution the study will provide.
Briefly describe:
- the importance of the proposed research and its relevance to the priorities and needs of the NHS (including a statement of the significance of the research area, e.g. burden of disease). If you are responding to a themed call or highlight notice, please explain how your proposed research addresses the key themes of the call or notice.
- the anticipated outputs, outcomes and impact of the proposed research on the health of patients/service users, carers and/or the public, highlighting the trajectory to patient benefit and quantifying the potential benefits, where possible
- the anticipated timescale for the benefits resulting from the proposed research to be realised.
Explain why this research is needed now, both in terms of time and relevance. We will only fund primary research where the proposed research is informed by a review of the existing evidence.
Briefly describe:
- the need for research in this area, drawing particularly from systematic reviews (including NHS context and relevant literature), and the rationale for the particular lines of research you plan to pursue.
- past and current research that justifies the proposed research and shows that it will add distinct value to what is already known, or in progress
- work undertaken previously by the research team which has led to the proposed programme (e.g. describe any pilot or feasibility data).
Timetable
Briefly detail the timetable for the proposed research, including key milestones and deliverables.
Knowledge mobilisation, dissemination and impact
For pilot or feasibility studies, clear progression criteria to the substantive study should be provided, including identification of the potential funder of the substantive study. Time should also be allocated to the development of the protocol for the substantive study should the proposed pilot or feasibility study be successful.
For further information on applying for feasibility studies, we recommend that you refer to the Guidance on applying for feasibility studies page.
Visit funding web page
(https://www.nihr.ac.uk/funding/research-patient-benefit-march-2025/2025222-2025223-2025224)
