Research application process and considerations

It is important to let the Research Services team for your Division know as soon as you are aware of a potential grant application submission.  For normal grant applications, Research Services will require a completed FBMH fEC costing form no fewer than fifteen working days prior to a grant submission deadline, however, certain strategic bids and clinical trials require up to six weeks to ensure full support and consideration of all financial and governance elements.  In addition to this, those applications involving NHS trusts and NHS costs require liasion with the relevant NHS partner at least six weeks prior to the submission deadline.

Below is some general information regarding various stages of the grant application process and considerations that need to be taken into account.

Grant submission roadmap

A flow diagram has been produced to show the various processes of a grant application.

Costing your research application

All applications must be fully support and costed by Research Services and approved by your Head of Divison.  Please see our page on getting your research application costed for detailed advice. 

Internal peer review

All applications must undergo internal peer review prior to submission.  Some schools have adopted local policies so please refer to your Research Support Manager, Head of Division or Associate Dean for Research and Innovation if you are not aware of your local arrangements.

Applications involving MAHSC partner Trusts being submitted to the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Scheme (RfPB) must be submitted to the Peer Review Panel coordinated by Manchester Foundation Trust. Specific guidance on this process is circulated in advance of each particular call, but for reference please see appendix 1 of the FBMH peer review guidance and policy document which outlines the MAHSC Internal Peer Review Scheme.

NHS collaboration

If your research involves the NHS it is imperative that they are notified of any potential research grant applications as early as possible. There may be local NHS approvals that are required in addition to University approvals.

For advice on costs incurred with research involving the NHS, please see the Department of Health's AcoRD guidance.

Liaison with your NHS partners at least six weeks prior to the submission deadline essential to ensure that the costs of your research project are correctly attributed and the SOECAT validated.

Local NHS contacts

• NHS Salford - covers Acute and Primary Care Research
• Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT)
  
• Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust
• The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Overseas collaborations, due diligence

From the 1st August 2018 the University of Manchester has introduced due diligence checks for certain research collaborators on all public and/or charity funded research projects.

These due diligence checks do not apply to the following collaborators:

• Collaborating Universities from the UK, EU, US, Canada and Australia
• UK public organisations e.g. NHS Trusts, UK Local Authorities and UK Government Departments
• UK Charities registered with the Charities Commission
• UK industrial collaborators subject to a collaboration or other contractual agreement

Further information can be found in the Research & Business Engagement pages.

Trusted research

Trusted Research is a campaign to raise awareness of the kinds of risks that academics can encounter during their research.

The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) has created Trusted Research Guidance for Academia (2019) to help UK academics and research organisations understand and manage the potential risks to international research collaboration. 

Trusted Research provides information on important subjects such as personal data, research data, export controls, intellectual property and cyber security. This guidance will be developed over time as more relevant legislation and guidance is introduced.

Further information can be found in the Research and Business Engagement pages.

More information

• Research Services (RS): team contact sheets
• Central Research Services: the central service with advice on finding research funding, preparing and submitting applications, accepting awards and managing research projects
• Funding opportunities: European funding, industrial collaborations, funding bulletin and more
• Fellowship Academy (R&I Projects team): Support with fellowships - applications, clinics and interview skills
• Research Development and Innovation team (RDI): Support with large, strategic funding bids - high value, prestigious and strategic research grant applications, support for impact, support for industry-funded bids
• Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange: development and managment of University partnerships with businesses large and small.  This can include collaboration, knowledge exchange, consultancy, skills, services, facilities and many other aspects of business partnering