Apply for our three-year grant to research Long COVID - deadline Friday
Proposal Summary
A grant to the value of £20,000 per year for 3 years has been made available by Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, for UK academic units to tender for in support of investigating the following proposal:
- Characterisation of the COVID patients that go onto develop long COVID symptoms; defining the long COVID symptom, and categorisation of their medical care pre, peri and post COVID, with an emphasis on the theory for long COVID symptoms.
- Propose strategies for the development of guidance on the management of long COVID patient care
The purpose of the grant is to enable an academic research centre, such as a UK based University Department, to work with our local respiratory team, to explore the characteristics of COVID patients, using clinical databases, and / or patient interviews, to see if we can define the features of the COVID patient who goes onto develop long COVID symptoms.
The treatment utilised for these patients would be reviewed to see if a pattern of ‘best care’ could be developed for supporting the care of long COVID sufferers.
Thus this project proposes that COVID survivors are assessed, using questionnaires or interviews, and applying qualitative and quantitative analysis methodology: the applicant is expected to have demonstrable good communication skills and ability to analyse clinical data sets – IT skills would be an advantage.
The successful applicant is expected to work closely with Dr Y Raste, Consultant in respiratory care, in engaging team members as needed, and agreed between both parties, so as to be able to undertake the work on this project. These team members are expected to be based within the Respiratory Department at Croydon University Hospital.
Laptop and IT support would be provided.
The local clinical lead would work with the academic institute to finalise the proposal, and aid in the selection, and supervision of the research team on site for the duration of the grant. It is anticipated that further external grant submissions may be made, in agreement with both parties, to take the project forwards into other areas of management of the long COVID patient, including, the potential to develop future methods of care.
Funding
A grant of £60,000 has been set aside for the project. This is payable in annual instalments, subject to a satisfactory annual report on the progress of the project.
Close working relationship with host institute and the successful applicant would be expected in the form of regular meetings and satisfactory reporting as set out at the start of the grant
Eligibility
This grant is open to applications from Departments within UK Universities. These Departments must have demonstrable ability to perform qualitative and quantitative analysis of large patient groups and health related data.
The applicant has to have evidence of ability to conduct collaborative health related research leading to publication.
The lead applicant must be a head of Department or equivalent.
The applicant has demonstrated ability to successfully complete previous grant awards.
Terms and conditions
The successful applicant has to sign off within 3 months of the award being granted.
No rights of appeal for unsuccessful applicants unless it is of due process.
Payments of the grant would be by equal instalments on an annual basis subject to receipt of a satisfactory report by the R&D office at Croydon, within two months of the annual award date.
Any inability to complete the tasks would lead to termination of the award at that point in time, and both parties would meet their own costs so incurred with no rights to claim of the grant and acceptance.
Any delays in reporting may lead to delay in next instalment payments or cessation of the award, unless by prior agreement.
Resolution of disputes
If any disputes arise, then arbitration would be by mutual agreements of the Chief Executives from both institutes, whose decisions would be absolute and final.
Output
The output of the grant is to help develop research interest into long COVID, and it may lead to a higher qualification, where possible, such as a PhD thesis, as well as publications.
Contact person
Tenders to be submitted to
Dr M Chang
R&D Manager
R&D Office, Croydon University Hospital
530 London Road
Thornton Heath
Croydon
CR7 7YE
Tel 020 8401 3610; email ch-tr.research@nhs.net
Contact person: Dr J Chang, Director for Research, Enterprise and Innovation.
Dates
Closing date for applications: Friday 1 October 2021
Interviews: Week of 11 October 2021
How to apply
The applicant must submit a word document of between 600 – 800 words of their proposed team, as letter or email, of their abilities and experience as defined above, and rational on how they see the use of the funds to develop this project to completion, by midnight of Friday 1 October 2021, to Dr M Chang, R&D manager at Croydon University Hospital.
Successful applicants would be invited to formal interview week of 11 October 2021 to assess suitability for the award.
It is proposed that the project would start late October 2021 or early November 2021 and run for 3 years.