Research grants
Project grants (Research Sub-Committee)
These grants are awarded to provide support for a project designed to seek an answer to a single question or small group of related questions. arc will consider support of clinical projects relating to pathogenesis, diagnosis or treatment, as well as projects of a more fundamental scientific nature, provided that they offer promise of advancement in the understanding of arthritis and related musculoskeletal diseases.
Please note: All applications for clinical trials (single centre or multi centre) will now only be considered as part of arc’s overall strategy by one of the newly established Clinical Studies Groups (see Clinical Trials). No application for a clinical trial will be accepted as a project grant. If you are in doubt as to whether your application is eligible for arc funding, please contact the Research and Education Department.
Project grants may provide funding of up to £300,000 and applicants wishing to request sums in excess of this limit are strongly advised to contact the Research and Education Department before submitting an application. Only in exceptional cases will a project above this limit be funded and, following a recommendation by the Research Sub-Committee, the application will need to be approved by arc’s Scientific Strategy Committee who will make the final decision on funding based on strategic relevance.
Project grants are of limited duration, usually up to a maximum of 3 years, and may provide for the salary of postdoctoral researchers and/or technical assistance. Salaries will be according to age and experience on the appropriate scientific or clinical salary scale (see Essential information for applicants). Please note that a maximum of spine point 43 on the National Scale is allowed for postdoctoral research staff employed on project grants, and that special justification will be required for funding senior postdoctoral research staff between points 37 and 42 (RA2 equivalent). Running costs and small items of essential equipment may also be requested, although applications for major items of equipment costing in excess of £30,000 will be considered only from established units and must be applied for separately (see Equipment grants below).
Project grant applications are considered three times a year by the Research Sub-Committee with a decision approximately 4 months after the deadline date (see Application Deadlines).
Programme grants (Programme Grant Sub-Committee)
Programme grants are awarded to established groups undertaking research relevant to the aims of arc and which have a substantial research track record already supported by project grants from the arc, research councils or other funding bodies operating peer review. A programme grant may be particularly suitable for researchers currently holding multiple project grants in a particular field.
They provide longer-term support where the aim is to answer an interrelated set of questions on a broader front than would be feasible with projects and, at the same time, should provide an opportunity for innovation and creativity. While being hypothesis-based, applications may take the form of a single field of research in which more than one approach is being taken, or a group of related activities harnessing an appropriate mix of techniques and skills to provide added value. Programme grant applications should be for a concerted operation with clearly defined scientific objectives and aim to attract and maintain good quality staff in effective research teams, and enable established research workers with a good track record to concentrate their efforts in a given area.
Successful applicants for programme grants will be expected to roll any directly related current arc project grants into the programme and will not be allowed to submit applications for further project grants in this area, although applications in clearly distinct areas will be permitted.
Programmes are potentially renewable and may provide funding of up to £1,200,000 over 5 years for the salaries of academic and technical staff plus running costs and small items of essential equipment (for large items of equipment see Equipment grants below). Salaries will be according to age and experience on the appropriate scientific or clinical salary scale (see Essential information for applicants).
Programme grants are awarded competitively after a two-stage assessment process. Initially, applicants are asked to submit Outline Proposals on the appropriate application form with a closing date in June (see Application Deadlines).
Following peer review and recommendation on strategic importance by the Scientific Strategy Committee, successful applicants from the first stage will be invited to submit a full application with a closing date in the following January. Full applications will receive extensive peer review and the process of assessment will allow applicants to respond to the comments of the external referees. Site visits will not be essential before the award of a programme grant, although they may take place if there are areas of uncertainty and may also be used to audit ongoing programmes. Applicants should note that up to 1 year should be allowed for the full process of programme grant evaluation to take place.
Equipment grants (Research Sub-Committee)
See Conditions of award, for general conditions relating to equipment. Requests for small items of essential equipment (costing less than £30,000) which are needed for specific projects should be included in a project, fellowship or programme grant application.
Major items of equipment (costing in excess of £30,000), which will facilitate multiple projects, must be applied for separately even if only part funding is requested. Applications will be considered only from established units with a track record of research in arthritis and related musculoskeletal diseases, and the equipment must be able to make a lasting impact on this research over a period of many years. Grants toward the partial cost of a piece of equipment may also be considered. Applications are considered three times a year by the Research Sub-Committee, with a decision approximately 4 months after the deadline date (see Application Deadlines).
Applicants must outline all the research projects to be facilitated by the equipment, stating the objectives, plan of investigation and staff involved in each project, as well as competitive, accurate and detailed quotes for the equipment requested. Exceptionally, a site visit to assess the application may be made.
