Standard calls - troubleshooting

Developing your research proposal

When is your next call for proposals?

Calls are issued in February, June and December. Please email htacommissioning@soton.ac.uk if you would like to receive an alert when a call is issued. Alternatively you can stay in touch by joining our monthly email bulletin list

I want to do research on a part of what the brief covers (eg; children, older people) - is this allowed?

You must fully justify your position in your proposal. However, you should consider that a common reason given for proposals failing is that they fail to fully address the commissioning brief.

I don't agree with the commissioning brief - what shall I do?

If you still wish to proceed with a proposal you will need to state your objections and state clearly why your suggestion or your method is better than that suggested in the brief.

Can I produce and maintain a Cochrane systematic review?

If the commissioning brief encourages you to consider producing and maintaining a Cochrane systematic review, then we will support these costs. Of course, we encourage all applicants to link with or form a Cochrane Review Group

Can I claim the costs involved with maintaining a Cochrane systematic review?

Yes - if the commissioning brief you are addressing specifies that applicants are encouraged to consider producing and maintaining a Cochrane systematic review, you should include any additional costs associated with the initial preparation in your project.

The commissioning brief states that the research proposed should be designed using a ‘two-stage’ approach – what is this?

The NCCHTA is committed to ensuring that the research it commissions delivers high quality research information on the costs, effectiveness and broader impact of health technologies in the most effective way for those who use, manage and provide care in the NHS.

Increasingly, the HTA programme is addressing more complex or difficult research questions. As a result, it is sometimes appropriate to commission HTA research in two stages. Two-stage commissioning involves identifying a first question which needs to be answered before research on a subsequent one should start.

The commissioning brief will state the precise requirements for each topic. Further information on two-stage commissioning in general can be found in this NCCHTA policy paper (pdf, 36kb).

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