E-Health Informatics Research Centres (E-HIRCs) Call
This call is now closed for applications and is available for reference purposes only.
It is vital that the UK research community is in a strong position to maximise the health research potential offered by linking electronic health records with other forms of routinely collected data and research datasets. The major funders of health research are working in partnership to ensure the UK builds critical mass and expertise in health informatics research. This call to establish centres of excellence in research using e-health records is part of a shared vision to promote linkage of electronic data for research.
- Aim of the Call
- Background
- Expectations of Centres
- A UK network of E-HIRCs
- Funding available
- Support available
- Support not available
- Eligibility
- Application and assessment process
- Timetable
Aim of the Call
The Medical Research Council, in partnership with Arthritis Research UK, the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the National Institute of Health Research, the National Institute for Social Care and Health Research (Welsh Assembly Government), the Chief Scientist Office (Scottish Government Health Directorates) and the Wellcome Trust invite proposals for Centres of Excellence in research linking electronic health data. The Centres will pursue cutting-edge research, deliver innovative linkage and analysis of health-related data sets, build research capacity and expertise and act as an interface with industry, practice and policy with the aim of building and sustaining a vibrant health informatics research capability in the UK.
Background
The UK has an international reputation for undertaking leading edge large scale health data analysis and population based research. New infrastructure initiatives across the UK1, designed to make electronic health records available for research purposes in a secure and ethical environment, will provide unprecedented opportunities for clinical, health services, social and public health research. In recognition of the vast research potential offered by e-health records, the major funders of e-health records research2 came together under the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research (OSCHR) to develop an e-health Research Framework. To understand how well the UK was placed to capitalise on these opportunities, the MRC led a mapping exercise on behalf of the UK research funders and the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries (ABPI) to review the existing UK capability and examine the requirements to support a sustainable research base in the future. The report highlighted the need to build capability and capacity in health informatics research and for further methodological development in complex data linkage.
The wealth of scientific possibilities and huge benefits for biomedical and social sciences offered by data linkage were further highlighted at a recent Frontiers meeting hosted by the funders3. In response to these inputs the funders have agreed to jointly fund a number of centres of excellence in health informatics research across the UK with the aim of conducting leading research and building capacity in the area.
Expectations of Centres
The objectives of the Centres will be to:
- provide a focus for high-quality, cutting-edge research using electronic health records;
- undertake and promote innovative linkage and analysis of large health related data sets including social and economic data;
- build capacity in electronic health informatics research.
Centres will either be based around an existing research group(s) or research unit(s) in a single institution or bring together expertise across several institutes in a wider consortium. By building on existing research strengths, Centres will be well placed to provide UK leadership in the area. Centres will create UK capability in electronic health informatics research by providing advice and expertise to support the wider research community, encouraging collaboration across the biomedical, social and computer sciences and offering training and career development opportunities.
Centres will focus on research to improve the health and wellbeing of the population or address major challenges arising from conditions of significant health burden such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal conditions, neurodegeneration and mental health.
Each Centre must meet the following ESSENTIAL criteria:
Scientific Excellence
- Existing strengths in health-related informatics research in a recognised research environment; and
- Innovative programmes of research which involve linkage between electronic health records or linkage of electronic health records to other datasets including research data, geo-spatial and socio-economic records. Use of existing or emerging e-health records infrastructures must be core to research activities; and
- Develop and apply new methods for data manipulation, linkage or analysis in key areas of statistics, computer science or informatics.
Training and career development
- Offer training for PhD students, post-doctoral fellows and visiting workers where skills can be learnt on the job; and
- Provide career development opportunities for enabling roles such as data managers, software engineers, informaticians and data analysts; and
- Create an environment to develop and sustain capacity in research using e-health records.
Management structures and Governance
- Each Centre will have a Director based within the lead host institution who will take responsibility for the delivery of the objectives of the Centre.
- The Director will be a recognised leader in health informatics research.
- Centres must have a clear governance structure with well articulated decision making processes.
- Senior management roles and responsibilities must be clear.
Networking activities
- Provide scientific leadership, support and advice to the wider research community on the design, linkage, conduct and analysis of e-health related research.
- Contribute to networking activities with the other e-health research Centres of excellence designed to strengthen the national capability in e-health records research.
Public engagement
- Centres must engage patients and the public individually or collectively in research and undertake a programme of activities to promote public and professional understanding of the health and societal benefits of e-health records research.
All Centres will be required to demonstrate they meet the essential criteria but it is recognised that individual Centres may not have equal strengths in each of the criteria.
Additional Strengths
In addition to meeting the essential criteria the funders welcome applications which address any of the following:
- Establish a modular training programme in e-health records research that would assist individuals from different backgrounds to ‘top up’ their skills.
- Issues relating to ethics, security, anonymisation and governance surrounding data linkage.
- Develop innovative linkage across different types of data such as omics and imaging data, and other non-health datasets including demographic, geo-spacial and socio-economic data.
- Translate research outputs by developing effective links with the NHS, policy makers, the public and industry including secondments and temporary placements and ‘case type awards’.
- Create and provide access to datasets for secondary analysis by the research community where legally and ethically possible.
Sustainability
In line with the funders’ desire to build long term capability in e-health informatics research in the UK, Centres will be required to demonstrate commitment from the host HEI(s) to maintain the capacity and expertise developed by the Centre, both in academic and enabling ‘non-academic’ positions, beyond the term of the five year Centre award. A supporting statement including a sustainability plan from the host institution(s) will be required (from the Vice Chancellor or equivalent).
A UK network of E-HIRCs
Individual Centres will be networked together to further strengthen the national capability for using electronic health data in research. The UK network of E-HIRCs will facilitate information exchange about research opportunities and best practice including consideration of ethics and governance issues. The Network will provide a focus for networking with the wider research community and encourage cross-Centre collaborative working. Each Centre will be expected to collaborate on coordinating workshops, seminars, web-based resources, etc to ensure the UK at the leading edge of the field.
Collectively the UK network of E-HIRCs will accelerate the translational process through the development of innovative and transformative approaches for the linkage of data, as well as the design, conduct and analysis of research using electronic health records.
Once the Centres are awarded, a nominated ‘lead’ centre will be allocated a budget in the vicinity of £1m to coordinate activities. Applicants can bid in their proposals to undertake this role.
Funding available
Funds of ~£15m are available to support a number of Centres across the UK for up to five-years and awards will be made on the basis of full economic costs (fEC) at approximately 67% to reflect collaborative funding from research councils, charities and government departments. As these Centres will represent leading foci of expertise it is expected that requests for support will be for a minimum of £3m over the funding period, although less may be awarded as determined by rigorous peer-review. In all areas, the resources requested must be fully justified as part of a coherent scientific programme; the quality of the science proposed will be key.
Following completion of the five year period, a funding extension that tapers over the next 5 years may be considered if good progress has been made. However a long term sustainability plan with demonstrable commitment by the host HEI to ongoing support of the Centre at the end of the initial 5 year funding term must be part of the Centre application.
Awards for Centres will be managed by the MRC on behalf of the partners and subject to MRC terms and conditions.
Support available
- The Director’s salary costs for the portion of their time dedicated to scientific and management leadership of the Centre;
- Funds for research, in particular to support new collaborations across and outside the Centre, although it is anticipated that most of the research in any Centre will be supported by successful applications to response mode competitions.
- Funds to enable the Centre to function as a cohesive regional or UK focus for e-health research (e.g. funds for pilot studies, support posts, networking costs, common resources/datasets and equipment etc);
- Start-up costs for new positions to develop capacity (this can include the initial costs of new appointments from overseas) or key positions central to the Centre’s success;
- Funds to provide a support/advisory service to collaborate with researchers working outside the Centre wishing to use electronic health care records for research;
- Funds for training and capacity building in methodologies underpinning linking and the use of electronic health records. Centres are eligible for MSc and PhD studentships in areas were unmet need is clearly articulated.
- Dedicated Centre management and administrative staff
- Other resources essential to establish and maintain the Centre;
- Public and user engagement, coordination and collaboration costs to bring the research closer to the patient or to application.
- Translational activities for building collaborations with industry, NHS, etc
- Resources to undertake activities as part of the wider UK network. If wishing to take the lead, a request for a coordinator can be made.
Support not available
Funds cannot be requested for capital and refurbishment costs or infrastructure and core administrative services (secretarial, finance, personnel, computing support, estates and building maintenance) covered by the indirect cost component of FEC.
New activities and facilities will only be funded where they are clearly not attributable to existing grants. The funding partnership will not provide support for any shared infrastructure.
Eligibility
For administrative purposes, the E-HIRC application will be led by a single UK academic institution or academic analogue approved by the Research Councils. Only one proposal is permitted per applying host institution. Bids involving multiple sites are welcomed but will be required to demonstrate the added value of the consortium arrangement and how effective working across sites will be achieved. Applications throughout the UK are eligible.
The Director must be the principal investigator on the proposal and be given appropriate status within the lead host institution. The Director should be in a position to influence research programmes associated with the Centre, and must have full control over use of Centre Grant funds.
Co-applicants are expected to be the leading scientists involved in delivering the Centre’s aims and objectives.
The normal MRC eligibility rules apply; please see the applicants’ handbook and the Research Council UK website.
Partnerships with industry are welcome. Applicants considering establishing a collaboration with an industrial partner(s), are advised to refer to the guidance on MRC Industry Collaboration Awards (MICAs),
Application and assessment process
Applicants will submit outline proposals on the RCUK Je-s application system. Specific instructions for completing the case for support are detailed in the Guidance Notes for e-Health Informatics Research Centres. Outline proposals will be reviewed by an expert Scientific Panel and successful bids will be invited to submit full proposals. The panel will encourage collaboration across bids where appropriate. Full proposals will be externally peer reviewed before being considered by the Scientific Panel. Applicants will be required to present their application to the Panel before a final recommendation for funding is made. Final funding decisions will be made by the contributing funding partners.
The Host Institution(s) will be expected to identify their own targets and milestones for the Centre and report to funders on an annual basis. Centres will also be required to annually submit reports to MRC’s Electronic Valuation System (e-Val).
ALL applicants are required to discuss their proposals with the Programme Manager before submission. A brief abstract should be e-mailed in advance of discussions.
Programme Manager:
Dr Mark Pitman
E-Mail: mark.pitman@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
Tel: 0207 395 2215
Timetable
Task |
Deadline |
Call Launch |
6th September 2011 |
1st November 2011 | |
Panel Meeting (Outlines) |
9th December 2011 |
Deadline of Full Applications |
27th February 2012 |
Scientific Panel meeting with interviews |
June 2012 |
Footnotes