Improved measurement methods for population science research highlight notice
(Highlight notice revised September 2011)
Please apply for this Highlight notice using the Je-S application system.
The MRC has a longstanding track record in supporting high quality population-based health research, which continues to be an integral component of our research strategy. While all four MRC Research Boards and the MRC/NIHR Methodology Research Panel have an interest in this area, the Population and Systems Medicine Board (PSMB) leads on population-based studies into aetiology of disease, descriptive epidemiology and social and behavioural medicine.
PSMB has identified a need for improved methods that may be used to better measure the characteristics of human study participants and their environments.
The Board would welcome applications that address the development of novel and innovative tools (both methodological and technological) for the measurement of participant characteristics in population studies. The new measurement methods should represent a step-change over existing approaches and be usable in areas of high research need. We anticipate that applications will have a strong and well thought out validation strategy, and where appropriate include a comparison with existing measurement tools.
We would particularly welcome proposals that are aimed at the development and/or validation of new devices that are robust and suitable for use at scale in a real world setting, as well as biosensors for continuous personal monitoring. These could be particularly useful for time series studies involving repeated measurements.
For this highlight PSMB would especially encourage collaborative partnerships involving a range of disciplines including basic biomedical and physical scientists, engineers, material scientists and population health scientists. The MRC will consider collaborative funding with other Research Councils, charities and industry.
Applicants are advised to contact Dr Amanda Chmura if they are thinking of submitting an application under this highlight and all applicants are requested to reference this highlight in the Abstract and the ‘Case for Support’ section of their proposals.
Contact: Dr Amanda Chmura
Email: amanda.chmura@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk