Scholarships and Awards > BHIVA Research Awards > BHIVA Research Awards 2023
Background
Originally launched in 2006, the BHIVA Research Awards are open, through competitive application, to all BHIVA members. A total of at least £30,000 per annum is available, to be distributed amongst the successful applicants according to the quality of the submitted proposals. The judging panel is chaired by an appointed chair and the call for applications is open from December to February. Successful applicants are announced at the BHIVA autumn conference.
Purpose of the awards
BHIVA Research Awards provide funding for research projects that will impact on the improvement of clinical care, management, health and wellbeing of people living with HIV and on the prevention of HIV transmission. Applicants must be from UK-based institutions and awards will be paid in UK currency (GBP) to UK bank accounts. Projects should be wholly or primarily focussed on UK populations. Applications with additional impact in other country or population settings and/or which support the development of research skills for the UK-based applicant may also be considered.
BHIVA/ViiV Implementation Science Scholarships 2022
Available to UK-based BHIVA members from any discipline, who will be supported to deliver an implementation science project and have the opportunity to be trained in implementation science methodology. Implementation science is the study of methods and strategies to promote the adaptation, adoption and integration of evidence-based practices, interventions and policies into routine health care practice and settings. Implementation research is based on the principles of implementation science and seeks to address the challenges and barriers associated with the implementation of interventions to enhance the quality of patient care. Thus, these scholarships will fund projects based on these concepts, and that are focused on understanding what, why and how an intervention would work in the 'real world'. Such interventions could be a practice, service, programme or policy. It could also be a new diagnostic tool or treatment that has been licensed, but not yet widely implemented. Examples of such projects may include supporting patient testing in acute medical settings by educating staff, texting patients to reduce DNA rates or improve adherence, implementing patient held note systems, using cards or other prompts to reduce drug-drug interactions. Projects looking at anticipated or actual changes in service delivery, testing, and administration or monitoring of antiretroviral therapy (including injectable antiretrovirals) are also encouraged.
If your project fits these criteria, please click here to apply for these awards.
Application support and additional information
The BHIVA Research Awards programme provides support to all potential applicants, including queries on eligibility, the application process and scientific questions. In addition, BHIVA also provides registrars with access to senior doctors who can be contacted for advice on a particular project. For support with your application, or for information on the mentoring programme, please contact the BHIVA Secretariat at [email protected].
Awards summary and timelines
The envisaged timeline for the BHIVA Research Awards is as follows:
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Online applications open |
Tuesday 13 December 2022 |
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Application support and additional information available |
13 December 2022–17 February 2023 |
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Close online applications (at 1700) |
Friday 17 February 2023 |
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Extension to closing date – now 1200 noon on Wednesday 22 February 2023 |
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Submissions under review |
February–June 2023 |
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Research Awards Judging Panel meeting |
w/c 19 June 2023 |
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Notify applicants |
w/c 1 August 2023 |
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Appeals process window (see item 7.4) |
1–11 August 2023 |
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Earliest possible start date for winners’ projects |
1 September 2023 |
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Announce awards at Autumn Conference and on BHIVA website |
Nov 2023 (date TBC) |
Funding available for the 2023 award round
In 2023, a minimum of £30,000 is available to be distributed amongst the successful applicants. These funds will be distributed to several projects of up to £10k and, subject to quality of submission, projects up to £30k may be considered. The allocation of all funds will depend on the funding available and the quality of applications received. Please see below for more information on the type of projects that will be accepted for review.
Eligibility
Who can apply
The Awards are only open to BHIVA members†, either medical or non-medical, working on HIV infection in any capacity that contributes to improvement in HIV care and management within the UK.
BHIVA seeks to support clinical and non-clinical researchers who are developing and establishing themselves as independent researchers. Therefore, applications from persons who are not yet independent researchers or who do not hold an established academic or clinical post would be particularly welcomed and encouraged to apply for the BHIVA Research Awards.
† Please note: Applications must be made online only. Only applications from BHIVA members will be accepted. If you are not a BHIVA member, please join at: www.bhiva.org/Membership and allow up to 2 working days for your application to be processed. In addition, successful applicants must retain their BHIVA membership during the entire period of any research project supported by the BHIVA Research Awards.
Types of projects
BHIVA welcomes projects that may lead to improved clinical care, management, health and wellbeing of people living with HIV and on the prevention of HIV transmission or studies that have the potential to translate into improvements in UK HIV clinical care and management or the prevention of HIV transmission in the UK. In addition, BHIVA is keen to fund small projects that undertake research that may have additional impact in other country or populations settings that would not attract funding from traditional sources.
NIHR non-commercial partner status
BHIVA is a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) non-commercial partner in respect of its Research Awards funding stream. Appropriate research studies funded through this NIHR non-commercial partner funding stream are automatically eligible for inclusion in the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) Portfolio and therefore entitled to:
Use the NIHR Coordinated System for gaining NHS permissions (NIHR CSP), which is accessed via the Integrated Research Application System (IRAS)
Access NHS support via the NIHR Clinical Research Network.
Please note that to gain inclusion on the NIHR CRN Portfolio research studies funded by BHIVA must meet the standard study eligibility criteria, namely that it:
Is a discrete structure research project with an appropriate study protocol
Is of clear value to the NHS
Involves NHS patients, staff, premises, facilities or resources
Requires NHS support via the NIHR Clinical Research Network.
Please refer to the following websites for further information about:
NIHR CRN Portfolio https://www.nihr.ac.uk/researchers/collaborations-services-and-support-for-your-research/run-your-study/crn-portfolio.htm
IRAS https://www.myresearchproject.org.uk/ (researchers use this site to begin the process of applying for NHS Permissions and for inclusion in the NIHR CRN Portfolio)
Application process
How to apply
Download and read in its entirety the BHIVA Research Awards Guidance Manual (below), which will guide you through the application process.
Download the application form (below). The completed application must be submitted through the BHIVA Research Awards page on this website (below).
Download and complete the declaration form (below). The completed form must be signed by both the applicant and the supervisor and emailed to [email protected].
Applications will only be accepted in MS Word format submitted through this website.
Please pay particular attention to the stated word/page limits – applications that exceed these will be rejected.
All applications are encouraged to follow accepted HIV language guidance, e.g., any applications using ‘HIV-infected person/people’ will be corrected to ‘person/people living with HIV’. Please see UNAIDS Terminology Guidelines and the People First Charter.
Supplementary information files (in MS Word format) may be included in support of the application (no longer than four (4) sides of A4 – documents longer than four (4) sides may be arbitrarily cut).