Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who can apply

1.1. Do I have to be based in the UK to apply? 
1.2. Can my co-applicants be from overseas? 
1.3. Do you accept bids concurrent with applications to other organisations? 
1.4. Are there any other rules governing eligibility for EME programme funding? 
1.5. Will the EME programme consider a joint funding arrangement?

2. About the research we fund

2.1. Does the EME programme fund trials of devices or diagnostic tests?
2.2. Will the EME programme consider funding research into public health? 
2.3. Do you fund methodological development? 
2.4. Do you fund in the field of global health? 
2.5. Can I include animal or laboratory work in my proposal? 
2.6. Can my proposal use surrogate markers as outcome measures? 
2.7. Are there any restrictions on the duration or cost of a proposed project? 
2.8. Does the EME programme fund feasibility or pilot studies? 
2.9. Would my primary research idea be of interest to the EME programme or the HTA programme? 
2.10. Can I apply to the EME programme for a study that only includes a mechanistic evaluation? 
2.11. I want to do a trial to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention, does it also have to include a mechanistic evaluation?

3. Developing your research proposal

3.1. How many submission deadlines will there be? 
3.2. Are references expected in a preliminary application and if so where should they go? 
3.3. Can I make changes to my submitted application? 
3.4. Can you explain how NHS costs are categorised? 
3.5. How should I cost medical salaries in my full proposal? 
3.6. Our preliminary application has been shortlisted and we are preparing a full proposal. Can I increase the cost of the study at this stage?
3.7. Can I include a mechanistic study in my application for a trial to determine the efficacy of an intervention?

4. How we assess proposals

4.1. How will my application be handled? 
4.2. What criteria will be used to assess my proposal? 
4.3. Does the EME programme provide feedback on proposals? 
4.4. Can I resubmit my unsuccessful preliminary application or full proposal to the EME programme? 
4.5. How do you choose referees who assess the proposals?

5. Funded projects

5.1. Can I see a copy of the contract that will be issued if I am successful?

6. Glossary

6.1 Where can I access a glossary of terms?

1. Who can apply

1.1. Do I have to be based in the UK to apply?

Lead applicants to the EME programme must be based in the UK.

1.2. Can my co-applicants be from overseas?

It is acceptable for you to have co-applicants from outside the UK; the EME programme is not limited to applicants in the UK. EME research may be conducted outside the UK where this is the best means of meeting a research requirement relevant to healthcare in the UK. The rationale for such an application should be clearly set out and each case will be judged on its merits.

1.3. Do you accept bids concurrent with applications to other organisations?

The EME programme will not normally accept applications that are currently pending with other research funding organisations (unless under shared funding arrangements).

1.4. Are there any other rules governing eligibility for EME programme funding?

Research Councils UK eligibility rules apply to the EME programme. You should visit www.rcuk.ac.uk/research/eligibility for further information on this requirement.

1.5. Will the EME programme consider a joint funding arrangement?

The EME programme will enter into joint funding arrangements with other organisations. Further information is available in the Collaboration section.

 2. About the research we fund

2.1. Does the EME programme fund trials of devices or diagnostic tests?

Yes. The EME programme supports prospective independent validation of devices and diagnostic tests, but will not support their development.

For the NETSCC definition and to see which other NIHR programmes will fund diagnostic tests visit the NETSCC website glossary page.  

2.2. Will the EME programme consider funding research into public health?

The EME programme will consider proposals that evaluate interventions to promote health or prevent disease. Such proposals will need to address the basic remit of the programme: evaluating efficacy where proof of concept has already been demonstrated and (usually) adding significantly to our understanding of mechanisms and processes.

2.3. Do you fund methodological development?

The EME programme is interested in testing or evaluating new methodologies in clinical trials design, conduct and analysis. The EME programme does not fund methods development research, which is funded through the Methodology Research Programme (MRP). However there may be opportunity to co-fund proposals between EME and MRP, where a trial is the vehicle for development, which should be discussed with the secretariat for both programmes at the earliest opportunity.

2.4. Do you fund in the field of global health?

No, the EME programme does not fund in the field of global health, defined for this purpose as areas where the health need is identified in developing countries (i.e. including diseases of developing countries), or where the health need does not yet exist in the NHS but might in the future and the problem can be best addressed in developing countries.

2.5. Can I include animal or laboratory work in my proposal?

EME does not fund animal studies: it funds clinical trials or evaluative studies, in humans. The programme will only fund laboratory based, or similar, studies where these are embedded within the main study and are relevant to the remit of the EME programme.

2.6. Can my proposal use surrogate markers as outcome measures?

Yes, surrogate markers are acceptable as indicators of health outcome as long as they can be shown to be well validated.

2.7. Are there any restrictions on the duration or cost of a proposed project?

There are no fixed limits on the duration of projects or funding, and proposals should be tailored to fully address the problem. However, applicants should balance the pressing need for the information with the need to follow participants up for long enough to measure important outcomes. 

Although there is no limit to the amount of money you can ask for on one proposal, applicants should be aware that they will be competing for limited funds.

2.8. Does the EME programme fund feasibility or pilot studies?

The EME programme is very happy to receive applications that include pilot or feasibility work as part of a proposal for a wider study. We will also consider proposals for a stand-alone pilot or feasibility study, however there would be an expectation that such work could lead to a later full study as part of the EME programme.

For the NETSCC definition and to see which other NIHR programmes will fund feasibility and pilot studies visit the NETSCC website glossary page.  

2.9. Would my primary research idea be of interest to the EME programme or the HTA programme?

The EME and HTA programmes have worked together to produce a document to help clarify some of the differences between the two programmes. The aim of the document is to make it easier for you to decide which research programme it would be most appropriate for you to submit a proposal to. Please click the link below to view the document.
Characteristics of the EME and HTA programmes ( 24 kb)

2.10. Can I apply to the EME programme for a study that only includes a mechanistic evaluation?

The EME programme is primarily interested in the evaluation of the clinical efficacy of interventions. Therefore a study which includes only a mechanistic evaluation would not be within our remit.

2.11. I want to do a trial to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention, does it also have to include a mechanistic evaluation?

The EME programme will consider a proposal for a study that only includes an evaluation of the clinical efficacy of an intervention. Proposals do not therefore have to include a mechanistic evaluation.

3. Developing your research proposal

3.1. How many submission deadlines will there be?

The EME programme will set 3 submission deadlines a year. These will be published on the website at regular intervals.

3.2. Are references expected in a preliminary application and if so where should they go?

Our preliminary application form, including flow diagram, is all that we require. There is a section for the background of your proposed work and references.

3.3. Can I make changes to my submitted application?

No, once an application has been sent to the EME programme you cannot ask for changes to be made to it. You can, of course, withdraw your application and resubmit it at a later date.

3.4. Can you explain how NHS costs are categorised?

There are three types of costs associated with NHS Research and Development (R&D):

• Research Costs – These cover the costs of R&D activity itself and include: data collection; analysis; other activities needed to answer the research questions; trial registration; dissemination; and the salary and indirect costs of staff employed to carry out the research.

• Service Support Costs – These cover any additional patient-related costs, associated with the research, that end once the research activity has stopped. These may include: extra diagnostic tests; extra inpatient or outpatient activity; extra nursing care; and obtaining informed consent from participants.

• Treatment Costs – These cover patient care costs, which will continue if the patient care service continues after the R&D activity stops. Treatment Costs cover all types of patient care including: diagnostic; preventive; continuing-care services; rehabilitative-care services; and health promotion. Where patient care is being provided which differs from the normal, standard, treatment for that condition (either an experimental treatment or a service in a different location from where it would normally be given) the difference between the total Treatment Costs and the costs of the 'standard alternative' (if any) is termed the Excess Treatment Costs, but it is nonetheless part of the Treatment Cost, not a Service Support or R&D cost.

More detail is available in DH guidance documents which give examples of what kind of costs should be allocated in the full proposal details as research,NHS support or NHS treatment costs.

Who funds these costs?

• Research Costs are funded by the research funder e.g. the EME programme.

• (NHS) Service Support Costs are funded through the R&D Levy. Currently, this is paid to NHS organisations in the form of transitional allocations and, in a very small number of cases, through ad hoc funding. However, this process is changing and, in future, funding will be through a number of new funding streams that will include: NIHR Faculty; Technology Platforms; Biomedical Research Centres; and Networks (Topic Specific, Primary Care, and the Comprehensive Research Network for England). Details of the new funding streams can be found on the NIHR website.

• Treatment Costs, including Excess Treatment Costs, are normally funded through commissioning arrangements for patient care and normal commissioning arrangements apply. In very exceptional cases, when excess treatment costs are very high and there are very few centres involved, subvention support may be available from the Department of Health to help with Excess Treatment Costs. However, even where an application meets Department of Health subvention criteria, funding will be subject to the availability of Department of Health resources and available budget.

3.5. How should I cost medical salaries in my full proposal?

Academic salaries at NHS consultant grade can be included to a maximum of the gross costs incurred on a standard NHS 10 programme activity. Clinical excellence awards and other performance related awards (which are paid from other NHS sources) will not be paid by the EME programme and should not be included in the application.

3.6. Our preliminary application has been shortlisted and we are preparing a full proposal. Can I increase the cost of the study at this stage?

Applicants should note that it is in their interests to undertake a thorough, realistic and accurate costing of their preliminary application. The EME programme expects that the costs identified should not differ significantly between the preliminary application and full proposal. Any differences (including those incurred as a result of responding to feedback on the preliminary application from the EME Board) must be clearly explained and fully justified. The Board will pay close scrutiny to any increases.

3.7. Can I include a mechanistic study in my application for a trial to determine the efficacy of an intervention?

The EME programme encourages applicants to consider the inclusion of relevant mechanistic studies within their application where these would significantly increase our understanding of disease or treatment mechanisms. However these studies should be embedded within the main trial and not opportunistically bolted on as a separate element.

4. How we assess proposals

4.1. How will my application be handled?

Your application will be processed and considered initially by the EME programme staff who will check that your form has been completed correctly and that your application is within the programme remit.  Preliminary applications which are within remit will then be assessed on overall quality and the likelihood of meeting the fundable criteria when assessed by the EME Board.  Applications which are not considered competitive for funding will be rejected at this stage.  Preliminary applications going forward for Board consideration will be subject to assessment by one external clinical expert referee and the Board Members.  The Board will then consider the application at the next meeting and decide whether it should be shortlisted for further consideration or rejected.  Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal to a subsequent Board.  Full proposals will be subject to both expert review and detailed consideration by the Board Members prior to a meeting.  You will be informed of the progress of your application at various stages.

4.2. What criteria will be used to assess my proposal?

Preliminary applications will be refereed and then considered by the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Board. In its assessment of preliminary applications, the Board is likely to use the following criteria:

• Scientific quality of the proposal.
• Feasibility of the study.
• Reasonable costs and value for money.

Further details are given on the assessment criteria section and in the EME guidance notes for applicants, available at the funding opportunities page.

4.3. Does the EME programme provide feedback on proposals?

We check all proposals following submission to ascertain whether they are within the programme remit. We will contact any applicant whose proposal is outside the programme's remit and tell them why. We will also provide feedback on all preliminary applications and full proposals that are considered at the Board.

4.4. Can I resubmit my unsuccessful preliminary application or full proposal to the EME programme?

The EME programme does not encourage resubmission of rejected preliminary applications or full proposals from researchers. Applicants must wait at least 12 months between submission dates to resubmit any rejected preliminary application or full proposal, unless specifically asked to resubmit sooner by the EME Board. If an unsolicited resubmission takes place before the 12 month period has elapsed, the EME programme will reject the application. If you intend to resubmit a proposal that has been previously considered, the original application must be changed substantially.

If you do choose to resubmit a preliminary application, please ensure that you download the most recent version of the guidance notes as these are updated on a regular basis.

4.5. How do you choose referees who assess the proposals?

Applicants at the preliminary application stage are required to provide the details of three clinical experts who are suitable and would be prepared to act as a referee for the proposal. (Applicants should only include individuals whom they have contacted and who are prepared to undertake a review of the proposal if requested.) 

Suggestions for referees at the full proposal stage are invited from applicants, and these will be considered when selecting the individual experts for any proposal. The EME programme also chooses from its 'college' of referees. The criteria for entry include job seniority, recommendation by other recognised experts, recommendation by senior EME programme staff or EME programme advisors.

5. Funded projects

5.1. Can I see a copy of the contract that will be issued if I am successful?

The standard EME contracts are Department of Health contracts, which will not be modified. There are two standard contracts, one of which would be issued, depending on the host institution of the lead applicant:

One for universities (987kb)

One for NHS bodies, research councils and other government agencies (930kb)

6. Glossary

6.1. Where can I access a glossary of terms?

For a full list of terms please visit the NETSCC glossary.