CRN East Midlands: ICB research engagement

Alongside the infrastructure budget allocation for NHS Partner Organisations and support for a range of initiatives across the wider community settings, the CRN budget for 2024/25 has an allocation for Integrated Care Boards. The intention is for this funding to enable the relationships between the ICB and CRN to be further strengthened and support the development and implementation of system wide research strategies. Ultimately these activities should increase opportunities for patients, carers, and the public to take part in research, thereby benefiting from new treatment and therapies, improved diagnosis and care. To emphasise commitment to realising this shared ambition in partnership, applications which include an element of ICB/other partner matched funding will be prioritised.

Guidance to aid ICB applications
We propose a further ICB Research Engagement funding call for 2024/25 of up to £250,000, with the intention that this funding will be utilised equally across each of the 5 Integrated Care Boards in the East Midlands CRN region. However, given the current CRN contract will end on the 31/09/2024, and the new Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN) contract will commence on 01/10/2024 there will be a requirement for a check-in/update at 6 months.

Applications must be supported by the ICB Medical Director. Awards will be limited to one application per Integrated Care System, and funding cannot be carried forward into the following financial year. As such, we encourage applicants to prioritise deliverability and consider approaches which can start without much delay. We would encourage you to consider approaches that do not solely rely on development of new job descriptions or recruitment of new staff, which can often take numerous months and delay the start of the work.

In relation to this ICB focussed funding, the expected outputs/outcomes of these investments should contribute to some of the following areas:

● Support delivery of the ICBs’ duty in relation to research and the NHS England performance assessment thereof
● Support the implementation plan of developed ICB research strategies
● Consider initiatives which will have a focus around an under-served community in this region and/or co-ordinate regional work with partners in this regard
● Establish or further develop approaches to bring together providers, including local Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise organisations (VCFSE) from across the region to improve research delivery across the system
● Facilitate involvement of social care and public health within regional research initiatives
● Information and digital programmes to support better collaboration and/or increase efficiency of research delivery
● Initiatives that increase engagement with CRN portfolio studies and initiatives such as Be Part of Research
● Improved access to research sponsored by the Life Sciences industry
● Opportunities for further delivery and roll-out of the NIHR Primary Care Strategy

This is not an exhaustive list, and as an overarching principle, anything that is working towards expanding health and care research across the ICS will be considered as aligning with this work.

Application approach
This will be an application led process, using the below proforma to outline each request and funding amount. The CRN is very keen to discuss applications both before funding is confirmed, and then during the undertaking of the work, particularly if anything changes, or for advice and support. There is a checklist below to support the completion of this proforma, along with a short reminder around financial governance of all CRN monies.
To aid with swift decision making, applicants are actively encouraged to discuss ideas and potential applications with the relevant ICB link (see contact list in appendix), who can support and guide applicants.

Experience has demonstrated that early agreement of funding is an important factor to fully utilising the investment and attaining successful outcomes. The first deadline in this application process is March 31st, 2024, however the call will remain open past this time if funding has not been fully committed.

Once received, all applications will be reviewed by the CRN Leadership team. Where required, further information may be requested from the applicant or expert input sought from outside the team. Bids will be scored by a minimum of 5 members of the Leadership team using 4 criteria: alignment to priority areas outlined within the application guidance; demonstrating collaboration; impact on research activity/growth and practicality of investment/deliverability.

Checklist for funding ideas
Before a proforma is submitted, please ensure consideration has been paid to the following aspects:

● What is the planned impact, how will this be measured?
● Are you confident the funding can be spent in-line with your proposal, completing no later than 31/03/2025?
● Are you clear who will host this funding, and has the organisation agreed?
● Is this fully and correctly costed with a financial breakdown, staff grades, etc?

Notes on financial principles of CRN monies
This funding is part of the CRN East Midlands funding allocation and as such a number of principles apply as to how this funding is allocated, utilised and managed, these are detailed below.


General principles of this targeted funding

● We are inviting applications to run up to 31 March 2025. Note the CRN contract ends 31/09/24 and the new RRDN contract will begin 01/10/24. Please carefully consider funding duration in your requests. The CRN will only make payment to the ICB in accordance with the usual contract arrangements, and the ICB will be responsible for arrangements with any required subcontractors.
● If funding which is requested (& confirmed) for use by 31/03/2025 is not utilised within it, then it cannot be carried over and must be returned/invoices adjusted.
● Funding must be used in line with what is agreed as part of the application and decision-making process, it will be detailed to you in a confirmation email; if you wish to amend the funding use, please discuss with the CRN ICB link for your region.
● Funding and spend will be monitored regularly, at least quarterly, to ensure the spend is in line with planned expenditure; if this is not the case, the potential for re-distribution and variation to funding must be agreed.
● As with all CRN funding, costings (in the NHS and Academia) must be within the AfC/HEI salary range, if costs are higher than the highest spine point, we will assume this is an error and will reduce it to the mid-point of the band. There is an obvious exception for non-NHS/HEI posts, which will be discussed on an individual case basis.
● Details on overheads and non-pay should be included in your request. Overheads must not exceed a total of 8% of pay costs. There are specific requirements for types of non-pay which the Network can fund, please ensure you have discussed this with the CRN ICB links.

The University of Northampton, West and North Northamptonshire Councils received funding to design and deliver training to develop council officers' research skills.