Applications Open for GCRF Global Multimorbidity – Seed-Funding Project 2019

Deadline: 9 October 2019

Applications are open for GCRF global multimorbidity seed-funding which is an Medical Research Council (MRC) initiative that has been developed in collaboration with Wellcome, National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), and Academy of Medical Science (AMS) to support seed-funding projects that develop and test innovative ideas, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, build capacity, and lay the groundwork for future large-scale activity aimed at understanding and tackling multimorbidity in LMICs.

Subject Areas

This call will support seed-funding projects in global multimorbidity. Briefly, subject areas may include, but are not limited to:

• Preliminary data collection and methodological development to understand behavioural, environmental, sociodemographic, and biological factors associated with common clusters/clusters of highest burden and determinants of discordant co-occurring conditions.
• Audit and analysis of existing data to either: i) bring together the fragmented evidence base caused by variations in definition and classification of multimorbidity, ii) utilise existing cohort/surveillance data to identify trends and modifiable risk factors, iii) examine healthcare costs associated with different clusters of conditions and models of care, or iv) assess the impact of existing primary prevention strategies on multimorbidity.
• Feasibility (including acceptability) and pilot work towards the development of primary (e.g., lifestyle interventions), secondary (e.g., preventing multimorbidity once one condition has been diagnosed, polypharmacy effects), and tertiary (e.g., integrated management, mHealth) prevention strategies across all age groups.
• Establishing foundations for studies focused on understanding trends in multimorbidity. Seed-funding would also enable the follow up of previous studies to enable longitudinal or repeated cross-sectional analysis.
• Development of sensitive measures to determine the impact on quality of life for patients and carers of living with multimorbidity.
• Capacity building, networking, and connection of existing resourceswithin LMICs to allow interdisciplinary investigation of multimorbidity.

Funding Information and Duration

• The MRC has made £2.5 million available for seed-funding in global multimorbidity through this call.
• PIs may apply for seed-funding up to 18 months in duration. Applications should not exceed £200,000 and in some cases may be substantially less.
• Grants are intended to support:
  • • LMIC and/or UK research consumable costs
    • Salary costs for LMIC and/or UK-based researchers
    • Small-scale equipment (<£10,000)
    • Partnership and networking activities
    • Research training and capacity building activities
    • Travel and subsistence

Eligibility Criteria

• The research must be primarily aimed at tackling multimorbidity in LMICs. UK or HIC-focused applications are not eligible for this call and will be rejected prior to review.
• The PI is the lead researcher on the application with overall responsibility for the intellectual leadership of the project and for the overall management of the research. The grant will be administered by the PI’s Research Organisation. Co-Is assist the PI in the management and leadership of the research and may provide specialist expertise in a particular facet of the research.
• PI’s should be based at an eligible LMIC or UK Research Organisation.
• Research into multimorbidity and health systems/health services should be rooted in the context where it will take place with strong engagement with policy makers to maximise potential uptake of the research findings.
• Applications involving industrial collaborators are eligible and should follow the MRC Industry Collaboration Agreement (MICA) process. Industrial collaborators cannot be recipients of funding and must be listed as Project Partners or sub-contractors.

How to Apply

Applicants can apply online via given website.

For more information, please visit https://mrc.ukri.org/funding/browse/gcrf-gmsf/gcrf-global-multimorbidity-seed-funding-2019/