NIHR seeks members for assessment committees
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is pleased to announce an excellent opportunity has arisen to participate in Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR) and Programme Development Grants (PDG) assessment committees. These prestigious appointments offer senior applied health researchers the chance to take part in and gain experience of making recommendations to NIHR for large scale, high quality programmes of research for the benefit of patients and the NHS.
As PGfAR has recently begun to accept research applications from organisations based in Wales they are especially keen to broaden their committee membership to include members from all UK nations and would strongly encourage senior academics to apply.
About the role
The NIHR PGfAR funding scheme makes significant awards of flexible funding and duration. Since the programme was established in 2006, 46 rounds have been completed, leading to over 290 awards.
Research programmes are typically undertaken by groups led by an NHS organisation, in collaboration with co-investigators from academia and the health and social care sectors. A typical programme grant supports strong teams of researchers to undertake a number of clearly interrelated and interdependent workstreams drawing on a range of methods. The research is applied and relatively ‘near-term’, with an expectation of clear benefits to patients, service users, carers, and the health and social care systems. There are three competitions each year (announced in February, June and October).
PGfAR applications undergo a two-stage assessment process. Applicants to the outline stage, whose proposals are judged to have a high chance of success, are provided with detailed feedback and invited to submit a full application.
In each round, a single sub-committee meets to assess outline proposals. Meetings are held in May, September and January, typically virtually (usually via Zoom), and last the whole day.
Two sub-committees assess full applications. Full meetings are held face-to-face in a central London location. These meetings are typically held in February, July and November.
Who they are looking for
They would welcome applications from a range of applied health researchers who have the enthusiasm and vision to work with the director and committee chairs to build on the success of the PGfAR scheme and to take it forwards in diverse and exciting ways. In this round, they are looking for generalists, statisticians and qualitative and behavioural scientists. They are particularly keen to recruit members with public health expertise.
Sub-committee members are expected to be recognised nationally and internationally as leaders in applied health research across a range of methodologies. Generally this means they will be at senior lecturer / senior research fellow level or above.
Successful candidates will have significant experience in applied health research as demonstrated through publications, research funding, impact of research on patients, carers or service users, the NHS and social care system, and other measures of peer esteem.
Commitment
Tenure is for three years with a review after three meetings. Although membership to sub-committees is fixed, members may be asked to assist other sub-committees if unable to attend their own meeting and/or supply written comments about the applications under consideration, particularly in the event where it is not possible to attend any of the sub-committee meetings for a given competition.
Extensions may be made for an additional two years up to a maximum of five years at the discretion of the Programme Director. Reapplication for membership is only permissible after a two-year period has elapsed.
Further information and to apply
Closing date 13:00 23 October 2025