HS&DR Programme (Commissioned)
Call for Evidence Synthesis Teams – Funding Sub-Committee Minutes
Date: Thursday 20 Feb 2020
Place:Danubius Hotel, Regents Park, London
Present Members:
Professor Jo Rycroft-Malone (Chair)
Professor Matt Sutton
Professor Annette Boaz
Professor Paul Brocklehurst
Professor Carl Thompson
Professor Mark Pearson
Secretariat:
Ms Steph Garfield-Birkbeck
Mr Kevin Campbell
Mrs Lisa Stockwell
Mrs Abigail Chalk
Apologies:
Alison Ledward
Consideration of Stage 2 proposals (19/98) / Funding recommendations
NIHR130466 HS&DR evidence synthesis centre/team (Dr Yen-Fu Chen)
Decision: Decline
Chair: Matt Sutton
DCM: Annette Boaz (Lead), Alison Ledward (PPI)
Conflicts: Jo Rycroft-Malone, Carl Thompson
• In response to interview questions, the senior leadership arrangements for the team were not made clear and the committee were not sufficiently reassured by the team’s explanation of the mentorship arrangements. This led the committee to have doubts as to how the team’s leadership would cope with the highly responsive nature of this type of contract.
• The social care element was not convincing in the application and the response to interview questions in this area did not provide reassurance to the committee. The committee had been looking for demonstration and understanding of the need for reach into the social care community and how the team would achieve this.
• The committee would have liked more contextual detail; some aspects lacked sufficient clarity, for example detail pertaining to processes that might have been used in the completion of reviews, and plans for capacity building.
• The committee was reassured as to the cross-site working arrangements but remained concerned about the apparent imbalance across the two centres.
NIHR130538 HS&DR evidence synthesis centre/team (Professor Rob Anderson)
Decision: Fund
Chair: Jo Rycroft-Malone
DCM: Paul Brocklehurst (Lead), Alison Ledward (PPI)
Conflicts: Mark Pearson
• The team should consider their plans for dissemination; these should extend beyond decision-makers and have a wider remit to inform the work of commissioners, as well as the work of the programme.
• Although it was noted that the team are working nationally, the committee suggested that the team could consider stretching the reach of their infrastructure, such as patient and public involvement and stakeholder engagement.
• Even more thought needs to be given to meeting the needs and challenges of social care and the team’s ability to carry out reviews that answer questions in this area.
• The committee welcomed the discussion on how the team has worked with evidence users and looks forward to the team building on this.
NIHR130515 HS&DR evidence synthesis centre/team (Professor Alison Eastwood)
Decision: Decline
Chair: Jo Rycroft-Malone
DCM: Mark Pearson (Lead), Alison Ledward (PPI)
Conflicts: Nil
• Although feedback was provided at the EOI stage, the application and responses to interview questions lacked detail and innovation.
• The responses to the interview questions generally lacked detail, for example in relation to capacity building the team only referenced the resources that were available in the way of formal training , rather than the inclusion and development of new researchers coming through.
• The model put forward for stakeholder engagement was considered to be too academic; the committee were not convinced that the approach really underpinned the necessary collaborative / co-creative approach required.
• The committee did not feel the team had showcased itself either in its application form or at interview.
NIHR130588 HS&DR evidence synthesis centre/team (Professor Andrew Booth)
Decision: Fund
Chair: Jo Rycroft-Malone
DCM: Carl Thompson (Lead), Alison Ledward (PPI)
Conflicts: Mark Pearson
• The team should consider their plans for dissemination; these should extend beyond decision makers and have a wider remit to inform the work of commissioners, as well as the work of the programme.
• Although it was noted that the team are working nationally, the committee suggested that the team could consider stretching the reach of their infrastructure, such as patient and public involvement and stakeholder engagement.
• Much more thought needs to be given with regard to meeting the needs and challenges of social care and the team’s ability to carry out reviews that answer questions in this area.
Summary
| Reference | Team | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| NIHR130466 | Dr Yen-Fu Chen (Warwick) | Decline |
| NIHR130538 | Professor Rob Anderson (Exeter) | Fund |
| NIHR130515 | Professor Alison Eastwood (York) | Decline |
| NIHR130588 | Dr Andrew Booth (Sheffield) | Fund |