Global Health Research communications ‘ABC’ toolkit
This toolkit aims to provide Global Health Research (GHR) Programme award holders a simple and accessible introduction to NIHR communications requirements and how we can support your communications. If you have any feedback on this toolkit, or any questions, we would really like to hear from you. Please email ghcomms@nihr.ac.uk.
‘A’ is for Acknowledgement
The NIHR must be acknowledged as the funder of your research in both oral and written research outputs. The wording of the acknowledgement and disclaimer is:
“This research was funded by the NIHR (project reference) using UK international development funding from the UK Government to support global health research. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the UK government.”
All published material must contain an acknowledgement of funding, and when mentioning research findings or opinions, an appropriate disclaimer. For research papers, the acknowledgement and disclaimer should be added to the funding or acknowledgments section of the manuscript.
Where you mention your NIHR funding online, including in your biographies, please hyperlink the words ‘NIHR Global Health Research’ to our showcase webpage.
For more detail, see the NIHR research outputs and publications guidance webpage.
Acknowledgement in press releases
Press releases should acknowledge the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) global health research funding in the body text, ideally within the top three paragraphs.
Your press release should also include the following ‘boilerplate’ text in the ‘Notes to Editors’ at the end:
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
The mission of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. We do this by:
- Funding high quality, timely research that benefits the National Health Service, public health and social care;
- Investing in world-class expertise, facilities and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services;
- Partnering with patients, service users, carers and communities, improving the relevance, quality and impact of our research;
- Attracting, training and supporting the best researchers to tackle complex health and social care challenges;
Collaborating with other public funders, charities and industry to help shape a cohesive and globally competitive research system; - Funding applied global health research and training to meet the needs of the poorest people in low and middle income countries (LMICs).
NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. The NIHR Global Health Research portfolio supports high-quality applied health research for the direct and primary benefit of people in LMICs, using international development funding from the UK Government.
ENDS
For more information, please see the press releases section of our research outputs and publications guidance.
‘B’ is for Branding
All award holders and Academy Members funded via the GHR Programme should use the ‘Funded by NIHR’ logo on their websites, slides, reports, other printed materials and presentations.
Download the ‘Funded by NIHR’ logo
Global Health Research Centres only should use their NIHR sub-logo instead (see example below).
All NIHR GHR award-holders are also encouraged to use the new UK International Development (UK-ID) logo, which was recently introduced by FCDO to replace the previous ‘UK Aid’ logo.
How to use the UK-ID logo together with the ‘Funded by NIHR’ logo
The UK-ID logo may be positioned either below or to the right of the ‘Funded by NIHR’, provided there is sufficient space between them. See the examples below, noting the logos should be equal height. These logos may only be used on a white or light-tinted background, along with our acknowledgement – and disclaimer where applicable.
Where to use the ‘Funded by NIHR’ logo
On websites – above the fold so that it is visible without scrolling down the page
In print, such as on research posters and patient leaflets, where the host institution logo will take precedence, both sub-logos/Funded by NIHR logos should be placed on the bottom half of the page
In research slides, place the Centre sub-logo/ ‘Funded by NIHR’ logo on the first slide and the acknowledgement and disclaimer on the final slide
On videos, place the Centre sub-logo/ 'Funded by NIHR' logo on the final frame with the acknowledgement and disclaimer.
NIHR funded researchers may use their institution’s templates for research posters and slide decks. If you prefer, you are welcome to use the NIHR GHR slide deck and add your host institution’s logo. Contact ghcomms@nihr.ac.uk.
‘C’ is for Communicate (with us)!
Newsletter and social media
Sign up to our Global Health Research monthly newsletters and share interesting articles and funding opportunities. To subscribe, please complete the sign-up form – just select the ‘Global Health’ option.
Please share this link with any of your colleagues and partners in the UK or LMICs who are interested in global health research. We want to include your updates, publications, and events in the newsletter - please email ghcomms@nihr.ac.uk.
Please follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @NIHRglobal and tag us in your posts so we can like, repost and share where relevant. It’s also the best way to let us know your project X/Twitter handles so we can follow you back! We also have a NIHR GHR LinkedIn Group which all award-holders and partners are welcome to join.
Photography and other images
NIHR is developing a new ‘asset library’ for organising, storing, and retrieving photos and other images to use in our communications. The assets in the library have accompanying metadata, such as titles, captions, credits, and licence agreement.
We are looking for great photos of research in action. If you would like us to use your images, please email us ghcomms@nihr.ac.uk.
For any images that could potentially identify an individual, please ensure that you have obtained written, informed consent from the subject (or their legal guardians for minors), and that this is recorded and documented.
Press releases and media support
Award holders, through their host institution/GHR Centre communications teams/leads, are required to notify the NIHR comms team in advance of any research outputs or media activity. This notification should take place as soon as reasonably practicable (for example when you have a journal publication date or planning a press release) and a minimum of three working days before publication or contact with any media.
Media activity that should be notified to the NIHR includes:
- A press release being issued through the researchers’ host or partner institution
- A press release being issued by the journal, funder or partner in the research
- A researcher taking part in interviews for press or broadcast
- A media exclusive or journalist briefings
For NIHR-funded researchers, we offer support and advice when interacting with the media and guidance on communicating work during the scientific publishing process. We can advise you on what makes a story newsworthy and talk you through the options to come up with the best way to tell yours.
Thank you!
We are here to support you, and we look forward to working with you and your colleagues. If you have any questions or feedback about this toolkit, please email ghcomms@nihr.ac.uk.
Annex – Research outputs
How to acknowledge funding
All NIHR Global Health Research funding should be acknowledged by using both the ‘Funded by NIHR’ logo and the UK international development logo, unless advised otherwise (see below).
If you are unsure whether the use of the UK international development logo is appropriate for the context of your research, contact your NIHR programme manager for advice.
Audio outputs – Radio interviews, podcasts etc
- Funded by NIHR/UK-ID logo: Yes (where possible, if shared online)
- Funding statement: Yes (verbally within the piece)
- Disclaimer: Yes (where possible)
- Comments: Funding also to be acknowledged verbally where possible.
Acknowledgement and disclaimer to be included on webpage/location where the audio clip/podcast is hosted
Blogs by NIHRGHR- funded research teams, sharing research findings
- Funded by NIHR/UK-ID logo: Yes
- Funding statement: Yes
- Disclaimer: Yes
- Comments:Acknowledgement and disclaimer should be included at the end of the blog if about NIHR research (NIHR branding should not be used by individuals in their non NIHR capacity)
Editorials, magazine and feature articles on research
- Funded by NIHR/UK-ID logo: No
- Funding statement: Yes
- Disclaimer: No
- Comments: Funding to be acknowledged
Social media channels e.g. Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) of NIHR GHR funded research teams, sharing research findings
- Funded by NIHR/UK-ID logo: Yes
- Funding statement: Yes
- Disclaimer: Yes
- Comments: Acknowledgement and disclaimer should be included in the profile if about NIHR research. On X, use NIHR handle @NIHRglobal for any relevant tweets. NIHR branding should not be used by individuals in non-NIHR capacity
Journal and conference abstracts
- Funded by NIHR/UK-ID logo: No
- Funding statement: Yes (where possible)
- Disclaimer: Yes (where possible)
- Comments: Consult with host organisation as applicable
Journal and conference articles, incl peer-reviewed
- Funded by NIHR/UK-ID logo: No
- Funding statement: Yes
- Disclaimer: Yes
- Comments: Acknowledgement and disclaimer to be included in funding section
Materials and summaries to patients or in-country stakeholders (printed or digital) explaining NIHR GHR-funded research; they may be giving advice to the public on what to do, based on research findings)
- Funded by NIHR/UK-ID logo: Yes – placed within lower half of the page
- Funding statement: Yes
- Disclaimer: Yes
- Comments: Templates of the award- holding institution(s) should be used
Newsletter produced by project team
- Funded by NIHR/UK-ID logo: Yes
- Funding statement: Yes
- Disclaimer: Yes
- Comments: Acknowledgement and disclaimer should be included at the end of the newsletter
Posters of research
- Funded by NIHR/UK-ID logo: Yes - placed within lower half of the page
- Funding statement: Yes
- Disclaimer: Yes
- Comments: Consult host organisation. NB NIHR template for research posters are also available
Press releases on funded or supported research
- Funded by NIHR/UK-ID logo: Yes – if house style of host org permits
- Funding statement: Yes in the body of the press release
- Disclaimer: No – include boilerplate
- Comments: The NIHR boilerplate should be added in the notes to editors
Research protocol
- Funded by NIHR/UK-ID logo: Yes – but optional
- Funding statement: Yes
- Disclaimer: Yes
- Comments:
Slides of research
- Funded by NIHR/UK-ID logo: Yes – placed within lower half of page
- Funding statement: Yes
- Disclaimer: Yes
- Comments: Consult host organisation
Website - for project
- Funded by NIHR/UK-ID logo: Yes
- Funding statement: Yes
- Disclaimer: Yes
- Comments: Should be hosted on institution website. NIHR and UKID logos to be visible above fold of webpage. Funding to be acknowledged in ‘about us’ or similar section
Video - Videos created by research team sharing research findings
- Funded by NIHR/UK-ID logo: Yes, closing frame
- Funding statement: Yes
- Disclaimer: Yes
- Comments: Videos to be uploaded to research team’s own YouTube channel and NIHRtv can add them to a ‘featured’ video list if carry appropriate branding and acknowledgements