The Better Methods, Better Research (BMBR) Programme is accepting applications to this funding opportunity.
The BMBR Programme is a collaboration between MRC and NIHR. It aims to ensure that optimal research methods are used to advance biomedical, health and care research, policy and delivery.
This opportunity covers the entire remit of MRC and NIHR, prioritising current rate-limiting methodological challenges for health research. Funding will be provided for projects that improve the methods used by others in biomedical and health research.
Project proposals can be up to a budget of £625,000 (100% full economic cost (FEC)). MRC and NIHR will usually fund up to 80% of your project’s FEC.
In order to apply for this call you will need to carefully review the Guidance for Applicants.
Background information
NIHR recently took on management of the BMBR Programme. You can find out more information about the transition of BMBR.
More information on the BMBR Programme is also available by visiting the BMBR Programme page.
Additional guidance
Applications to research funding must include a dissemination plan. This should outline the activities that support uptake, implementation and best use of methods by others beyond the project team.
Research outputs should be designed to maximise:
- their visibility, accessibility and informative value
- their benefits to those outside the project team, including other researchers
- their utility and research impact across broader research communities, sectors or systems
Research outputs may include, as appropriate to the method:
- code, including open-source code
- software, including open-source software
- guidance
- research standards or checklists
Research outputs should be available and usable to the fullest extent. Open-source software and code are encouraged. Costs to support this are eligible under the NIHR Open Access publications funding guidance.
All projects should ensure their benchmarking and evaluation provides the necessary assurance for others. This means that other researchers, stakeholders and communities can understand and champion improved methods.
Applications may also focus on a specific and evidenced barrier to current use of better methods. For example, they may focus on better methods that are not widely understood or used. These applications must offer a clear pathway to improving uptake of optimal methods by other researchers.
Applications that solely focus on developing research outputs as case studies of potential value of a method or methods will be rejected. For all applications, we encourage you to learn from others where possible. We also welcome multidisciplinary teams or approaches.
Webinar
A webinar will be held for potential applicants on Monday the 7th of October 2024. To sign up to the webinar please contact BMBR@nihr.ac.uk.