Proposals can include qualitative and quantitative primary research and the development of theory and logic models; however, emphasis should be placed on developing the intervention.
Co-production with relevant stakeholders, including users, is strongly encouraged and applicants should consider the incorporation of systems thinking to address public health challenges. It is justifiable to focus on just one aspect of a system as long as the wider system’s context is recognised, for example in the framework for evaluation.
Population level interventions, with a focus on non-health care settings (such as transport, education, employment, leisure and the built environment), are encouraged.
“Population” is defined as a group of individuals an intervention may take place within, for example, schools, prisons, or larger communities and regions.
Examples of the focus of health related, population-level interventions include:
- transport, education, employment, leisure and the built environment
- healthcare settings are not excluded, but projects should demonstrate potential for improvement
- health of general, high risk or vulnerable populations.
Within the application, the following should be addressed:
- definition of the intervention
- a clear theory behind the proposed intervention
- specification of the form(s) and function(s) of the intervention
- identification of the individual components of the intervention and their inter-relationships
- how proposals should address continued refinements of interventions and sustainability
- scalability of interventions.
The creation of new interventions where active components of existing interventions are combined to create a new intervention is allowed within the scope for this call.
Proposals should demonstrate a pathway to further development and evaluation of the intervention and criteria for progression to the next stage of development should be detailed within the Case for Support.
Please refer to the 10 tips for writing a PHIND application.
The following activities are not within the scope of this call:
- NHS interventions
- interventions treating clinical conditions or improving health services delivery
- systematic reviews and meta-analyses
- standalone feasibility studies and pilot studies
- the wholesale transfer of a proven intervention to a new context, setting or target population.
You should contact the PHIND Secretariat if you are unsure whether your proposal is within the remit of the call: publichealth@mrc.ukri.org.
Applicants can apply for up to £150,000, for a maximum of 18 months.
Funds requested by UK research organisations (ROs) will be funded at 80% of the full economic cost. Overseas costs will be funded at 100% full economic cost.
Funds may be requested to support costs attributable to the study including investigator and research staff time, consumables, equipment and travel.
A limited amount (approximately 15%) of the overall cost could be allocated to some acceptability and feasibility research, to further develop the intervention, help cement a collaboration or to underpin further work to help the case for a future grant application.
The usual MRC funding and eligibility rules apply. Please see Guidance for applicants for information regarding eligibility.
