Supporting Policy Relevant Reviews and Trials

Trial Funding Tool (TFT)D5, WP3

Aims

• To freely provide researchers from developing countries with a step-by-step guide to facilitate getting funding for their trials

Development Plans for year 2

• Designing an outline of the TFT,

• Obtaining inputs from world wide researchers about trial funding to feed the TFT,

• Preparing a preliminary version to be presented at the 3rd SUPPORT meeting.

First TFT Outline1 About the TFT2 General tips and recommended reading3 Step-by-step approachA Develop your conceptB Identify funding sources (limit to agencies which fund trials?)I) Different funding possibilities and different ways of application mechanismsII) Description of the funders (who are they, what are their interests, links to their homepages, etc.?)III) Partnering with a developed country institutionIV) Applications as a research consortiumV) How to look for funding or Finding the right funder for your proposalC Adapt your proposal to the funders´ requirementsI) General tips II) Adapt your protocol to the application formIII) Templates and examples D Prepare your applicationI) Writing your proposalII) BudgetIII) Obtain other needed documentsIV) Revise your proposalE Finalize and submitI) ChecklistII) Ensure the correct submission F Evaluation and response I) Evaluation processII) Response of the funder III) What to do with failed proposals 3 Library of resources and documents4 Glossary of terms

Obtaining inputs from researchers

• Questionnaires:

– Long, detailed for SUPPORT members

– Short questionnaire for other researchers

– Godfrey’s Q for researchers and funders

• Piloted with Andy and Shaun

• Start survey and interviews in May 2008

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Step-by-step• We developed three types of TFT questionnaires, based

on the previously existing questionnaires and the first draft outline of the TFT: a questionnaire for SUPPORT members, a short questionnaire and a new questionnaire for funders and investigators.

• The short questionnaire and the questionnaire for funders and investigators were later not used. The SUPPORT questionnaire was sent out to all members of the SUPPORT group in May 2008.

• By September 2008 we had received responses from 27 persons by mail, phone interviews and one group session at IECS.

• We then categorised and synthesized the responses of the questionnaires in a organized manner.

• Based on this synthesis we designed a new TFT outline.• The first draft of the TFT is now based on the responses

of the questionnaire and approximately five articles.

TFT Questionnaire

Dear colleagues, For each question we would like you to indicate the following aspects:

Key points and/or answer Relevant examples (narrative examples from your experience as an investigator and written examples from successful applications and

the like) Audio examples (please indicate who you want to interview and on what topic) References and other useful material

o Hyperlinks (internet) o Electronic Articles, conference presentations, education material (to be sent as an attachment or the bibliographic reference) o Books or articles in paper form (bibliographic reference or if possible scanned version)

Thank you very much! SUPPORT Buenos Aires Please find below an example of possible answers: Question Key points and/or answers

Examples Please provide narrative or written examples

Audio examples Please indicate a third person who would be a good interviewee

References and other useful material Please provide internet links, electronic materials or bibliographic references

Do you have any general tips on applying for funding (general do’s and don’ts)?

Make sure that your research fits the funding call; check with the funding agency to confirm this if it is not clear.

Where possible, cite research/policy documents published by the funding agency in support of your field of interest.

- Please find attached a collaborative EC proposal that scored 14 out of 15 and the evaluation form. - The EC had published a document with recommendations. Our proposal was aimed at these recommendations; this made it hard for EC reviewers to say it was not important.

- interview Andy Oxman, one minute talk about EU funding

- Very good article from Inouye SK “An evidence-based guide to writing grant proposals for clinical research” - find attached a presentation of the EU 7th Framework Program (FP7)

Respondents of the TFT Questionnaire (by Sep 2008)

• 1 Shaun Treweek• 2 José Belizan• 3 Andy Oxman• 4 Sarah Rosenbaum• 5 Julie Cliff• 6 Luciano Mignini• 7 Edgardo Abalos• 8 Dave Sackett• 9 Lelia Duley• 10 Justus Hofmeyr• 11 John Lavis• 12 Metin Gulmezoglu• 13 Fernando Althabe• 14 Sebastián García Martí

• 15 Adolfo Rubinstein• 16 Andres Pichon-Riviere• 17 Fernando Rubinstein• 18 Patricia Hibberd• 19 Curt Furberg• 20 Iain Chalmers• 21 Andy Haines• 22 Pierre Buekens• 23 Ana Garces• 24 Miriam Mlczoch• 25 Merrick Zwarenstein• 26 Caroline Crowther• 27 Godfrey Woelk

Summary of Responses

New TFT Outline

About the TFT

Brief introduction to the TFT: purpose, audience, usageGetting started TFT Tutorial (movie and PowerPoint)Copyright/commercial statement

What do I need?

1 Concept developmentStart with a good question and estimate the necessary size of the study.2 Skills, track record, mentorshipEnsure that you have a strong multi-disciplinary team with the necessary track record.3 Research cooperationIdentify the required skill sets and then look for the right people.

Where is the money?

4 How to find fundingIdentify potential funding sources and revise their sites regularly.5 Funding agencies (separate by amounts of money offered)Know your funder and make sure your proposal fits the call.

How do I get it?

6 Preparation of the application Designate a coordinator, read the call carefully and follow instructions exactly.7 Proposal writingBe clear, make the proposal reader-friendly and use their buzzwords.8 BudgetDo the budget in Excel and don’t leave it until the end. 9 Evaluation process and criteriaKnow the evaluation criteria and review process.10 Revision and submissionOrganize internal review mechanisms.11 ResubmissionIf rejected, don’t give up: stay positive, analyze the reviewers critique and resubmit!

Glossary of terms

Library of resources and documents

And now…

Ladies and gentlemen, we present the first draft of the Trial Funding Tool