Public health news: Research projects

September 2023 

South Tyneside Council is continuing with plans to develop our research capacity and capability to improve the health and wellbeing of our population.

Unfortunately we were unsuccessful in the second round of the National Institute of Health and Care Research's (NIHR) Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) Award.

However, there will be many opportunities for you to get involved with the NIHR Local Authority Academic Fellowship Programme and Associated Opportunities.

This programme of fellowship schemes and short placement awards support people working in local authorities to develop as health and / or social care researchers, while keeping their existing role and salary. This new initiative provides a wide range of exciting opportunities.

In order to address the complex health and social care challenges we currently face, it is crucial to develop and support future research leaders from a wide range of backgrounds.

The Local Authority Academic Fellowship (LAAF) Programme, and other short placement awards, are designed to strengthen the capacity for local authorities to generate and support health and social care research. They do this by offering research training awards.

The training opportunities include four schemes:

1. Local Authority Short Placement Award for Research Collaboration (LA SPARC) Scheme

This scheme provides funds for short placement opportunities in a part of the NIHR (e.g a Biomedical Research Centre, Applied Research Collaboration, NIHR School etc.). It supports people working in a local authority and NIHR Academy members. It allows movement in either direction between the NIHR (and / or academic settings) with local authorities.

They are personalised training and career development placements.

People will develop their skills, knowledge and expertise, train in a specific technique and build meaningful relationships with other researchers.

These placements draw on the skills of both the academic and NIHR, and the local authority to co-produce research that delivers real benefits to people and communities. This may appeal to those who are interested in developing their careers, experiencing research from a different perspective or looking to move towards an academic career.

Individuals can apply to LA SPARC for up to £15,000 to undertake a bespoke short placement. Applications are short and will be assessed in open competition. Round 3 is launching at the end of September 2023.

2. LAAF Programme Pre-Doctoral Local Authority Fellowship (PLAF) Scheme

These fully funded pre-doctoral fellowships enable awardees to keep their existing jobs and salaries, but also protect time to prepare an application for a PhD fellowship and undertake a fully funded programme of relevant Masters level training.

3. LAAF Programme Doctoral Local Authority Fellowship (DLAF) Scheme

These fully funded doctoral fellowships enable awardees to retain their existing jobs and salaries, but also protect time to undertake a PhD by research, undertake academic training and develop professional skill sets.

4. LAAF Programme Advanced Local Authority Fellowship (ALAF) Scheme

These fully funded post-doctoral fellowships support doctorate holders to undertake further research and research training, while remaining employed by a local authority.

An ALAF supports the award holder to develop their research skills and their professional skill sets at the same time. The scheme provides salaried time to undertake:

• a funded research project
• a funded programme of academic training and development,
• a practice or policy role, and
• a funded programme of professional training and development.

Between 20% and 40% of the fellowship must be dedicated to professional practice and development.

Additional schemes may be added to the LAAF Programme in the future.

By offering this range of funding opportunities to people working in local authorities, these schemes contribute to the development of a credible 'practitioner academic' career pathway within local authorities and local authority supporting services.

Routes to Research provides more information about getting involved in research projects.

There are also additional funding opportunities from the NIHR.

More information

Would you like to receive more information, design your own research project or be a participant in a research project?

Please contact Meg Logan, Public Health Research Operations Officer, for help and advice.