Research investment strategy
Meningitis Research Foundation has, as its ultimate goal, the elimination of meningitis and septicaemia. The Foundation aims to do this by supporting high quality and innovative research into the prevention, detection and treatment of these diseases.
Meningitis Research Foundation aims to defeat meningitis and septicaemia through research. Research funded must be of the highest scientific merit, in terms of the importance of the investigation, excellence of the study, ability of the research team, and probability of success. Research proposals must demonstrate clear relevance to the disease area and have potential for prevention of these diseases or other clinical or public health benefit.
The trustees place particular emphasis on research into prevention of Group B meningococcal infection, due to its prevalence in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Until all forms of meningitis and septicaemia are eradicated, priority will be given to research that produces results in immediate problem areas, including
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Prevention of all forms of meningitis and associated infections
- Improving treatment and outlook for patients
- Improving the speed and accuracy of diagnosis
Research may be clinical, laboratory based, or epidemiological. The Foundation will consider funding basic science, but this must increase understanding of the disease area and have a clearly defined potential for early translation into alleviation of the diseases.
Research applications are assessed through a stringent, highly competitive peer review process. The Foundation is an active member of the Association of Medical Research Charities and the Medical Research Charities Group and supports AMRC policies on peer review, good research practice, the use of animals in research and university indirect costs.
Meningitis Research Foundation seeks to fund research that is most likely to defeat meningitis and septicaemia. Research grants may be held in any country but must meet UK standards of research ethics, scientific integrity and animal welfare, and research institutions must be able to accept the charity’s
Terms and Conditions of Grant Aid including the policy on protection of intellectual property rights described therein. Employees of commercial companies are not eligible to apply.
The charity awards project grants only, up to a maximum of £150,000 per year for up to 5 years. As a guideline, the majority of grants awarded are in the region of £70,000 - £100,000 per year for up to three years, with a number of small grants of up to £30,000 per year also meeting success.
The Foundation recognises that clinical trials are of crucial importance in bringing out new therapies and vaccines. We are keen to support pilot studies, and to work in partnership with other research funders, professional associations and the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to support clinical trials, but providing sole funding for large-scale clinical trials, particularly phase 3 trials, is usually beyond our means.
The Foundation is favourably disposed towards partnership funding generally within the requirements of a rigorous peer review process. The charity also encourages co-operative and collaborative research as a means of accelerating progress towards new vaccines and treatments.
All applications for funding undergo a rigorous peer review selection procedure, by a minimum of two external referees and the Foundation’s
Scientific Advisory Panel. Final decisions are made by the trustees on recommendation by the Panel.
Assessment Criteria
- Relevance
- Clinical benefit
- Design
- Originality
- Methodology
- Ability of proposers to achieve objectives
- Probability of completion within time frame
- Ethical aspects
- Realism of costing
Evaluation of Research Applications
Full applications are assessed by structured peer review, according to the Association of Medical Research Charities’ principles of accountability, balance, independence, rotation of advisers, and impartiality. A minimum of two independent external referees provide detailed written comments and an overall score on the application. External referees are drawn from a list of several hundred experts around the world, and new names are regularly added to the list. With the help of referees’ reports, the
Scientific Advisory Panel then meets to decide which proposals to recommend to the trustees for final approval. Panel members, external referees, Foundation staff and applicants all agree to abide by a
Code of Conduct.
Meningitis Research Foundation grants are highly competitive and are awarded primarily on the basis of clear relevance to the Charity’s aims and scientific merit.