Research and Innovation Grant

The Research and Innovation Grant (formerly known as the ACB Scientific Scholarships) was inaugurated in 2021. 

Document description: Guidelines for requesting a Research and Innovation Grant
Document created: 13th June 2022
Revised: 9th June 2023
Next revision due: May 2024 (in preparation of the 2024 round)

1. The purpose of the grant is to support high-quality, original, ethical research and innovation in laboratory medicine.
2. Any fee paying Member of the Association may apply.
3. Grants will most likely be awarded to projects with the greatest potential for positive impact on patient outcomes.
4. The committee also wishes to recognise and support projects where there is a high likelihood that there will be high-quality publication or publications to underpin the generalisability of results and make the benefits of the research available to a wider population of patients.
5. The committee will also look favourably on research that encourages collaboration between the public and the private sector. Collaboration between the aforementioned disciplines is particularly encouraged.
6. The committee encourages applications that promote the Association's strategy, centring on Innovation, Environment and Inclusion.

1. Eligibility is restricted to fee paying Members of the Association for Laboratory Medicine.
2. Non-members of the Association may not apply.
3. Applications from Members with unpaid membership fees at the time of application for consideration by the Scientific Affairs and Clinical Practice Committee will be rejected without further consideration.

1. Funds of up to £20,000 are currently available and with a top limit of £8,000 that can be requested per application. It is anticipated that 3 to 5 projects will receive a grant. The final number of projects supported is dependent on the amount of support requested and is the responsibility of the Scientific Affairs and Clinical Practice Committee.
2. Grants must be claimed within 12 calendar months of the date on the letter from the LabMed team confirming the award offer.
3. The decision of the Scientific Affairs and Clinical Practice Committee is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

1. Support may be used for necessary equipment, reagents, calibrators, controls and consumables.
2. Support is not available for salaries or staffing or labour costs.
3. Support is not available for travel, accommodation or subsistence costs. However, a separate application to the C P Stewart Memorial Fund would be considered for this purpose, if required to aid the project.
4. Support is not available for kit/ test validation or verification. The scope of this grant is original research.

Surviving applications will be judged primarily according to the following criteria:

1. Does the study address an important clinical problem relating to clinical biochemistry, immunology or microbiology (Weighting 10%)

2. Are the aims clear? (Weighting 5%)

3. Are the aims realistic? (Weighting 5%)

4. Is the methodology capable of answering the questions posed? (Total weighting 50% as outlined below)

This is the most important section and must clearly state how the project will answer the questions posed. You may wish to consider where appropriate:

i. Statistical Methods (Weighting 10%)
ii. Clinical Material (Weighting 15%)
iii. Technical/ Study Design (Weighting 20%)
iv. Does the group have significant experience and expertise in the proposed area of research? (Weighting 5%)

5. Are there other compelling reasons why the study should/ should not be supported? Does the study uphold the values of the Association? (Weighting 15%)

6. Have the applicants clearly stated the likely impact of their study on patient outcomes and/ or patient experience (Weighting 15%)

1. Applications open in June and close at noon on 11 August 2023. The Grant Research Details Forms are then sent, anonymously, for consideration by all members of the Scientific Affairs & Clinical Practice Committee in August/September 2023.
2. The aim is to inform applicants of the funding outcome by 29 September 2023.

1. Successful applicants are required to acknowledge Association funding in any spoken or written presentation and may be invited to present their data at National Meetings. Specifically, any publications should contain the following statement: “This work was supported by the Association for Laboratory Medicine Research and Innovation Grants, under grant number xxxxx."
2. Applicant should inform the SACP Committee on progress of the work, with a formal update at 6 months and at completion.
3. Applicants should be prepared to work with the Association on the promotion and publication of findings.

1. Successful applicants are required to acknowledge Association funding in any spoken or written presentation and may be invited to present their data at National Meetings. Specifically, any publications should contain the following statement: “This work was supported by the Association for Laboratory Medicine Research and Innovation Grants, under grant number xxxxx."
2. Applicant should inform the SACP Committee on progress of the work, with a formal update at 6 months and at completion.
3. Applicants should be prepared to work with the Association on the promotion and publication of findings.