Every now and again we have something different in Spotlight on Research and in this edition I want to talk to you about an exciting developmental opportunity being offered by the College of Paramedics (CoP).
The College of Paramedics is launching a small grant scheme to support paramedic research. The aim is to support members of the College of Paramedics to carry out their own research studies.
A minimum of two studies will be funded to a maximum of £1 000 each. The money can be used to support various aspects of the study including, but not limited to: salary costs; specific research equipment; research software, for example, for analysis; support costs for lay/public involvement if these cannot be sourced elsewhere.
It is important to note that the grant money cannot be used to pay for fees or travel costs incurred as part of a programme of study.
This is a milestone in the history of the College of Paramedics and although the monies are limited, it is hoped that this will become an annual call. Without a doubt, it is a healthy start—after all, every professional body had to begin somewhere in relation to promoting research activity amongst its members.
These grant awards send a clear message that the College of Paramedics is actively engaged in building both research capacity and capability amongst its members and that it wants to contribute to the continued development of an evidence base underpinning paramedic practice.
Applications for funding are invited from members of the College of Paramedics who are interested in increasing their research activity. The application can come from one individual person, or from a team of people. Do not worry if you are not yet a member of the College of Paramedics as there is still time to join and become eligible for consideration for this round of grant awards.
Associate members of the CoP are welcome to apply but, in these cases, there must be at least one full member of the College of Paramedics on your team. You will need to demonstrate in your application that the study is relevant to the paramedic profession and the successful applicants will be expected to publish results and/or findings in the College of Paramedics’ newsletter as well as in other peerreviewed journals.
Application forms are available now from www.collegeofparamedics.co.uk and then follow the links to the Research and Development Advisory Committee web pages. The closing date is 8 November 2013—so there is no time to lose!
In addition, there are other small grant monies being offered by the Allied Health Professions Research Network (AHPRN) through some of their hubs. The College of Paramedics subscribes to this network so you can use any of the resources offered by the AHPRN and they are very keen to hear from paramedics and other ambulance clinicians.
The AHPRN has 21 regional hubs, each providing bespoke research advice and support on topics such as getting started in research; grant and fellowship applications; writing for publication and disseminating research outcomes; and guidance on funding and career development.
By providing excellent opportunities for networking and collaborative clinically-based research, the AHPRN enhances research outputs across the allied health professions, facilitating the translation of research findings into education and practice. You can find out more about the AHPRN and locate your nearest Hub at www.csp.org.uk/professional-union/research/networking/allied-health-professions-research-network or just google Allied Health Professions Research Network.
So please do make the most of these resources and good luck with your applications!