New NIHR requirements for research inclusion
The NIHR is making research inclusion a condition of funding. Researchers will need fully costed inclusion plans within their funding applications for all domestic awards. The Research Support Service will work with researchers to help to make their research more inclusive.
For too long, there has been a disconnect between those who lead and take part in research and the diverse populations intended to benefit from that research. The NIHR is introducing important new changes to bridge this gap. For all NIHR calls on or after 27th November 2024, researchers will be required to provide clear and costed plans for research inclusion. This new condition of funding reflects the NIHR's commitment to promoting equitable health and care outcomes for all populations.
How will this work?
Researchers will need to explain how they plan to address inclusion at each stage of the research life-cycle. This includes demonstrating how they will recruit and retain diverse participants and how they will consider the needs of under-served groups in their research designs. They will also need to specify and justify the costs of making their research inclusive.
Support from Our Hub
Our RSS Hub is proud to be working with the NIHR in this important initiative. Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead, Dr Rebecca Barnes, and Senior Statistician, Dr Chris Newby, have helped to develop and implement these new requirements
Want to learn more?
We encourage all researchers to familiarise themselves with the new requirements. Our EDI toolkit shows how inclusion can be embedded at each stage of the research life-cycle, including when budgeting.
Watch the NIHR webinar for researchers on Research Inclusion as a Condition of Funding.
November 2024