MRC Supporting Researchers to Involve Public at Pre-Application Stage

Funding to support researchers to involve the public in developing research funding applications (at pre-application stage).

The Medical Research Council (MRC) is providing funding for applicants’ own schemes to reimburse time and expenses for public partners to work with researchers to develop MRC research funding applications. This can be a new or existing scheme and must support research funding applications to MRC and researchers to develop, plan and deliver their activity.

Public partners include a diverse range of communities and people of all ages and backgrounds, who bring different life experiences, knowledge and perspectives. To be eligible members of the public must be contributing in a personal capacity and not working in a professional capacity (where their contribution is already covered by existing payment, for example, employed by a charity or support group and contributing on behalf of this organisation).

As part of a devolved scheme, public involvement support must be provided to researchers including:

• Initial review and feedback on each application to the devolved scheme.
• Tailored support to develop a meaningful public partner activity, with a focus on mutual benefit.
• Support in planning the delivery and evaluation of the activity.
• Encouraging researchers to attend relevant public involvement training and to include this in their personal development plans.

Researcher and public partner expectations should be aligned. It is essential that public partner expectations are considered and managed with integrity, from receipt of applications to the devolved scheme and throughout the planning and delivery of the activity.

Institutional payment rates for public partners can be used for the devolved scheme. MRC public partner payment guidance may be helpful if no institutional rates exist and to inform MRC research funding applications.

Research organisations must devise and manage their own scheme.