The Research Design Services (RDS) are a key component of the strategy to make the NHS research intensive.  They form a national network, which is funded by the Department of Health and can support researchers making applications for funding.  The focus of the service is to improve the quality of research proposals, so that they are more likely to attract funding.

RDS London is a collaborative project, led by King’s College London, in partnership with Imperial College London, Queen Mary University of London and University College London.

There are teams of experts at each of these Universities and using their wealth of experience in Public Health, Health Service and Social Care research they can provide practical support in developing research proposals.  Working alongside existing NIHR networks, RDS London provides advice and guidance to both clinicians and academics preparing research proposals for submission to peer-reviewed funding competitions.  Although priority is given to those applying for NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) and Programme Grant for Applied Research (PGfAR) funding, RDS London can provide wide ranging advice to those submitting applied health research proposals to recognised funding bodies.

RDS London can advise on all aspects of designing a research study.  Additionally, the service can help identify suitable sources of funding for projects and foster collaborative links with established research groups in the capital. 
 

Researchers can contact RDS London at any stage in the development of their proposal but the service is able to offer the greatest assistance when RDS London is involved at an early stage.