Service agreement

Please read this carefully: it will help you get the most from the Research Support Service (RSS).

What you can expect from us: 

• We can help you to identify suitable funding streams for your research.
• We can advise on research designs, approaches, methods of analysis, study development and delivery. Including research approval processes and signposting.
• We can provide advice on public involvement and inclusive research.
• We can suggest collaborations with centres of research excellence.
• We can review your application drafts to suggest improvements.
• As part of the service, you will have access to a range of research support materials.
• Occasionally, our advisors can become co-applicants. In this situation, the advisor will work with you as a team member rather than a member of RSS staff.

We cannot help with: 

• We are unable to support applications for funding schemes outside of our remit (Global Health, work on human/ animal tissues, novel biomarkers).
• We are unable to supervise or provide support for students.
• We will not carry out any of the research or develop a project for you.
• We do not write draft sections of funding applications.

Please note: You can only request support from one RSS hub per project. You cannot work with multiple RSS hubs for support at one time/on the same project.

What we expect from you: 

• Give us enough time to provide you with advice. This includes initially requesting support at least 4 working weeks before your application needs to be submitted.
• Agreeing on timelines with our advisors to make sure there is enough time for document review or responses.
• Timely supply of documents relevant to your application.
• Engagement of critical team members in discussions with us.
• Read the information we send to you prior to the meeting.
• Treat our advisors in a respectful and professional manner.
• Provide us with timely updates on submission status.
• Inform us of the outcome of your application.
• Respond to our emails requesting information about the status of your funding application as soon as you can.

After getting support from our service: 

Please help our service development by providing feedback through our post-support survey.

From time-to-time we may contact you to ask you about your experience of the service. 

Contact us if you have any questions about the agreement: nihrrss@imperial.ac.uk