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The NIHR Research Support Service (RSS) provides free and confidential support for researchers in England to apply for funding to deliver clinical and applied health and care research which is in the remit of the NIHR.

We are the NIHR RSS Imperial College London hub in collaboration with University College London, Queen Mary University of London and King’s College London.

Our hub is a collaboration of four world-leading research universities, with expertise in research design, execution and impact and launches in December 2023. Our hub includes diverse research groups and clinical trials units and offers support to researchers across a broad range of areas. The service is underpinned by a dedication to develop and promote cutting-edge research methods to improve the accuracy and efficiency of research.

Research Support

This hub supports researchers and staff with all types of award, from fellowships to large programmes of work. We have expertise in the following areas.

Research Support

Access to a network of clinical trials units for advice and support. Trial expertise covers: 

  • Feasibility and pilot studies
  • Cluster randomised trials
  • Stepped wedge design
  • Bayesian trials
  • Adaptive trials

Expertise in a broad range of research methods including: 

  • Interviews and focus groups
  • Ethnography
  • Linguistic-oriented methodologies (including discourse analysis, linguistic ethnography)
  • Participatory research methods
  • Qualitative evidence synthesis
  • Expertise in the co-production of interventions with PPIE and stakeholders

  • Observational studies, including risk prediction and prognostic modelling
  • Epidemiological design and analysis
  • Expertise in measurement and analyses of health-related Quality of Life and particularly health economics and trials
  • Expertise in designing and delivering implementation studies
  • Expertise in advising cohorts of fellowship applicants from designing research questions and developing a team and proposal to providing mock interviews
  • Expertise in the design and analysis of healthcare research involving artificial intelligence