Funding Opportunity: Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation programme
The Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) programme will come into effect from 1 April 2008. The EME programme is funded by the MRC. It is managed by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), which is the lead organisation for clinical trials and evaluation under the MRC-NIHR partnership. The EME programme aims to support excellent clinical science, with an ultimate view to improving health or patient care.
The remit of the EME programme includes clinical trials and evaluative studies, in patients, which:
- add significantly to our understanding of biological or behavioural mechanisms and processes
- explore new scientific or clinical principles
- evaluate clinical efficacy of interventions (where proof of concept in humans has already been achieved)
- include the development or testing of new methodologies.
The EME programme complements the established NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme, which produces research information about the effectiveness, costs, and broader impact of health technologies for those who use, manage and provide care in the NHS.
Proposed EME research will need to demonstrate:
- the likelihood of making a substantial advance in scientific understanding and knowledge
- the likelihood of leading to a substantial health gain
- the likelihood of increasing our understanding of the broader topic area
- feasibility
- value for money.
Outline proposals for research are initially invited for consideration by the EME programme. Proposals must reach the National Coordinating Centre for EME offices before 1pm on Monday 31 March 2008, to be considered in June 2008. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit full proposals.
Information for applicants is available on the EME website
