Enabling Research Awards
Northern Ireland has a significant number of researchers and research groups with the necessary expertise and track records necessary for the development of competitive applications to extenral funding award bodies. Enabling Research Awards are intended to increase the rate and number of successful applications from Northern Ireland-based lead researchers to a range of external funders (please note that pre-2025 this was only for NIHR programmes but this has now been extended). Eligibility and scope of awards may change depending on HSC priortiies.
2025
| Study title | Chief Investigator | status | HSC R&D cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Assessing the moral and fiscal costs and impact of workforce instability in children’s social work from a service user, administrative data and economic perspective
|
Prof Paula McFadden (UU) | Active | £44,750 |
| Baricitinib as an immunomodulatory therapy in respiratory virus induced exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (BARCODE) | Dr Dermot Linden (QUB) | Active | £41,421 |
| Deciphering the role of C-type lectin-like Receptors (CLRs) on CNS Remyelination | Dr Selinda Orr (QUB) | Active | £44,792 |
| Promoting uptake and sustainability of the iMPAKT App: Optimisation of data reporting and use of large-scale data to support person-centred practice | Prof Tanya McCance (UU) | Active | £43,360 |
2017
| Study Title | Chief Investigator | Status | HSC R&D Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimal nutrition for prevention of hypertension in pregnancy using a personalised approach (OptiPREG): a pilot study | Helene McNulty (UU) | Complete | £40,000 |
| A feasibility study of a pedometer based intervention for patients with Myeloproliferative neoplasms | Lesley Anderson (QUB) | Complete | £36,116 |
| Adaptation of the 'Transition to Retirement' intervention: Improving the health and wellbeing of older people with intellectual disabilities through community participation | Laurence Taggart (UU) | Complete | £19,093 |
| Promoting engaged communication between health care professionals and patients with obesity through enhanced clinical mindfulness | Vivien Coates (UU) | Complete | £38,067 |
| A feasibility study of the Attention Control Training (ACT) intervention amongst very preterm (VP) infants | Oliver Perra (QUB) | Complete | £39,928 |
| Development and piloting of a prehabilitation behavioural change and physical activity intervention for fibromyalgia syndrome | Ciara Hughes (UU) | Complete | £38,826 |
2016
|
STUDY TITLE
|
CHIEF INVESTIGATOR
|
STATUS¤
|
HSC R&D COST
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Parenting Northern Ireland 'Odyssey: Parenting Your Teen': A Pilot Non-Randomised Trial
|
Kathryn Higgins (QUB) | Complete |
£38,953
|
| Evaluating the implementation of Minimum Unit Pricing of Alcohol - Harmonising alcohol-related outcomes data across the UK & Ireland |
Kathryn Higgins (QUB) |
Complete |
£36,603
|
| The development and pilot testing of a systematic recording system for deaths by suicide in Northern Ireland to enhance the validity of the NI suicide database | Siobhan O’Neill (UU) |
Complete
|
£39,417
|
| Promoting resilience in children & young people affected by parental substance misuse (PSM): a feasibility study of the Pharos group work programme. | Aisling McLaughlin (QUB) | Complete |
£40,000
|
| The impact of a tailored dietary intervention coupled with oral rehabilitation on the nutritional status of older patients. | Gerald McKenna (QUB) | Complete |
£39,237
|
| Establishing a clinical phenotype for cachexia in chronic kidney disease. | Joanne Reid (QUB) | Complete |
£39,970
|
| Developing E-health Services (DES): The feasibility and accountability of group based video-conferencing for adults with depression. | Paul Best (QUB) | Complete | £39,974 |
|
Rapid tests for fungal infections (2)
|
Ronan McMullan (QUB/BHSCT)
|
Complete |
£9,720
|
2015
|
Study Title
|
Chief Investigator
|
Status¤
|
HSC R&D Cost
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Development of an intervention to reduce and manage cognitive impairment due to cancer treatment
|
Michael Donnelly (QUB)
|
Complete |
£38,858
|
|
Flat pack Guide for Fathers: An Evaluability Assessment
|
Katrina McLaughlin (QUB)
|
Complete |
£38,959
|
|
Home tonometry monitoring for glaucoma – a pilot study
|
Augusto Azuara-Blanco (QUB)
|
Complete |
£9,517
|
|
Remote Arthritis Disease Activity monitor (RADAR1) – a feasibility of home-based dry blood spot use to monitor an inflammatory marker in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients
|
David Gibson (UU)
|
Complete |
£39,794
|
|
Retinal evaluation in Alzheimer’s Disease and mild cognitive impairment
|
Bernadette McGuinness (QUB/BHSCT)
|
Complete |
£32,264
|
|
Evaluation of the effectiveness of music therapy in improving quality of life of palliative care patients: a randomised controlled pilot study
|
Sam Porter (QUB) & Joanne Reid (QUB)
|
Complete |
£39,983
|
|
Rapid tests for fungal infections
|
Ronan McMullan (QUB/BHSCT)
|
Complete |
£9,918
|
|
The JACK trial: an intervention refinement to the parental component
|
Aine Aventin (QUB)
|
Complete |
£35,742
|
2014
|
Study Title
|
Chief Investigator
|
Status¤
|
HSC R&D Cost
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Venovenous extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (W-ECCO2R) in adults with respiratory failures
|
Prof D McAuley (QUB)
|
Complete |
£42,388
|
|
Early switch to oral antibiotic therapy in patients with low risk neutropenic sepsis
|
Dr R McMullan (BHSCT)
|
Complete
|
£7,212
|
|
An evaluation of a multifaceted intervention to reduce antimicrobial prescribing in care home residents: a cluster randomised controlled trial (REducing Antimicrobials in Care Homes (REACH)
|
Prof C Hughes (QUB)
|
Complete
|
£9,980
|
|
Optimising hospital discharge of children requiring long term ventilation
|
Prof M Shields (QUB)
|
Complete |
£7,701
|
|
Getting it right; devising an optimal implementation plan for a paediatric ventilator weaning trial.
|
Dr B Blackwood (QUB)
|
Complete |
£39,986
|
|
Self- Help Interventions to Reduce Alcohol Consumption (SHIRAC)
|
Dr G Shorter (UU)
|
Complete
|
£35,191
|
|
Evaluation of novel prognostic risk indicators for cardiovascular disease
|
Dr G McKay (QUB)
|
Complete |
£7,587
|
|
A randomised controlled trial of a pedometer competition to encourage physical activity in schools: A feasibility study
|
Dr M Tully (QUB)
|
Complete |
£39,289
|
|
Efficacy of the Telescopic Mirror Implant for Age-related Macular Degeneration: The MIRROR Trial
|
Dr G Silvestri (QUB)
|
Complete |
£31,848
|
|
Effect of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy on the growth, cognitive development and behaviour of 7 year old children: a follow-up investigation of children FASSTT study participants
|
Dr K Pentieva (UU)
|
Complete |
£40,000
|
|
Personal and Public Involvement and its impact - Monitoring, measuring and evaluating the impact of Personal and Public Involvement in Health & Social Care in Northern Ireland
|
Dr J Duffy (QUB)
|
Complete
|
£39,775 (Funded by Public Health Agency & Patient Client Council)
|