Research Training Award
Annual Research Award
Our overarching ambition is to build research capability within the clinical workforce related to paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus in the UK
Background
The purpose of the Research Training Award is to provide funds to clinicians (ophthalmologists, orthoptists, or optometrists) at any career stage, to undertake a specific formal research training course of any type eg research design, statistical analysis or laboratory techniques. This course should enable them to undertake research relating to children’s vision or eye disorders.
In the long term BIPOSA and BIOS wish to build a community of research active members, including current and prior research training award holders, which could develop into a forum for seeking advice or developing collaborations related to research – the ‘BIPOSA-BIOS Academy’. This is anticipated to start as an online discussion group but is intended to have a presence at the BIPSOA conference as it matures.
Eligibility
Applicants must be clinicians in good standing already pursuing or intending to make a career in paediatric ophthalmology or strabismus.
Only members of BIPOSA or BIOS can apply. Eligibility will be checked.
Applicants awarded a BIPOSA-BIOS research award in the preceding three years are not eligible to apply.
Applicants may apply before they have confirmation of acceptance on the course, but funds will not be released until the place is confirmed. If the proposed start date is postponed, the Trustees must be informed immediately and, depending on the reason for the postponement, they reserve the right to withdraw the award in this situation. If an award is made but the awardee subsequently does not attend the course at all, it is expected that the awardee will return the funds.
Number and frequency
There are two rounds each year, in October and April.
The closing date for the October round is 31st December and for the April round is 30th June.
In each round, two awards will be made to orthoptists who are members of BIOS, and two awards will be made to members of BIPOSA (irrespective of profession).
Only one award will be made per applicant.
Value
Up to £500 per award is available for the purpose of paying for course fees.
The award can be used for part payment of course fees if they exceed £500, if the applicant can show that funds from another source have been secured or confirm self-funding.
Judging criteria
Applications will be assessed for quality of the proposed training course, the clarity of the plan to implement the training into research, and commitment to remaining research active within paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus.
The BIPOSA Executive will assess the BIPOSA research training award applications and the BIOS Trustees will assess the BIOS research training award applications
Awarding criteria
BIPOSA and BIOS reserve the right not to make awards if the applications are incomplete or unsatisfactory.
Applications must be received by the deadline for the relevant round.
The offer of an award further to any concerns raised
Awardee’s committment
The award holder, must, within three months of attending the research training course , submit a written report to BIPOSA or BIOS. The award must be acknowledged in any scientific papers reporting research that drew directly on the training supported by the award.
Award holders are also expected to submit any such research for consideration for inclusion in the scientific programme of the BIPOSA Annual Scientific Meeting.
If the report is not received, the award holder will be ineligible for any future BIPOSA or BIOS awards
How to apply
Download and complete the application form
Return the application form and a copy of your CV to BIPOSA
Examples of courses you may wish to apply for
Here are examples of training courses relating to clinical research. You are welcome to apply for any research training in any discipline:
Centre for Applied Statistics at GOS Institute of Child Health
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/child-health/short-courses-events/centre-applied-statistics-courses
Royal College of Ophthalmologists course ‘Research Changes Lives’ – Introduction to Research and Evidence Based Ophthalmology which is run approximately annually:
https://ihub.rcophth.ac.uk/iCore/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=RCL22