So you've got an idea and are ready to start developing it into a proposal. What do you need to consider?
You need:
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To review existing literature to see what's been done previously
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To define your research question (you can find some advice plus further links here)
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To consider PICO
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To write a protocol detailing what you intend to do
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To identify and obtain funding (see here for further advice)
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To determine who will be the Chief Investigator and any local Principal Investigators and get their agreement for the roles
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To identify a sponsor and get their agreement to sign off your application
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To consider your sites - what sites do you need? Are they NHS sites? Have you liaised with sites to make sure they have the capacity to participate?
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To consider feasibility - will you be able to recruit the patients you need? (If a study treatment has negative side effects or the research is burdensome, it may be difficult to get people to participate. Alternatively if you have chosen a rare condition you may need to widen your study geographical area to reach sufficient patients).
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To consider research data management and what will happen to your collected data during and after your research project. Will you want to use existing datasets?
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To consult with patients, colleagues, R&D and other groups to gain support for advice on your research
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To consider making sure your research is open and accessible to all participants, including underserved groups and how you can support languages other than English.