The Health Research Authority (HRA) has developed two new tools to help researchers decide whether their project would be managed as research and whether it needs to be reviewed by an NHS Research Ethics Committee (REC) for approval. Read the HRA press release for further information.

The NIHR Clinical Research Network is sponsoring a Health Service Journal (HSJ) award again this year for "Clinical Research Impact". Submissions should demonstrate the extent to which a Trust/practice as a whole has enhanced clinical research impact as part of its core business over the last 12 months. Judges will be looking for evidence of an organisation-wide approach rather than good practice in running specific research studies. The deadline for entries is fast approaching - 31 MAY. Further information, including entry criteria, is available on the HSJ website. The award ceremony will be held in London on 19 November. Contact Tracy Gregg for further information.

Core Development Award

One Core Development grant of up to £50,000 will be awarded in either category detailed below for research in any area of gastroenterology.

BSG Development Awards

Two BSG Development grants of up to £25,000 each will be awarded in either category detailed below for research in any area of gastroenterology. These grants are open to BSG members only. Applications from NIHR Academic Clinical Fellows and Lecturer members are encouraged.

• The same application CANNOT be submitted for both awards
• These awards are not for fellowships
• Projects should be for 12-24 months duration and ethical approval must have been sought before the application is submitted

Development Award Category A - Translational research

Research projects that will have a clear impact on patient diagnosis or treatment within five years. We particularly welcome projects that are in line with the British Society of Gastroenterology Clinical Research Strategy http://www.bsg.org.uk/images/stories/docs/research/bsg_crs_10.pdf. Core is a NIHR Partner Organisation so funded projects will be eligible for portfolio adoption and NHS Service Support Costs. Prior to submission applicants should discuss their project with their Comprehensive Local Research Network (or equivalent network in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland). Researchers should specify in their application whether additional and/or matching funds have been requested from other sources such as the NIHR.

To download an application form, guidance notes, grant terms and conditions and information on the application process go to: http://www.corecharity.org.uk/development-awards.

Development Award Category B - Proof-of-concept or pilot research

Research projects can be Proof of concept or pilot projects relevant to any area of gastroenterology which would enable the researcher to gain a subsequent award from larger funding bodies. Researchers should specify in their application the funding bodies to which they would apply for subsequent support to continue their research upon completion of their proof-of-concept or pilot project.

To download an application form, guidance notes, grant terms and conditions and information on the application process go to: http://www.corecharity.org.uk/development-awards.

For further information please contact Alice Kington on 020 7563 9994 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The deadline for applications is 31st July. The awards will be decided in November.

Members of the BSG's Research Committee and Clinical Studies Groups recently contributed to a consultation on the prioritisation of new technologies in gastrointestinal, pancreatic and liver disease. Speaking on behalf of the NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre, Louisa Hamilton, Horizon Analyst, said "Thank you very much for your assistance .... We very much appreciate your help. Please pass on my thanks to all those that helped with the work. ... If you hear of any new developments in your field in the future and think that we should consider them, please do not hesitate to let us know."

The NIHR-HSC is an academic unit which provides the Department of Health and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) with advance notice of health technologies and interventions that are likely to have a significant impact on the NHS in the next 2-3 years. Information the HSC provides also informs the future work programmes of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme and other national policy-makers.