The OAA has been awarded partnership status with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). This means that some research studies supported by this funding stream may be adopted on to the NIHR portfolio and are eligible for support from the NIHR Comprehensive Local Research Networks (CLRNs).
Small research grants
Each year the OAA offers up to eight small research grants up to £5,000. These grants are intended to support clinical research in the field of obstetric anaesthesia.
Applications will be considered from a principal investigator (PI) from departments of anaesthesia where at least one applicant is a member of the OAA and has been so for at least 12 months. If the PI is a trainee anaesthetist, it is expected that supervision from an experienced investigator working in the same department will be provided.
The project must be relevant to obstetric anaesthesia. All applicants must have made a significant and substantial contribution to the conception or design of the project. Payment of the grant is subject to research governance and applicable approvals. Projects must be carried out according to the guidelines stipulated in Good Clinical Practice.
Applications for amounts up to a maximum of £5,000 will be considered. Various types of study will be considered (small clinical/bench-top projects, innovation development, observational studies/data collection, as well as the more traditional clinical or non-clinical research projects).
Money may be used for equipment (excluding laptops, personal computers, filing cabinets and other basic office equipment), consumables, part salary or other expenses that will be directly incurred by the research. If the grant is used to support a salary, the employer is responsible for ensuring that appropriate health checks are made according to local occupational health guidelines and that the employee carries appropriate professional indemnity.
Applicants who have obtained part-funding for their project from another source may apply for this grant but must declare the details of the other source of funding. Similarly, applicants may apply who wish to use this grant to support an application to another source.
Researchers travel expenses and conference attendance will not be covered.
Successful recipients must supply a report of the research to the OAA within two years of receiving the grant. If the research is not finished within this timeframe annual reports on the progress must be submitted to the OAA. The OAA must be acknowledged in any presentation or publication that arises from the project and results should be submitted for presentation at the OAA Annual Scientific Meeting.
Please refer to the terms and conditions for further information.
Each application will be assessed by members of the OAA Research and Grants Subcommittee and, where appropriate, by expert external peer review. The OAA reserves the right not to make an award if the application is not of sufficient standard.
Application forms can be downloaded here.
Applicants should complete the application form and send it by email to Yavor Metodiev, Chair of the OAA Research and Grants Subcommittee.
The next deadline for applications is 26 April 2024.
