The next round of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Short Placement Awards for Research Collaboration (SPARC) and Local Authority Short Placement Awards for Research Collaboration (LA SPARC) will be opening in September for applications.
The SPARC scheme offers NIHR Academy members (pre-doctoral to early career post-doctoral researchers) an opportunity to spend time in other parts of the NIHR to: network, train in a specific skill or collaborate with other researchers or specialists. Individuals can apply to the SPARC scheme for up to £5,000.
The LA SPARC scheme is designed to support individuals, working in local authority settings and NIHR Academy members, to design and apply for funds to undertake short placements allowing them to move between NIHR and local authority settings. Individuals can apply to the LA SPARC scheme for up to £15,000 to undertake a bespoke short placement.
Last year, Dr Deborah Ikhile, ARC KSS Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (Primary and Community Care) was successful in a SPARC award focusing on ‘Building research capacity for health promotion interventions to support the management of multiple long term conditions - multimorbidity’. Deborah is spending time with ARC KSS North Thames and building her networks.
Dr Mel Rees-Roberts, ARC KSS Research Programme Manager, presented a virtual session during ARC KSS Research Week on the SPARC/LA SPARC awards, accompanied by Dr Deborah Ikhile who shared the process and her experience of applying for the award – view video here.
For further details on the schemes and how to apply please visit the links below:
NIHR Short Placement Awards for Research Collaboration (SPARC)
Local Authority Short Placement Awards for Research Collaboration (LA SPARC)
If you have any questions or are thinking about a placement with ARC KSS please get in touch with us at
