iPRO Small Grants Scheme


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Contact details
Beverley Hancock, iPRO Research Adviser
Sayeed Haque, iPRO Statistician
Carrie Sherlock, College Library and Information Services Manager
Martin Cordiner, College Research Project Manager


What is the Small Grants Scheme?

The Small Grants Scheme is part of iPRO (Innovation in Practice-based Research for Optometrists) the College's research support service. The Scheme provides funding to enable College Members to develop research expertise by undertaking small-scale research projects with help and support from experienced researchers.
 

What does Small Grant funding cover?

Small Grants cover the material costs of a research project and may include paying for locum cover. Each grant will be worth a maximum of £10,000 and up to five grants will be allocated each year.
 

What kinds of Small Grant Projects get funded?

The following are just a few examples of the sorts of topics that may be suitable for a Small Grant:
 
  • Evaluation of any difference found in subjective refraction when using a refractor head compared with a trial frame
  • The impact of media images on children’s attitudes towards wearing spectacles
  • Factors associated with the decision to seek an eye examination
  • Evaluation of the difference in interpretation of the appearance of the fundus and/or disc appearance between direct ophthalmoscopy and binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy
  • Measuring the effectiveness of various interventions in the routine eye examination

Who is eligible for a Small Grant?

  1. Applicants must be Members of the College of Optometrists
  2. Projects should normally be completed within one year of a grant being awarded
  3. All applications will be peer reviewed
  4. The award of a Small Grant will be subject to satisfactory ethical review of the proposed project
  5. Grant recipients will be required to submit a report of their research within three months of completion of the project
  6. Grant recipients may be required to disseminate their work and will be offered assistance to achieve agreed research outputs such as publication and/or conference presentations

How do I apply?

The deadline for applications for the latest round of Grants closed on 30 June 2011. The next round will take place in Spring 2012.

Before applying, potential applicants are encouraged to send an outline proposal to Beverley Hancock, the iPRO Research Adviser. She will advise you on the suitability of your project for the Scheme and provide help with developing a full application. You can also contact Beverley with informal enquiries and questions.
 
The outline proposal should be no longer than two pages of A4 and provide the following information:
  • Name of applicant and post held
  • Contact details: a postal address for correspondence, telephone number and email address
  • Title of project – this should describe the focus of the research
  • Why this is an important topic
  • Initial thoughts on how the research would be undertaken
Contact details for outline proposals and further information

Beverley Hancock
iPRO Research Adviser

Telephone: 020 7766 4346
 
 

 

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