Joint Research Committee

The Joint Research Committee (JRC) plays an active role in research across Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. 

JRC promotes and coordinates Trust-based research activity by supporting research at all levels and across departments. Additionally, JRC facilitates innovative approaches to interventions and seeks patient and public engagement to improve care and treatment.

Background and objectives

The Joint Research Committee (JRC) is primarily concerned with high quality research within Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, and has several key objectives:

  • To support the development of talented clinical and non-clinical junior research staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, and thereby facilitate their career progression to more senior clinical and research posts.
  • To support innovative preliminary research studies and small scale pilot studies; the results of which may form the basis for applications for larger awards by the NIHR and NIHR partners (for example, MRC, Wellcome Trust, etc).
  • To support research that will result in changes in clinical practice and improved delivery of healthcare at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital.
  • To support research that will be presented at meetings and in publications at national and international level and hence will promote the reputation of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital and capacity to form partnerships at local, national and international levels.
  • To provide an opportunity for patients to engage in local research with potential benefits to their care and treatment.

The Committee is chaired by Professor Mark Johnson and Committee membership is drawn from a range of clinical specialities at the hospital. It currently includes: 

  • Acute medicine
  • Anaesthetics
  • Diabetes
  • HIV / genito-urinary medicine
  • Neonatology
  • Immunology
  • Radiology
  • Paediatrics
  • Dermatology
  • Obstetrics and gynaecology 
  • Gastronenterology
  • Dermatology
  • Oncology
  • Multi-professional (nurse/AHP)

There is at least one patient/public representative on the Committee. This person is responsible for ensuring that patient and public priorities are reflected in the process of selecting and reviewing research funding applications. 

The Committee currently administers funding generously awarded by CW+ and Westminster Medical School Research Trust.

Committee awards and grants

The Committee meets twice a year and hospital-based researchers are invited to submit applications for funding. Applications are reviewed on the basis of set criteria using a scoring system and a panel of internal and external expert peer reviewers.

All applications will be judged on the quality of the application and the potential benefit to the NHS and patients. The review process is closely managed and monitored by the Committee, and the Committee is responsible for all final funding decisions.

Research grants awarded

  • PhD studentship awards: Granted on an annual basis at a total of £90,000 for the duration of a three year programme of study. Funding applied for must be for predominantly staff costs. Consultants are not eligible to apply for this award. 
  • Clinical research fellowships awards: Granted for one year only at a maximum of £60,000. These awards are ideal for researchers who wish to undertake a one year full-time research project. Funding applied for must be for predominantly staff costs. Consultants are not eligible to apply for this award. 
  • Small grant awards: Granted for one year only at a maximum of £7,500. These awards are targeted at pilot studies, which can ideally be developed into potential full-time research fellowships. These awards are not designed to “top up” funding for existing projects. Typically small grants are used to fund consumables, small items of equipment and / or procedures required to support a small research study. They awards will not cover travel costs or course fees.

Please note that the availability of above grant awards may vary each year.

JRC awards—2024 call for applications

Applications are invited for the next round of the Chelsea and Westminster Joint Research Committee (JRC) awards. This year the JRC will be accepting applications for PhDs, Clinical Research Fellowships and Small Grants. Every year the Joint Research Committee, supported by CW+ and the Westminster Medical School Research Trust, fund these grants to support high-quality research in the Trust which will lead to long term patient benefits.

Consultants are not eligible to apply for PhDs or Fellowships but all other staff groups are eligible for all JRC awards.

Deadline for applications is the 8th  Jan 2024

Applicants requiring guidance and support to complete the application form should contact the Research Department on  or 020 3315 6825.

Contributors
Farrah Akkouch Rainer Golombek George Vasilopoulos