The RDS-EM is funded by the NIHR to assist researchers preparing research proposals for submission to national, peer-reviewed funding competitions for applied health or social care research. Priority will be given to supporting proposals to be submitted to an NIHR scheme. Priority will be given to support for NHS investigators, but not exclusively so.

The services provided by the RDS-EM are available to all NHS researchers and others working in partnership with the NHS primarily within Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland, who are considering an application to a suitable funding body.

Suitable funding programmes include Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB), other NIHR research programmes (e.g. HTA, SDO) as well as grant schemes run by Research Councils and the Association of Medical Research Charities.

The following groups of researchers are not normally eligible:

• Undergraduate and postgraduate students 

• University staff except where they are working in partnership with the NHS