Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the National Institute for Health Research provides feedback to applicants when it rejects a brain tumour research grant application.

Feedback is provided to all applicants, shortlisted or rejected, at key decision points in the process. An initial assessment determines whether applications are within the remit and are competitive for a particular programme. If unsuccessful at this point, feedback will be provided and the application can be resubmitted at any time

Stage one applications receive feedback following discussion by the programme’s committee. All applications, whether shortlisted for stage two submission, invited for resubmission at stage one or rejected from the programme, receive feedback. At stage two, comments from external peer reviewers are given to applicants, who are asked to submit their responses. The applications are then reviewed by the Funding Committee. Applicants receive feedback from the Committee if they are rejected.

We are working with the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission towards funding workshops for previously unsuccessful researchers to support them in submitting higher quality research applications.