Bursaries

Applications

Applications for the 2025 BSIR Educational, Research and Robert Bardsley Bursaries will be accepted from Monday 17^th February 2025 and should be made on the relevant form and submitted as a PDF document to [email protected] before midnight on Friday 23rd May 2025. 

Applicants should provide an outline of the research project for which funding is sought along with a specific indication of the use to which the funds will be put.

Projects will, typically, enhance delivery of the highest standards of interventional radiology patient care, safety and outcomes within the NHS. Hence research must be of clear value to the NHS and should take account of Department of Health and NHS priorities and needs. 

Applications will be judged on merit by the relevant Committee, who will subsequently make recommendations to the BSIR Executive Officers. Where appropriate, external review may be sought.

In the event of a conflict of interest, such as an application from the same hospital as an Executive Officer or Committee member, that individual will not take part in the adjudication process.  Applications will be ranked at a panel meeting and this ranking will act as the basis for bursary funding allocation. BSIR reserves the right to wholly fund or offer part funding for any project that is considered of a good enough standard to receive funding.

Please use these documents to make an application:

• Tips for submitting a successful grant application
• BSIR Education Bursary Application Form 2025
• BSIR Research Bursary Application Form 2025
• Robert Bardsley Bursary Application Form 2025

Use of Research Funds

There are a number of terms that relate to the use of Research Bursary Funds provided by BSIR:

Bursaries will be revoked if awarded funds are not utilised within 12 months from the date of approval.

The Research Committee will consider an extension of up to 6 months for exceptional circumstances, requests will require a letter to the relevant Committee Chair from the lead applicant detailing the reasons for the extension and the expected revised date for the project.  Continued support for the project by the BSIR Bursary will be at the discretion of the relevant Committee.

A 6-month progress report to the relevant Committee Chair will be required from all successful project leads.

Bursaries may contribute to any relevant research purpose; fund complete projects or pump prime more extensive research.  Typical projects funded will fall within the remit of any specific calls from the BSIR, and may (for example) comprise implementing novel interventions, methods to enhance outcomes or demonstrate efficacy. 

Applicants are required to justify the funds requested which may include, but are not restricted to:

• Purchase of equipment which is essential to the project (explicit justification must be included within the proposal). 
• Radiological or laboratory investigations
• Reasonable travel / subsistence expenses (travel to another centre to learn a research technique would not be considered an appropriate use of funding but could be considered for an educational grant): admissible costs might include travel to project meetings, or dissemination of research outputs at conferences; brief justification of these costs should be included in "Funding Requested" in the application form.
• To finance research staff

Details of a research or trust fund into which the grant will be deposited will be required as part of the submission.

An agreement/contract between BSIR and the lead principal will be signed to confirm allocation of funds and agreement of terms and conditions.

If Agreement stipulations are not adhered to Bursary awards will be revoked.

Any award by the BSIR is intended exclusively to support the research protocol within the applicant’s proposal.  In exceptional circumstances, changes to the schedule of expenditure that are of clear benefit to the project may be considered by the relevant Committee following submission of:

1. a revised schedule
2. an interim project report

Ethical Considerations

The BSIR will require confirmation that any research involving human subjects will be conducted according to the spirit of the Declaration of Helsinki and that all necessary local / national ethical committee approvals have been obtained prior to commencement of the research.  Applicants need to have completed a course in Good Clinical Practice for research.  For further detail, and on-line application, see: www.corec.org.uk.  It is accepted that sometimes a funding decision is required prior to consideration by a Research Ethics Committee.

Feedback

As a condition of the award, successful applicants are required to provide a 6-month written progress report, plus a final written report on completion of the project for publication in the BSIR newsletter.  The report should incorporate those elements outlined in the ‘guidelines on report submission’; including all publications or presentations arising from the funded research.

The successful applicants are encouraged to submit their work for presentation at the BSIR Annual Scientific Meeting.  Submission for peer reviewed publication to relevant journals is also encouraged.  The financial support of the BSIR should be acknowledged in any publications or presentations arising from the work.