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Our research policies

Requirements for HRA-Approved Clinical Research

For all clinical research that needs Health Research Authority (HRA) approval (refer to criteria for HRA approval), a Schedule of Events Costs Attribution Template (SoECAT) must be completed, approved and submitted with the grant application. Only clinical research needs HRA approval.

You will need the assistance of a local AcoRD specialist to complete and approve the SoECAT form. For further information see the NIHR website.

We strongly recommend you contact your local AcoRD specialist as soon as you know you are planning a piece of clinical research, to allow sufficient time for completion and approval of SoECAT before the grant application deadline. 

Since 1 April 2023 applicants have been required to use the online NIHR Central Portfolio Management System (CPMS). In order to create a SoECAT you will need to create and activate an account in CPMS. Please refer to the user guide for further guidance on creating an account.

Guidance for completion of the SoECAT is present in an online tool. Further details can be found on the Online SoECAT Guidance page and within the Online SoECAT Guidance Module, which includes video tutorials and linked resources (an NIHR Learn account is required to access and enrol onto this module).

Assistance with designing your research application is also available from the NIHR CRN and Research Design Service.

We’re a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC). Find more useful information on the AMRC website .

Animal research and the NC3Rs

Please refer to the NC3Rs’ ARRIVE guidelines when designing animal experiments and ensure you report animal-based studies in accordance with the ARRIVE guidelines. Grant holders are required to implement the principles found in the NC3Rs’ guidance document, Responsibility in the use of Animals in Bioscience Research. For more information and guidance about the use of animals in research see the NC3Rs website.

If the research involves use of higher animals (cats, dogs, equines, pigs, non-human primates), the proposal will be sent to NC3Rs for specialist expert review. This will be in addition to the regular scientific expert reviews of the application.

We support the Association of Medical Research Charities’ statement on the use of animals in research – refer to our position statement on animal research.

Intellectual property, exploitation and revenue share policies

MDUK is under an obligation to ensure that any results of its funded research (whether in whole or part) are applied for the benefit of the public. In some circumstances, this obligation may be best achieved through the protection of intellectual property (IP) and commercial exploitation.

All IP created or acquired through research funded by MDUK belongs to the Institution to which the grant has been awarded.

MDUK requires the Institution to develop and implement strategies and procedures for the identification, protection, management and exploitation of MDUK-funded IP.

Muscular Dystrophy UK reserves the right to seek a share of any potential revenue according to the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) model from the research organisation resulting from any commercialisation or exploitation.

If you are a MDUK-funded institution and you want to discuss the policy above please write to Researchgrants@musculardystrophyuk.org.

Use of generative AI tools in funding applications and assessment

When developing funding proposals, researchers must ensure generative AI tools are used responsibly and in accordance with relevant legal and ethical standards where these exist or as they develop. Any outputs from generative AI tools in funding applications should be acknowledged.

Expert reviewers must not input content from confidential funding applications or reviews into, or use, generative AI tools to develop their expert review critiques or applicant responses to critiques. Our reviewers are selected for their expertise and experience in their field and we value their unique perspectives.

AMRC position statement on patient and public involvement (PPI) in research

Muscular Dystrophy UK supports the AMRC’s statement on PPI.

Our applications are assessed by people with lived experiences of neuromuscular conditions.

Much of the funding for Muscular Dystrophy UK’s research programme comes from members of our community, i.e. families and supporters of the charity.  We encourage researchers to engage with the public in general, and with the muscle wasting community in particular, when thinking about disseminating results and project outcomes.

It is important to us that people with muscle wasting conditions should be involved in all stages of research where practically possible. In particular clinical researchers should consider how they will involve people with neuromuscular conditions in the design/co-design of studies.

OTHER ways to get involved

Our research strategy

Learn out about how clinical trials work.

For researchers

Visit our hub for researchers interested in muscle wasting and weakening conditions.

Questions about our grants

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Our friendly research team are here to answer your questions or point you in the right direction.