HTA programme's Funding Boards

Role of the HTA Funding Boards

The remit of the funding boards is to consider the scientific rigour and quality, and value for money of proposals taking into account the following:

  • the clarity of the stated research objectives
  • whether the proposed study design will achieve the stated objectives in an appropriate, feasible and ethical manner
  • whether the successful completion of the study would lead to a reduction in uncertainty in that area of clinical research and/or clinical or health practice
  • whether the proposed project would result in measurable health gains for patients and/or other benefits for the wider NHS community
  • whether the proposed team is capable of undertaking the suggested research
  • whether the requested costs and timescales are justified.

Role of Board members

As a member of an HTA funding board you will assess research proposals for scientific merit, feasibility, and value for money before making funding recommendations. There is a large volume of application paperwork to be considered by each member, requiring several hours of preparation time.

In summary, duties of the funding board members include:

  • acting as a Designated Board Member (DBM) for selected applications, reviewing these in detail with two other DBMs, completing an assessment form prior to the meeting, and giving views at the Board
  • deciding collectively with the Board which outline applications should be short-listed
  • providing guidance to short-listed applications on the views of the Board to guide development of full proposals
  • scoring full applications and reaching decisions as to which should be recommended for funding (the final decision as to whether to fund is taken by a separate body – the Prioritisation Group)
  • specifying changes, where needed, to applications before they are funded
  • providing feedback points for unsuccessful applicants

The HTA Funding Boards meet four times a year in London. These are honorary roles, but travel expenses are reimbursed and overnight accommodation at the meeting hotel is paid for. Overnight stays are usually required for anyone living outside of London.

The programme is also looking to recruit new core members for our Themed Call boards. These boards are specially convened for each call to consider proposals in a particular research area (in 2010 it was obesity, the 2011 call was in dementia) but rely on a core of four members with statistical and health economic backgrounds to provide continuous methodological advice over a tenure of four years.

Tenure of Board Members is four years in the first instance. Extensions to tenure may be made for an additional two years at the discretion of the Board Chair, Deputy Chair and HTA Programme Director. Membership of the HTA Board brings with it honorary membership of the NIHR Faculty.

Visit the board and panel members section

Next board dates

Please note that we are recruiting to all three boards so you would not need to attend all of these:

HTA Commissioning Boards (advertised topics):

  • 17 and 18 January 2012
  • 18 and 19 April 2012
  • 10 and 11 July 2012
  • 16 and 17 October 2012

HTA Clinical Evaluation and Trials Boards (researcher-led):

  • 1 and 2 February 2012
  • 25 and 26 April 2012
  • 18 and 19 July 2012
  • 31 October and 1 November 2012

HTA Themed Calls Boards (researcher-led):

Dates to be confirmed

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