Research funding

When planning a research funding application for a research study, get in touch as early as possible with the teams listed here to ensure everything is covered.

Edinburgh Research Office

ERO will help you develop your idea, identify the right funding opportunities, support your application and guide you through managing your award.

To get started, complete the ERO Intent to Submit form at least 6 weeks before the funder’s submission deadline. Once received, ERO usually share your application details with our Research Governance team and the NHS Lothian R&D Finance team to ensure smooth review and support.


NHS Lothian R&D Finance team

The NHS Lothian R&D Finance team provides costs for funding applications where the research involves NHS patients or resources.

When to make contact

  • Contact NHS Lothian R&D Finance at least 15 working days before the funder's submission deadline to allow time to assess and advise on your funding application.
  • Some funders need a Schedule of Events Cost Attribution Template (SoECAT) for research involving NHS patients to ensure that site-level research costs are recovered. NHS Lothian Finance needs at least 15 working days to provide costs for funding applications.

What to send to NHS Lothian R&D Finance

  • Send a completed NHS Lothian Finance Grant Review Form.

UoE Research Governance team

A Sponsor is responsible for making arrangements to set up, run and report a research study. The Research Governance team check that funding applications are adequately costed to fulfil this Sponsor's obligation. 

When to make contact

  • Contact the Research Governance team at least 15 working days before the funder's submission deadline to allow time to assess and advise on your funding application.

What to send to Research Governance

  • Most funding applications follow a funder template covering a lot of detail on the proposed study.
  • Send a draft funding application, or as a minimum, the following information to the Research Governance Team:
    • Does the study involve people (patients or healthy volunteers), their data, or tissue?
    • Does the study involve an investigational intervention, e.g. drug, imaging agent, or device?
    • A summary of the proposed study, e.g. study rationale, objectives, number of participants, and number of locations.

Failure to consider clinical research costs recommended by Research Governance or provided by NHS Lothian Finance may result in the project not being approved for sponsorship or NHS Lothian being unable to provide Management Approval for the research to be conducted.

This article was published on