To showcase the ground-breaking work that top researchers are doing to tackle diabetes the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has launched an online resource.

www.FocusOnDiabetes.nihr.ac.uk was launched on 14 November 2012 to coincide with World Diabetes Day. It features interviews with NIHR-funded researchers, case-studies on activity taking place in NIHR-supported facilities, a list of studies funded by the NIHR in this area, and information for patients on how to get involved in diabetes clinical research.

Call for chairs and members of Programme Grants for Applied Research sub-panels
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is seeking to appoint new members, including Chairs, to serve on Programme Grants for Applied Research sub-panels that consider researcher-led proposals to the programme. We would welcome applications from clinicians and methodologists with a strong track record in applied health research and from members of the public who wish to contribute to the assessment of research proposals from a service user perspective.

For further details, including a full description of membership opportunities and the application process, visit http://www.ccf.nihr.ac.uk/Pages/OpportunitiesinPGfAR.aspx. The deadline for receipt of applications is 5pm on 5 November 2012.

• Do you have a project that was not successful in being awarded funding but yet the funding body thought it was still an important area to research and the research design needed strengthening?
• Would you like to obtain funding for this project?
• Do you need help responding to reviewers comments concerning the research design?

If you answer yes to any of these questions then the NIHR Research Design Service North West is here to help. Our free expert advice service can help you turn your originally unsuccessful proposal into a proposal that is more likely to receive funding.

For ways to access our advice service go to our contact page here.