Who are we?

About us

The Research Design Service North West (RDS NW) offers free and confidential advice to new and experienced health and social care research teams to develop competitive funding applications for NIHR and other national peer-reviewed funding programmes.

The Research Design Service (RDS) is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The RDS North West is one of ten regional services across England who give design and methodological advice, providing tailored support to health and social care researchers from initial idea to final application.

Competitive funding applications for health and social care include applications to funding programmes such as the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit, NIHR Research for Social Care, NIHR Personal Awards Schemes, NIHR Programme Grants and other NIHR funding programmes as well as opportunities from major funders, such as the Medical Research Council (MRC), and charitable organisations, such as The Wellcome Foundation.

Find out more about your Research Design Service Journey in our leaflet.

RDS NW Structure

RDS North West is brought together by five research-focused universities, led by Lancaster University in partnership with;

University of Liverpool

University of Manchester

University of Central Lancashire

Manchester Metropolitan University

Our research active advisers are based at each of these universities, offering specialist expertise across a wide range of disciplines and methodologies to provide advice across all aspects of the research design and delivery process.

The RDS NW Central Coordinating Office is based at Lancaster University.

To find out more about RDS advice and support services available please visit our How we can help page.

For more information about the eligibility criteria for using our service please visit our Who Can Use Us page.