New funding for research into speech and language therapy topics

The NIHR is one of the UK’s leading health and social care research funding bodies. It aims to improve the health and wealth of the nation through high quality, timely research. As well as partnering with patients, service users, carers and communities to increase the relevance and impact of the research it funds, the NIHR also collaborates with charities and other public funders to grow and shape the research system.  

We have been working with the NIHR to help shape future SLT speech and language therapy research, as part of our ongoing focus on innovation and excellence in research and clinical practice. We are delighted that the NIHR launched three new funding calls on topics relevant to speech and language therapy this month:   

1. Interventions for school-aged children with a developmental stammer  
2. SLT-led interventions for children and young people with developmental language disorder (DLD)  
3. Interventions for children and young people with non-progressive motor disorders affecting their speech 

These calls have been commissioned as part of the NIHR’s Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme, a major funding stream that typically explores interventions where there is an indication of effectiveness, but later stage research is required to carefully consider this. It invites applications in response to research questions that have been identified, developed and prioritised by patients, the public, local government and the NHS.  

HTA-funded research is used to inform clinicians, policy makers and the public before an intervention can become standard care. As such, the new funding calls are a rare and exciting opportunity for members to contribute directly to the evidence base for the profession, and we are keen to support high quality, SLT-led bids to each of them.  

Director of Professional Development at the RCSLT Krystina Stanway said, “These research calls represent a great opportunity for our profession, and our understanding of how best to support children and young people with speech, language and communication needs. We now need to work together to ensure quality research bids are submitted, the research that is funded is delivered successfully, and we update our clinical service delivery based upon the findings”.

Interested in applying?   

Find out more information about the specific funding calls on our funding and opportunities webpage.

If you are interested in applying to one or more of these calls, do reach out to us at info@rcslt.org, or visit our webpages for more information on how the RCSLT supports research and research priorities. This may be because you are planning or leading a bid, or are interested in collaborating on a bid. Alternatively, you may be interested in supporting the research and developing your research knowledge, skills, and experience through delivering the research in your local setting. Whatever the case, please get in touch and we will endeavour to support you as required.