UKRI-NHMRC Built Environment and Prevention Research Scheme

The Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), together with the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), are pleased to invite proposals to the UKRI-NHMRC Built Environment Prevention Research Scheme. This scheme will provide funding for approximately five collaborative research projects focused on improving population health through the primary prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) associated with the built environment.

The collaborative research projects will aim to generate evidence that can be translated into actionable, sustainable and cost-effective ways of preventing NCDs, to improve population health and reduce health inequalities in the UK and Australia. There is a need both in the UK and Australia to improve our understanding of the factors that work to shape and support healthy, liveable and resilient built environments, and to develop approaches for improving the built environment to prevent NCDs.

The areas listed below are given as examples of aspects of the built environment in which multidisciplinary research proposals are welcomed. Applicants should note that proposals need not be restricted to the examples cited as applications across the breadth the built environment are encouraged. Examples include:

  • urban planning and regeneration
  • city design, including increasing conditions that promote health such as ‘active travel’ and access to green space
  • housing
  • transportation systems
  • air quality, both indoor and outdoor, and noise
  • the indoor environment
  • neighbourhood diversity, including social regeneration and social cohesion, and access to health services
  • the relationship between the built environment, extreme weather events, and their impact on health.

Researchers planning to submit to this scheme must submit a short ‘Intention to Submit’ by 23:00 GMT+1 on 17 September 2019 through the online survey. This is a compulsory stage and your full application will not be considered if an Intention to Submit is not provided by the Intention to Submit deadline. It is the responsibility of the UK PI to submit the Intention to Submit on behalf of the UK/Australian research collaboration.

A Full Application jointly prepared by the UK and Australian researchers submitted on the UK Joint electronic Submission (Je-S) System by 16:00 BST on 15 October 2019.

Australian applicants must submit the Australian budget to NHMRC by 17:00 AEST 16 October 2019 through RGMS and upload a PDF copy of the final full application (including an identical Justification of Resources and Case for Support) that has been submitted to MRC.

More information on the UKRI-NHMRC Built Environment and Prevention Research Scheme and how to apply is available here.