Healthcare Infection Society

Healthcare Infection Society is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1158172).

The Healthcare Infection Society is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Its objects are to advance education in the prevention and control of hospital and other healthcare-associated infections, and to promote research and publish its useful results. It funds small-scale and major research projects, public engagement events, events organised by or for healthcare professionals, and professional and career development of members. The annual report gives total awards of £4,837, which may include grants to individuals.

Priority Areas

Healthcare Infection Society funds research on healthcare-associated infections and infection prevention and control, including small-scale and major projects. It seeks work with direct impact on clinical practice and the spread of avoidable infections, addressing important clinical problems in ways that improve patient outcomes. It encourages innovation and collaboration between clinicians and researchers. It also supports public engagement events promoting clinical microbiology, infection prevention and control, and healthcare-associated infections to public audiences and relevant stakeholders, as well as events organised by or for healthcare professionals. The Society favours event activities that would not go ahead without its support. Research awards are administered through host organisations.

Themes

• Healthcare-associated infections
• Infection prevention and control
• Clinical microbiology

Geographic Focus

UK; Republic of Ireland.

The Public Engagement Grant application documents are submitted to grants@his.org.uk by 11.59pm on the deadline day.

Deadlines:

• Major Research Grant applications have a 1 September submission deadline on the example timeline, and one award is allocated every other year.
• Small Research Grant applications have a 1 September deadline.
• Public Engagement Grant applications have deadlines on 1 March and 1 September at 11.59 pm.
• Sponsored Event Grant applications are due three months before the event.

Application windows:

• Major Research Grant: The call opens in April and the application submission deadline is 1 September.
• Small Research Grant: The call opens in June and the application submission deadline is 1 September.
• Public Engagement Grant: Application deadlines are 1 March and 1 September.
• Travel Grant: Deadlines are 1 September and 1 February each year.

Who can apply:

• Small Research Grant
  • The primary grant holder and their institution must be based in the UK or Republic of Ireland.
  • PI must be UK or Ireland based and a member of HIS at time of submission.
  • We accept applications from researchers and clinicians, based in the public sector, who are in a career grade or substantive role.
• Public Engagement Grant
  • Applications are open to HIS members who are based in the UK or the Republic of Ireland.
  • Teams (where at least one individual is a member of HIS) that include an expert in public engagement or science communication (with a minimum of 12 months experience), and an IPC expert who are based in the UK or the Republic of Ireland.
• Sponsored Event Grant: Applications are only open to HIS members. Individuals must be a HIS members before the date of application.
• Travel Grant: Members of the society who are presenting at an event are eligible to apply.

What to send:

• Major Research Grant, Small Research Grant
  • Completed application form (including signatures).
  • Abridged 2 page C.Vs for all applicants.
  • Letters of support.
  • Ethics applications and risk assessments.
  • Terms and conditions signed by all applicants.
• Public Engagement Grant
  • Application form
  • Abridged 2 page C.V
  • Example resources (if appropriate)
• Travel Grant: Your email must include: the application form, your abstract, estimated costs for each expense and evidence that your abstract has been accepted by the event committee.

Applying again: Travel Grant: Previous recipients of a travel grant will not be eligible to re-apply for 2 years.

What the charity says:

• The Society prioritises research with direct impact on clinical practice and the spread of avoidable infections.
• Research should address important clinical problems in ways that improve patient outcomes.
• Research should build on clinical observations and use innovation in research or clinical practice.
• The Society designs its grants to support collaboration between clinicians and researchers.
• Public engagement activities are prioritised when they would not go ahead without Society support.
• Research aims must be clearly stated and hypothesis driven where applicable.
• Principal Investigators must submit progress reports every six months until project completion.
• Public-engagement event organisers must provide a report for publication on the Society website, covering the event and its evaluation.