The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funds the Research Design Service (RDS) to provide research design and methodological support to health and social care researchers across England to develop grant applications to the NIHR and other national peer reviewed funding programmes. Advice is confidential and free of charge.

The RDS is changing. Introducing the new Research Support Service

The RDS will come to an end on 30 Sep 2023. It will be replaced by the Research Support Service. More info to follow.

How we can help

If you have a research question you would like to turn into a fully developed funding proposal, we can help.

Missed an event? Catch up online

The presentations from our events are recorded and available to view on YouTube.

We are part of the NIHR

The Research Design Service is part of the National Institute for Health and Care Research.