Our decision-making process

In the first stage of the review process all applications are sent to members of the Asthma UK Research Review Panel.

Each scientist and clinician on the panel is asked to score a subset of applications based on their expertise. Each lay representative is also asked to score a subset of applications.

The Research Review Panel members’ scores are used to triage applications and select which ones will go through to external peer review and discussion at the main grant review meeting.

Researchers are told whether their applications have made it through
the triage.

In the third stage of the review process, applications are sent to external asthma research experts from around the world.

In parallel, applications are reviewed by a wider group of lay reviewers who assess the applications for their relevance and importance to people with asthma and Asthma UK's research strategy.

These reviewers’ comments, and those of the Research Review Panel from the triage stage, are sent back to the applicants. They have the opportunity to respond to these queries and comments to further strengthen their case for support in advance of the main grant review meeting.

Asthma UK’s Research Review Panel meets to discuss all applications that made it through the triage process. They are also given copies of the reviewers’ comments and applicants’ responses.

The Panel members are invited to score each application. The Research Team at Asthma UK then creates an aggregate, weighted score for each application. These are ranked, and the final list of top scoring applications is presented to the charity's Council of Trustees.

The Council of Trustees decides the final number of projects Asthma UK will support, taking into account the charity's overall strategy and availability
of finances.

Applicants are notified of the outcome of their applications shortly after the Trustees’ meeting. Feedback is sent to all applicants.

The Research Review Panel and Asthma UK believe these feedback arrangements to be an important part of the grant review process.
Please note that Asthma UK is unable to enter into any discussions about the merits of its funding decisions.

Closing date for applications: 1pm, 12 February 2010
Review period: February-May 2010
Research Review Panel meeting: June 2010
Council meeting: July 2010
Feedback to applicants: July-August 2010

Enquiries regarding research project funding should be sent by email to research@asthma.org.uk.