General Information on Application Process

Please note that The Hypertension Trust at the present time is not able to accept any new applications for funding.

Research Fellowship
Applications are invited for a two-year Research Fellowship for research and training in hypertension and related fields. The Fellow appointed will hold a medical degree or higher degree in science (PhD) and have evidence of research aptitude or clinical experience in hypertension. Awards will be given preferentially to UK or EC nationals working in the UK or the Republic of Ireland (non-UK or EU nationals must provide confirmation of their current visa status). The award will support a two-year period of research at an institute, university or other academic centre in the UK or the Republic of Ireland. The Trustees will assess applications for both the academic/research potential of the applicant and the quality of the training.

The stipend will be based on UK Clinical/Academic Staff salaries in the range of £25,000-£35,000 p.a. (+ NI, superannuation and London Allowance if appropriate). Up to £5,000 per annum may be made available for justifiable additional expenses related to the project (costs must include a suitable element for inflation per year if appropriate). PhD fees will not be covered for Research Fellows. Research Fellows may proceed to a second year only after the head of department or supervisor has submitted, and The Hypertension Trust has approved, a progress report on the first year's work (this must be received by the Trust by the end of May).

Research Studentship
Applications are invited for a three-year named Research Studentship for research and training in hypertension and related fields leading to a PhD. Applicants will usually be graduates of an EU university or currently working in a UK or Republic of Ireland hospital or institution and awards will be given preferentially to UK or EC nationals working in the UK or the Republic of Ireland (non-UK or EU nationals must provide confirmation of their current visa status). As a minimum requirement, the candidate must have obtained an upper second class honours degree. The Trustees will assess applications for both the academic/research potential of the applicant, the quality of the training and the track record of the supervisor.

The level of stipend will be based on current MRC rates and will cover PhD fees (UK PhD fees only). Up to £5,000 per annum may be made available for justifiable additional expenses related to the project (costs must include a suitable element for inflation per year if appropriate).

Research Students may proceed to a second or third year only after the head of department or supervisor has submitted, and The Hypertension Trust has approved, a progress report on the preceding year's work (this must be received by the Administrator by the end of May).

Application Process
Applications for both the Research Fellowship and the Research Studentship should be made on the enclosed application form by the supervisor and with the approval of the head of department, who must counter-sign the form. The application must include the following:

Applications (1 original copy plus 10 copies of all the above sections) should be sent to the Administrator of The Hypertension Trust by Monday 3rd March 2008. DO NOT STAPLE FORMS OR ACCOMPANYING PAGES - please use paperclips only to separate copies. Acknowledgement of receipt of the application will be sent immediately to all applicants.

Mrs. Gerry McCarthy
The Hypertension Trust
113 - 119 High Street
Hampton Hill
Middlesex
TW12 1NJ
U.K.

Tel: +44 (0)20 8979 8300
Fax: +44 (0)20 8979 6700
Email: gmccarthy@hamptonmedical.com

Review Process
Applications are processed through a four-stage review process:

Stage 1:
All applications are initially assessed by the Appointments Panel (Trustees of The Hypertension Trust, plus
a representative of the British Hypertension Society Executive Committee, usually the current President),
who then decide which applications should be processed through the second stage of the review process.
Some applications may be rejected at this stage.

Stage 2:
Selected applications are then sent to at least two external referees chosen by the Appointments Panel for
their particular expertise in the field of research outlined in the application.

Stage 3:
Reports from the external referees are reviewed by the Appointments Panel and candidates shortlisted for
interview. Some applications may be rejected at this stage.

Stage 4:
Shortlisted candidates are interviewed by the Appointments Panel (interview date: Thursday 5th June 2008 in London). All candidates will be notified in writing within 2-3 days of the outcome of their application.

Note: Travel and/or accommodation expenses for interviews, which will usually take place in London, are
not reimbursed by the Trust. The Trust is unable to provide detailed feedback to unsuccessful applicants,
and the Trustees' decision will be final.  If candidates are called for interview, but are unable to attend, their
applications will not be considered in absentia, but will be withdrawn from the selection process.

Conflict of Interest
Researchers working in the departments of members of the Appointments' Panel are permitted to apply for
funding. However, in order to avoid a potential conflict of interest, the following additional procedures will
be applied in these circumstances. The Appointments' Panel member is not permitted to review or grade
the application from his or her own department, and is also not present during the interview of the
candidate.

Salaries

Salaries should be calculated from the time of the proposed starting date of the grant. The application form must be signed by the host institution's finance officer, confirming that all salary details are correct.

The following items will not be reimbursed:

Project Expenses
An amount up to £5,000 per annum may be available to cover consumables such as reagents, materials, animals and animal feed etc. (the cost of equipment will not be covered). The amount requested should be fully itemised and justified. The cost of travel and registration fees to attend the annual scientific meetings of the British Hypertension Society may be included within the overall project expenses. Funding for the provision of travel to other conferences or research units will not normally be provided in the award.

Ethical Approval
Ethical approval must be obtained for all investigations in humans.

Reimbursement of Award
Invoices for reimbursement of salary and research expenses awarded by The Hypertension Trust should be submitted to the Administrator quarterly in arrears by the host institution's finance officer (itemising the salary, split into salary, national insurance and London Allowance if applicable, and the expenses separately). All claims for the final quarter's salary and consumables for the whole year must be submitted no later than two months after the end of the final quarter. It will not be acceptable for the institution to claim more than the allocated amount in Year 2 to compensate for any under-spend in consumables in Year 1.

Change of Institution
It is expected that the awardee will undertake his or her training outlined in this award at the institution named in the application. However, should the supervisor wish to move to another institution, accompanied by his or her Fellow or Student, permission must be sought in writing from The Hypertension Trust. The head of department in the new institution must guarantee that the training will continue uninterrupted and that adequate facilities are available for the work. The finance officer of the new institution must also agree to accept the terms and conditions of the existing award.

Employer Status
Award holders are employed by the host institution, and not The Hypertension Trust. It is the award holders' responsibility to negotiate their own contract/conditions of employment with the host institution.

Progress Reports and Visits
Research Fellows and Students may proceed to a second year only after the head of department or supervisor has submitted, and The Hypertension Trust has approved, a progress report on the preceding year's work (this must be received by the Administrator by the end of May). A final report should be submitted at the end of the award period, which may be presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the British Hypertension Society. The Trustees may visit the award holder to inspect the project work at a mutually convenient time.

Concurrent Grants or Awards
Applicants holding grants or awards from other bodies for similar or related work must declare such grants on the application form.

Publications
The support of The Hypertension Trust must be acknowledged in any publications or abstracts submitted to national or international symposia. One copy of any publication resulting from research funded by The Hypertension Trust should be sent to the Administrator.

Commercially exploited charity funded research
Any revenue arising from research funded by The Hypertension Trust is subject to the Guidelines issued by the Association of Medical Research Charities, of which The Hypertension Trust is a member.  These can be downloaded from the AMRC's website (www.amrc.org.uk) and are also available from the Administrator of the Hypertension Trust.  Acceptance of a Hypertension Trust award confirms the acceptance of these guidelines by the Fellow/Student, Supervisor, Head of Department and the Institution's Finance Officer.

Animal Research
The Hypertension Trust supports training in all areas of clinical and basic research relating to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. If this includes research on animals, the Trust follows the Policy Statement issued by the Association of Medical Research Charities in March 2004.