GCRF Global Multimorbidity – Seed-funding 2019

The GCRF global multimorbidity seed-funding call is an MRC initiative that has been developed in collaboration with Wellcome, NIHR, and AMS. The call will support seed-funding projects that develop and test innovative ideas, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, build capacity, and lay the groundwork for future large-scale activity aimed at understanding and tackling multimorbidity in LMICs.

Applications are particularly encouraged from Principal Investigators (PIs) based at organisations in LMICs, as well as from eligible research organisations based in the UK working in equitable partnership with LMIC colleagues.

It is expected that a total of £2.5 million will be made available to support research grants up to 18 months in duration and up to a maximum of £200,000.
This call will support seed-funding projects in global multimorbidity. Briefly, subject areas may include, but are not limited to:

Preliminary data collection and methodological development to understand behavioural, environmental, sociodemographic, and biological factors associated with common clusters/clusters of highest burden and determinants of discordant co-occurring conditions.
Audit and analysis of existing data to either: i) bring together the fragmented evidence base caused by variations in definition and classification of multimorbidity, ii) utilise existing cohort/surveillance data to identify trends and modifiable risk factors, iii) examine healthcare costs associated with different clusters of conditions and models of care, or iv) assess the impact of existing primary prevention strategies on multimorbidity.
Feasibility (including acceptability) and pilot work towards the development of primary (e.g., lifestyle interventions), secondary (e.g., preventing multimorbidity once one condition has been diagnosed, polypharmacy effects), and tertiary (e.g., integrated management, mHealth) prevention strategies across all age groups.
Establishing foundations for studies focused on understanding trends in multimorbidity. Seed-funding would also enable the follow up of previous studies to enable longitudinal or repeated cross-sectional analysis.
Development of sensitive measures to determine the impact on quality of life for patients and carers of living with multimorbidity.
Capacity building, networking, and connection of existing resources within LMICs to allow interdisciplinary investigation of multimorbidity.
This call adopts the definition of multimorbidity recommended in the AMS report:

The co-existence of two or more chronic conditions, each one of which is either:

A physical non-communicable disease of long duration, such as a cardiovascular disease or cancer.
A mental health condition of long duration, such as a mood disorder or dementia.
An infectious disease of long duration, such as HIV, MDR TB, or hepatitis C.
Importantly, multimorbidity refers to the This call will support seed-funding projects in global multimorbidity. Briefly, subject areas may include, but are not limited to:

Preliminary data collection and methodological development to understand behavioural, environmental, sociodemographic, and biological factors associated with common clusters/clusters of highest burden and determinants of discordant co-occurring conditions.
Audit and analysis of existing data to either: i) bring together the fragmented evidence base caused by variations in definition and classification of multimorbidity, ii) utilise existing cohort/surveillance data to identify trends and modifiable risk factors, iii) examine healthcare costs associated with different clusters of conditions and models of care, or iv) assess the impact of existing primary prevention strategies on multimorbidity.
Feasibility (including acceptability) and pilot work towards the development of primary (e.g., lifestyle interventions), secondary (e.g., preventing multimorbidity once one condition has been diagnosed, polypharmacy effects), and tertiary (e.g., integrated management, mHealth) prevention strategies across all age groups.
Establishing foundations for studies focused on understanding trends in multimorbidity. Seed-funding would also enable the follow up of previous studies to enable longitudinal or repeated cross-sectional analysis.
Development of sensitive measures to determine the impact on quality of life for patients and carers of living with multimorbidity.
Capacity building, networking, and connection of existing resources within LMICs to allow interdisciplinary investigation of multimorbidity.
This call adopts the definition of multimorbidity recommended in the AMS report:

The co-existence of two or more chronic conditions, each one of which is either:

A physical non-communicable disease of long duration, such as a cardiovascular disease or cancer.
A mental health condition of long duration, such as a mood disorder or dementia.
An infectious disease of long duration, such as HIV, MDR TB, or hepatitis C.
Importantly, multimorbidity refers to the co-existence of chronic conditions without a single focus of attention on one condition over and above the others. This is distinct to co-morbidity where additional conditions co-occur alongside an index condition. Proposals focused on co-morbidity are not eligible to apply to this call, although the funder acknowledges that existing cohorts utilised by proposals to this call may have originally been set up with a single condition of focus.

Applications directly from PIs at LMIC Research Organisations, including those based on South-South collaborations, are encouraged (i.e. without the involvement of a UK Co-I). Where the application is led by a UK PI, it should include effective, sustainable and equitable partnerships with researchers based in the LMIC location(s) where the research will take place, with strong governance and management processes in place. All applications should demonstrate scientific leadership and intellectual contribution from LMIC investigators with a clear plan for sustaining partnerships beyond the duration of the award. on one condition over and above the others. This is distinct to co-morbidity where additional conditions co-occur alongside an index condition. Proposals focused on co-morbidity are not eligible to apply to this call, although the funder acknowledges that existing cohorts utilised by proposals to this call may have originally been set up with a single condition of focus.

Applications directly from PIs at LMIC Research Organisations, including those based on South-South collaborations, are encouraged (i.e. without the involvement of a UK Co-I). Where the application is led by a UK PI, it should include effective, sustainable and equitable partnerships with researchers based in the LMIC location(s) where the research will take place, with strong governance and management processes in place. All applications should demonstrate scientific leadership and intellectual contribution from LMIC investigators with a clear plan for sustaining partnerships beyond the duration of the award.