RAFT 4
We are very excited to be able to announce the opening of the RAFT4 selection process! After the postponement of the project due to the coronavirus pandemic we are pleased to be able to restart the process for our next national project. This will be the 4th national research project by RAFT, following on from the huge success of previous work.
The national RAFT projects are the result of trainee collaboration on a massive scale; striving to deliver the highest quality research to positively impact on the quality of care for our patients. As with our previous projects the final topic will be selected from an open submission process, allowing trainees with great project ideas the opportunity to get them considered for delivery on a national scale. If you are unfamiliar with the concept of the national RAFT projects, we suggest you read about some of our previous work here.
Here we aim to outline this selection process in more detail.
The national RAFT projects are the result of trainee collaboration on a massive scale; striving to deliver the highest quality research to positively impact on the quality of care for our patients. As with our previous projects the final topic will be selected from an open submission process, allowing trainees with great project ideas the opportunity to get them considered for delivery on a national scale. If you are unfamiliar with the concept of the national RAFT projects, we suggest you read about some of our previous work here.
Here we aim to outline this selection process in more detail.
Who?
Any trainee who is a member of a trainee research network (TRN) is eligible to submit their project idea. This can be on behalf of a group, although we request a single named individual as the main point of contact, and we encourage additional contributors to be listed in the application.
What?
We have selected a loose theme that we think represents an important area of research, and should therefore guide the submission topic. This theme is that of perioperative care.
Within this scope, there are also a number of other features that we think would make a better national project.
Within this scope, there are also a number of other features that we think would make a better national project.
- We advise that projects have a wide applicability to the vast majority, if not all, acute care hospitals to allow all trainees the opportunity to participate. Projects with a narrow scope for trainee participation (for example, neurosurgery centres only) will be notably penalised in the judging process.
- We would also strongly encourage studies to not be on the topic of coronavirus.
- A pilot of the project at the local level is encouraged, and information from it may support the application, although it is not a requirement.
- Similarly, projects which engage different professionals from across the multidisciplinary team are encouraged, but not a requirement.
- A snapshot study is likely to lend itself better to trainee engagement (as opposed to one with a longer time frame).
- Finally, we would encourage TRNs to focus on a single project for that region rather than multiple different ones.
How?
The final project will be selected through a staged national selection process:
- Open submission
- Shortlisting of top 5 projects
- Project pitch event
Submission
The submission process is open to all trainees in a TRN, as described above. This is through online completion of the project proforma which can be found below. This is now open and will remain open until 5pm on Monday 4th October 2021. Unfortunately, late submissions will not be able to be considered.
Shortlisting
All submissions will be reviewed electronically by a scoring panel. This will comprise the RAFT committee, with the Chairs of all the RAFT TRNs also being invited to participate. Each project will be anonymously scored based on a predetermined mark scheme, creating a final project score. The top 5 projects from all the submissions will be shortlisted, and the project lead will be invited to present their project (see below). All applicants will be informed of the outcome on the 1st Nov 2021.
Project Pitch
The project lead (i.e. the named submitter) of the 5 shortlisted projects will be invited to present their project idea to argue the case for it being selected as the next RAFT national project. The date of the presentation is still to be confirmed but will be early to mid-December 2021. Given the challenges of coronavirus this will likely be through an online format rather than in-person.
The scoring panel will consist of the RAFT committee with an additional external representative (also to be confirmed). A single project will be selected to become the nominated 4th National RAFT Project, with the result being announced on the day.
We hope that this has clearly explained the process for project submission and we encourage everyone interested to start thinking about submissions now and begin any preparations in readiness for the opening of submissions. For any questions, please get in touch with us via the usual communication channels.
The scoring panel will consist of the RAFT committee with an additional external representative (also to be confirmed). A single project will be selected to become the nominated 4th National RAFT Project, with the result being announced on the day.
We hope that this has clearly explained the process for project submission and we encourage everyone interested to start thinking about submissions now and begin any preparations in readiness for the opening of submissions. For any questions, please get in touch with us via the usual communication channels.