Research support

Shine supports research

We offer support to research studies that help to further our core aims: to improve the lives of people in the UK affected by spina bifida, hydrocephalus, normal pressure hydrocephalus, anencephaly, and encephalocele, and to reduce the incidence of these conditions.   

Examples of support that researchers can apply for: 

  • Recruitment and facilitation of public and patient involvement (PPI) groups
  • Recruitment for research study participants 
  • Letters of support for funding applications 
  • Dissemination of research findings to people affected by spina bifida, hydrocephalus, anencephaly, encephalocele, increasing research impact and engagement 

Apply for support by contacting Shine at professionals@shinecharity.org.uk.

 

Letters of support

Research funding is highly competitive, a letter of support from Shine can help to persuade decision-makers to support your grant application or proposal. 

A Shine letter of support will highlight the need for your proposed work, extol the potential benefit to our members and/or impacts on wider society and scientific understanding as appropriate. We will outline any further involvement Shine will have with the project e.g. recruitment, dissemination of findings to our members. With our letters of support we aim to convey our enthusiasm for the project and provide compelling reasons for funders to support your work.

Apply for a support by contacting Shine at professionals@shinecharity.org.uk.

 

PPI and study participant recruitment  

Involving patients and the public in research is good practice and can help ensure that studies are relevant, well designed, with clear outcomes and tangible benefits. PPI is also a key requirement for securing many funding awards, and has been shown to help researchers meet participant recruitment targets. 

If you are researching spina bifida, hydrocephalus, normal pressure hydrocephalus, or related conditions, we’d love to help you recruit our Shine members to contribute to your work. Examples of the roles we can recruit for: 

  • Focus groups
  • Research study participants for in-person or remote studies  
  • Survey / questionnaire dissemination 

Apply for support by contacting Shine at professionals@shinecharity.org.uk.