We are currently recruiting new members to advisory groups for the following research programmes:

Information for applicants to join NIHR as an advisory group member: HTA Programme Topic Identification, Development and Evaluation (TIDE) panel Chairs 1. Background information The goal of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is to create a health research system in which the NHS supports outstanding individuals, working in world class facilities, conducting leading edge research focused on the needs of patients and the public. The NHS reputation for international excellence is growing as it gains recognition for being the preferred host for collaborative and multi-centred research in the public interest in partnership with and for industry. This will benefit patients, society, the NHS and all our stakeholders. The NIHR commissions and funds NHS, social care and public health research that is essential for delivering our responsibilities in public, health and personal social services. Our role is to develop the research evidence to support decision making by professionals, policy makers and patients, make this evidence available, and encourage its uptake and use. We are currently recruiting new members to advisory groups for the following research programmes: Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) programme NIHR Health Services and Delivery Research (HS&DR) programme NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme NIHR Public Health Research (PHR) programme These programmes are managed on behalf of the NIHR by the NIHR Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre (NETSCC) based at the University of Southampton. NETSCC is a team of managers, academics, clinicians, researchers and support staff that oversee the management and delivery of the research programmes including the recruitment process for advisory group (panel and board) members. What are advisory groups? To enable delivery of the NIHR research programmes, we support a number of advisory groups. Our advisory groups, including prioritisation panels, funding and editorial boards are comprised of independent individuals with a broad spectrum of knowledge, skills and experience needed to get a well-rounded view of research needs and research assessment. We seek input from patients, members of the public, academics, subject experts, clinical staff, service managers, health and public health professionals. Advisory Groups are essential to our programmes as they provide independent input, assessing research briefs, research proposals and final reports. Advisory Groups are the cornerstone to ensuring only the highest quality research is funded and published in our journal series. The NIHR Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre (NETSCC), based at the University of Southampton, manages evaluation research programmes and activities for the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme National Institute for Health Research Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre University of Southampton, Alpha House Enterprise Road, Southampton, SO16 7NS tel: +44(0)23 8059 5586 fax: +44(0)23 8059 5639 email: hta@hta.ac.uk web: www.hta.ac.uk

What do HTA advisory group/panel members do? The HTA programme produces independent research information about the effectiveness, costs and broader impact of healthcare treatments and tests for those who plan, provide or receive care in the NHS. The HTA programme has recently reviewed the advisory panel remits and from 2013 the groups will be Topic Identification, Development and Evaluation (TIDE) panels. The roles of the HTA TIDE panels are to: Identify topics of health importance for which research is required, and consider which research briefs on these topics should be developed and advertised Consider the importance of research proposals received and make recommendations as to which research proposals should progress to the next stage Provide guidance to support the development of research proposals through the provision of feedback Advise the Programme Director on the overall development of the programme. It is essential to the success of the programme that research priorities are chosen in a transparent and fair way, informed by the latest expertise, knowledge and experience. Members prepare for and attend meetings where they actively contribute to the decisionmaking process. The six TIDE panels are: Primary Care, Community and Preventive Interventions (PCCPI) Covers interventions delivered in primary care or the community. Elective and Emergency Specialist Care (EESC) Focuses on interventions delivered in hospital or by specialists. Maternal, Neonatal and Child health (MNCH) Examines interventions including obstetrics, paediatrics and specific maternal health issues. Interventional procedures (IP) Covers all surgical interventions, drugs used for interventional procedures and interventional radiology. Mental, psychological and occupational health (MPOH) Covers rehabilitation, learning difficulties, mental health and cognitive deficits. Diagnostic Technologies & Screening Programmes (DTSP) Covers all tests used to diagnose, monitor or select patients for treatment; or to monitor a disease or the effect of its treatment. For more detail, please see an extract from the TIDE Terms of Reference in Appendix 2. NIHR HTA programme seeks Chairs for two new advisory panels The HTA programme is seeking to appoint two new Chairs for two of the new TIDE panels: Primary Care, Community and Preventive Interventions and Elective and Emergency Specialist Care Appointments will be made by the HTA Programme Director in time to prepare for the first meetings of the panels on Tuesday, 12 March 2013. 2

Job description Department: NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme Post: NIHR HTA Panel Chair Responsible to: Appointment: NIHR HTA Programme Director To Chair one of the HTA Programme s six external advisory groups, the Topic Identification, Development and Evaluation (TIDE) panels, which advise on research priorities for the NHS. We are looking to appoint at least two Chairs at this time. The term of office is for 3 or 4 years. The expected time commitment will be equivalent to one session per week per annum, use of which will be averaged over the year. Host institutions will be reimbursed for one session per week. Travel and expenses will also be paid. Applications are open to people from across the UK. Full attendance at meetings is expected but exceptionally a Deputy from the panel can attend meetings in your place. The advisory panel and Prioritisation Group aims to adhere to the Nolan principles of public service. Job Purpose: The HTA Topic Identification, Development and Evaluation (TIDE) Panels have two roles. First to support the identification, development and evaluation of potential research questions for the commissioned work stream for advertisement by the HTA programme. Second to evaluate and prioritise outline research proposals from the researcher led work stream to advise the HTA Prioritisation Group (PG). The Panel will: Advise on importance to the NHS of research topics and proposals Clarify and refine research topics Provide comment based on specialist knowledge Identify potential topics for future HTA research As Chair of the panel, you will be responsible for leading the meeting, engaging all members of the panel in discussion in accordance with the Ways of Working and ensuring clear decisions are made. You will be supported in this role by a team of staff; a consultant advisor who provides scientific, clinical and public health support and advice; a panel researcher who will write vignettes on potential research topics; and a programme manager who will manage all aspects of the panel s work. Panel chairs will advise on membership of the panel. Panel Chairs are members of the HTA Prioritisation Group (PG), which considers all topics that the panels have identified as priorities and decides which should be advertised as commissioning briefs to the research community. At PG, Panel Chairs will: 3

Present vignettes on topics and funding proposals prioritised by their panel Contribute to the discussion on all topics and proposals Provide comments based on specialist knowledge Reflect feedback on topics and proposals from their panel members The Chair of each panel has a responsibility to the Director of the HTA Programme for their panel developing a suitable number of topics in the commissioned work-stream to be approved at PG. The Chair is supported by the consultant advisor to the panel who shares this responsibility. Maintaining the quantity and quality of research in the commissioned workstream is important so NIHR can provide the NHS with the research evidence it needs. Person Specification The Panel Chair will have experience of evidence based practice, probably with a senior clinical or public health role in the NHS. Criteria Essential Desirable Previous experience of chairing a committee Appropriate professional registration, for example GMC Specialist Register Appropriate academic qualifications and knowledge of current NHS practice Experience of an HTA panel or other equivalent NIHR decision making group. Knowledge of, or interest in, research practice Awareness of government health strategies Awareness of NIHR programmes The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme, set up in 1993, is part of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and is the largest single national research programme for the NHS. It funds the production of independent research information about the effectiveness, costs and broader impact of healthcare treatments and tests for those who plan, provide or receive care in the NHS. It identifies the most important questions that the NHS needs the answers to by consulting widely with these groups, and the HTA Topic Identification, Development and Evaluation (TIDE) panels are the principal route for that consultation process. Find out more about the NIHR and the HTA programme on our website www.hta.ac.uk. 4

2. Application process To apply for this role you need to undertake the following steps: 1. Review the role description and additional information provided (see Appendix 1: Role of the panel chair; Appendix 2: Extract from Topic Identification, Development and Evaluation (TIDE) Panels Terms of Reference). 2. Download and complete the short application form and equal opportunities monitoring form (optional). 3. Provide an up to date curriculum vitae (CV) and any additional relevant information such as a publication list. 4. Submit your application by 13.00hrs on Friday 19 th October 2012 by email to: AGmembers@soton.ac.uk 5. We will confirm receipt of your application. If you have any queries regarding your application please contact AGmembers@soton.ac.uk in the first instance. 5

Appendix 1: The Role of the Panel Chair The HTA Topic Identification, Development and Evaluation (TIDE) Panel Chairs have a senior role chairing and leading a panel of experts, and advising the NIHR HTA Programme Director on priorities for research in the NHS and appropriate use of the programme funds for the benefit of the NHS. Time commitment It is expected that a Panel Chair will commit to one session per week per annum, use of which will be averaged over the year. Where appropriate, the Chair therefore requires the agreement of their employer institution; host institutions will be reimbursed for one session per week. Examples of the regular annual commitments of the role include: Three one-day panel meetings in London Three one-day Prioritisation Group (PG) meetings in London Three research methods teleconferences (c. two hours each) Approximately six teleconferences per year for other programme business Attendance at one whole-day development event for panels or PG per year Membership of the HTA Strategy and Oversight Group on a rotating basis (two oneday meetings in three years) Attendance at other HTA committees or boards as required (approx. one day per year) Each meeting involves substantial preparatory work, by reading and discussion, which on average takes as long as the meeting itself. Panel Meetings Prior to panel meetings, the chair is involved with the initial prioritisation of potential topics for research. The consultant advisor and researcher will consult the chair regarding the initial sifting of topics for the panel meeting. The panel manager will then send the chair (and in some cases the other members of the panel) a list of the topics being considered for the panel, and the chair (and panel members) will have the opportunity to promote demote topics. The panel support team may also consult the chair regarding other issues which may arise when preparing for a panel meeting. The Chair s Brief Prior to each panel meeting, a chair s brief is prepared by the programme manager for the chair. This details each agenda item to be discussed and highlights any important issues of which the Chair may need to be made aware. The Chair s Brief Pre-Meeting Before each panel meeting there is a pre-meeting. This involves the Panel Chair, the consultant advisor, the panel researcher, and the panel manager. During this meeting, the chair s brief will be discussed. This meeting may take the form of a teleconference in the days prior to the panel meeting, or as a meeting immediately before the panel meeting. 6

At Panel Meetings The HTA Topic Identification, Development and Evaluation (TIDE) Panels have two roles. First to support the identification, development and evaluation of potential research topics for the commissioned work-stream for advertisement by the HTA programme. Second to assess and prioritise outline research proposals to the researcher led workstream to advise the HTA Prioritisation Group (PG). The TIDE panels meet three times a year in central London, with meetings normally being held in March, July and November. The meetings generally start at 10 am and finish by 4.30 pm. It may occasionally be necessary to extend the length of the meeting to accommodate the workload. Members will be notified in advance of any changes to usual timing or practice. The dates for meetings are normally set about a year in advance. Each panel will have about 20 members and will include a chair, and a deputy chair. Membership will include three public members. Each panel is supported by a consultant advisor (CA), a panel researcher (PR), a panel manager (PM) and a member from the NETSCC topic identification team (ID). At the panel meetings, the chair will coordinate the discussion of all the agenda items. Of particular importance to this is: Facilitating useful discussions of the panel topics and researcher-led Clinical Evaluation and Trials (CET) research proposals; Encouraging participation in topic identification and development; Encouraging contributions from all panel members; Summarising the conclusions to these discussions; Ensuring that discussions remain relevant to the remit of the panel; Leading the formal voting or scoring and reflecting on the outcome; Ensuring that the meeting runs to time. Following Panel Meetings Following a panel meeting, the support team will prepare the minutes. These will then be sent to the chair for final approval, before being sent out to all panel members. The chair may also be consulted on any actions which were raised during the meeting. Method Group teleconferences A Methods Group teleconference will usually take place within two weeks of the panel meeting and usually last for up to two hours. The Panel Chair attends this teleconference which aims to address any methodological issues in the research topics that are being taken forward as vignettes from the panel to Prioritisation Group. Prioritisation Group (PG) Meetings After each round of panel meetings, the PG meets. This meeting is chaired by the Programme Director of the NIHR HTA Programme, and members are the chairs from each of the six HTA panels and the two funding boards. They are supported by senior representatives from NETSCC. The function of PG is to develop a research portfolio which best reflects the research needs of the NHS. This must be achieved within the available programme budget, taking into consideration overall value for money. PG fulfils its function by discussing and prioritising topics from the panels, informed by vignettes, for advertisement to the research community. It also prioritises researcher-led research proposals for consideration at the Clinical Evaluations and Trials Board. PG also reviews the funding recommendations from the HTA commissioning boards and prepares a 7

final list for approval by the Department of Health. This role may be done by teleconference depending on the timing of board meetings. The Chair of each panel has a responsibility to the Director of the HTA Programme for their panel developing a suitable number of topics in the commissioned work-stream to be approved at PG. The chair is supported by the consultant advisor to the panel who shares this responsibility. Maintaining the quantity and quality of research in the commissioned work-stream is important so NIHR can provide the NHS with the research evidence it needs. Panel Membership The maintenance of panel membership is an ongoing procedure, with members standing down after their term and new members being appointed. The chair is consulted during this process and asked to make suggestions as to specialty areas and potential new members. They have the option to participate in the selection of new members from the list of applicants. The Deputy Chair Each panel has a deputy chair, whose remit is as follows. 1. To chair part or all of a panel meeting in the exceptional circumstances when the chair: arrives late/needs to leave early is unable to attend has a conflict of interest on a particular topic or proposal 2. If the Panel Chair is unable to attend a methods group teleconference, the deputy chair will be invited to attend and participate with the same authority as the Chair. 3. If, in exceptional circumstances the panel chair is unable to attend a PG meeting, the deputy chair will be invited to attend and participate in the PG meeting with the same authority as the Chair. The Deputy chair will not automatically succeed the chair, but may apply in the usual way. Other duties as requested by the HTA Programme Director Occasionally, the Programme Director may ask Panel Chairs to attend other meetings or undertake other duties related to their role. For example, involvement in PG away-days, panel development days or training events for new panel members. There is also a requirement to participate in ad hoc boards when relevant to a chair s panel, for instance a Themed Call funding board. These additional events are an important part of the panel chairs role. 8

APPENDIX 2: NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme - Extract from Topic Identification, Development and Evaluation (TIDE) Panels Terms of Reference 1. Purpose of the TIDE Panels The HTA Topic Identification, Development and Evaluation (TIDE) Panels have two roles. First to support the identification, development and evaluation of potential research questions for the commissioned work stream for advertisement by the HTA programme. Second to evaluate and prioritise outline research proposals from the researcher led work stream to advise the HTA Prioritisation Group (PG). The panels help maintain parity of scrutiny across the commissioned and researcher-led work streams. 1 To inform their advice to the HTA PG the panels use consistent criteria to assess the relative importance of the research issues or research proposals and the likely impact of any findings of subsequent research to patients, clinicians and the wider NHS. The six Advisory Panels have individual but overlapping remits. The panels are; Primary Care and Preventive Interventions (PCPI), Elective and Emergency Specialist Care (EESC), Interventional procedures (IP), Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNC), Mental, Psychological and Occupational Health (MPOH), Diagnostic Technologies & Screening Programmes (DTSP). 2. Responsibilities of the TIDE Panels The Chair of each panel has a responsibility to the Director of the HTA Programme for their panel achieving a target number of Commissioning Briefs approved at the PG each year. In 2013 the target for each panel is 12 or more approved Commissioning Briefs. The Chair is supported in this responsibility by the consultant advisor to the panel who has a responsibility in NETSCC for the achievement of the same target. The Commissioned work stream identifies, develops and evaluates research suggestions with input from panel members at each step of the process. Each year each panel member is expected to suggest at least 2 potential research issues from their own or from colleagues fields of expertise and from time to time to support the development of specific topics agreed as important by the panel 3. Role of the TIDE Panels At TIDE meetings panel members debate and refine the research suggestions that are known as panel topics. At the meeting members may significantly change the research question or develop it further. Once satisfied with a panel topic members vote to rank the panel topics in order of importance to the NHS. The most important topics will subsequently be developed into research vignettes. The purpose of the vignette is to guide the CA in the further development of the research question and choice of an appropriate methodology through consideration of published and on-going research and in the light of comments received from experts. 1 The Researcher-led work stream refers to submissions of outline proposals by researchers. These are received on an on-going basis and not in response to a specific commissioning brief. 9

Vignettes will be discussed at the panel s Methods Group whose role is to discuss and advise on the proposed research design and methodology, but not to discuss the importance of the research issue. Following the Methods Group the vignette will be updated if required before being considered at the HTA Prioritisation Group. For the Researcher-led work stream the panel considers anonymised extracts of applicants outline proposals against the HTA Prioritisation Criteria. The role of the panel is to evaluate the importance of the research question and to advise PG on the importance of the potential research. A ranked list of proposals will be referred to the HTA Prioritisation Group. Members may also consider and comment on how well the applicants have presented the case for research and provide comment to the HTA Prioritisation Group on where there could be modification to proposals. 4. Frequency, location, timing and method of meeting The TIDE panels generally meet three times a year in central London, with meetings generally being held in March, July and November. The meetings generally start at 10 am and finish by 4.30 pm. It may occasionally be necessary to extend the length of the meeting to accommodate the workload. Members will be notified in advance of any changes to usual timing or practice. 5. Membership Each panel will have about 20 members and will include a chair, a deputy chair and clinical professionals. Membership will include 3 public members. Members will be selected for their individual expertise and should not be considered to be representative of any professional group or particular clinical interest. The Panel may also include co-opted members. Professional members will have good clinical experience of working in the NHS or as a policy maker, a broad interest in research and a level of understanding of clinical research and basic methodology. Public members are required to take a broad view of a variety of topic areas and have the confidence and experience to take an active part in panel meetings. They will provide a generic voice to the views of those who use health services and be well informed by them. They should be prepared to reflect the views and perspectives of patients and the public without representing a particular interest group above others. 6. Support arrangements Each panel is supported by a Chair, a consultant advisor (CA), a panel researcher (PR), a panel manager (PM) and a member from the NETSCC identification team. 7. Working arrangements NETSCC, HTA carry out an initial sifting and allocation to panels of the potential research suggestions obtained from various sources and researcher led outline proposals to screen out any considered to be outside the HTA remit. 10

The CA selects a short list of potentially promising research suggestions, with input from the chair and panel members where required and with the PR develops these into panel topic format. Usually around 2-3 days will be spent at NETSCC on clarifying the research question and undertaking literature and database searches for on-going or published studies prior to the meeting. This helps ensure the panel can give full consideration to the remaining research suggestions. Papers are provided for members two weeks in advance of the meeting, these include: The panel topics. The anonymised extracts of the outline research proposals. Working arrangements may include: A list of designated members for each meeting to review and briefly present a specific topic or outline proposal to members at the meeting. Occasionally a B list of topics including any highlighted topics from important sources for the panel to consider and may want to return to a future meeting. Pre-scoring of topics and outline proposals prior to the meetings if required. There is no quorum for the panels; however members are expected to attend every meeting. Meetings are minuted for internal purposes. 11