The MPS Foundation – a global not-for-profit research initiative that aims to shape the future of patient safety – has opened for applications for its 2024 grant programme.
Medical Protection Society (MPS) launched the foundation in 2022. Now in its third year, it has already supported more than 30 research projects worldwide.
South African projects awarded funding in 2023 include research into non-specialist physicians providing anaesthesia care in rural low- and middle-income countries. Additionally, in the dental field, the foundation is supporting a study investigating patient complaints and strategies to preventing these in dentistry, and another study investigating informed consent and individual autonomy with African traditional values and beliefs.
The foundation is now inviting new research grant applications from both MPS members and non-members. It will invest in research and analysis with a key focus on patient safety and the well-being of healthcare professionals and teams, both medical and dental.
Applications will be considered from the jurisdictions where MPS has members. This includes South Africa, Hong Kong, the UK, Singapore, New Zealand, Ireland, Australia, Malaysia, the Caribbean and Bermuda.
Research projects supported by The MPS Foundation need to be academically robust and evidence based. Available funding will range from R120 675 to R4 827 000 – the equivalent to £5 000 to £200 000 (subject to currency fluctuations), depending on the scale, focus and duration of the proposal.
The funding focuses on five main areas:
• the impact of human factors on patient safety, outcomes, and risk
• the impact of processes and delivery modes on patient safety, outcomes, and risk
• the personal and professional well-being of healthcare professionals and teams
• the impact of digital integration and technology on patient safety, outcomes, and risk
• the impact of the effectiveness of teaching and learning innovations upon patient safety, outcomes and risk.
Dr Graham Stokes, dentist and MPS Foundation chair, said: “We are delighted to launch our third grant programme to support research projects on patient safety and the well-being of healthcare professionals. Funding for research in this area has been limited but our grant programmes have been changing that. Projects we have supported in previous years have shown great success in promoting best practice and well-being across several countries.
“Our aim is simple: to fund research that improves safety for patients and the well-being of healthcare teams.
“If you have a research project that you think is suitable, register your interest and join our growing community of grant recipients. I strongly encourage healthcare professionals to consider applying for support whatever the scale of the proposal and to make the most of the additional resources available to support applicants this year.”
Applicants can register their interest and apply by visiting http://www.thempsfoundation.org and entering their details via the online grant portal. Calls for expressions of interest close on 3 May 2024 at 17:00 BST.
The MPS Foundation team is holding an online question and answer clinics later in April to introduce the 2024 grant programme, explain the application process and what makes a successful application. The team can also respond to any questions applicants have about the process.
The Foundation is part of MPS – the world’s leading protection organisation – which currently supports more than 300 000 doctors, dentists and healthcare professionals, and has almost 130 years of global healthcare experience and expertise.
Issued by MPS