Scientific Advisory Panel
Our Scientific Advisory Panel ensures independent and rigorous review of proposals for research funding and makes recommendations to the Trustees who make final decisions on funding recommended proposals. All Panel members adhere to our Code of conduct and conflicts of interest policy to ensure impartial assessment of any research applications from members of the Panel, or from researchers based in a Panel member’s academic department.
Research Integrity
We are a supporter of the Universities UK’s Concordat to Support Research Integrity, a cross disciplinary national framework for good research conduct and its governance.
As a supporter of the concordat, we are committed to:
- Upholding the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of research
- Ensuring that research is conducted according to appropriate ethical, legal and professional frameworks, obligations and standards
- Supporting a research environment that is underpinned by a culture of integrity and based on good governance, best practice and support for the development of researchers
- Using transparent, robust and fair processes to deal with allegations of research misconduct should they arise
- Working together to strengthen the integrity of research and to reviewing progress regularly and openly
Read more about our research integrity policy and our code of conduct.
Public Involvement in Research
Our role in defeating meningitis is to support both people and research, connecting the two to drive action and save lives. As such, it is of vital importance that people and communities are involved in our work – including the research we do and fund. Listening to the priorities of people with lived experience helps to drive and shape our research priorities and focus, directing funding in ways that will make the biggest difference to people around the world.
As such, we endeavour to continuously involve the public and our members in our research programme. Examples of this include:
- Starting our research-medical events with a patient speaker to emphasise the importance and impact of research on people with personal experience,
- Organising research discovery days,
- Inviting people with personal experience to input into research through Patient and Public Involvement Panels,
- Consulting our members as we develop MRF’s organisational strategies.
Recently, this has included developing the scope of our latest research round in collaboration with a family and their goals for defeating MenB after the tragic loss of their daughter.