Medical Protection Society (MPS) has today launched the MPS Foundation; a new, global, not-for-profit research initiative to help shape the future of patient safety through the funding of ambitious research.

The Foundation will invest in research and analysis, with the key focus being on areas of patient safety and clinician wellbeing – both medical and dental.

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.

The MPS Foundation is being launched across each of the countries and regions where MPS has a member base, including the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and the Caribbean, and is open to applications from both members and non-members.

The research projects supported by the MPS Foundation will have to be academically robust and evidence-based. Available funding will range from £5,000 to £200,000, or the equivalent in local currency, depending on the scale, focus and duration of the proposal.

Dr Graham Stokes, MPS Foundation Chair, said: “Patient safety is dear to the heart of all healthcare professionals. By establishing the MPS Foundation, Medical Protection Society will support research to help improve patient safety and care, enhance clinician wellbeing and reduce clinical risks.

“As the world’s leading protection organisation, our aim is simple: to create sustainable global change through ambitious research.

“The MPS Foundation will develop an international knowledge base that can be applied locally, leveraging our organisation’s global reach.

“I am proud to launch the MPS Foundation, which will help both members and other healthcare professionals navigate the challenges of modern practice and find research solutions.

“All projects must be academically robust and evidence based. While funding will be available up to £200,000, smaller grants from £5000 will also be available and I would strongly encourage healthcare professionals to consider applying for support whatever the scale of their proposal.”

MPS Foundation funding is focused in four main areas:

• the impact of human factors on patient safety, outcomes and risk
• the impact of processes and delivery models on patient safety, outcomes and risk
• the personal and professional wellbeing and development of clinicians
• the impact of digital integration and technology on patient safety, outcomes and risk.

Healthcare professionals can register their interest by visiting www.thempsfoundation.org and entering their details via the online grant portal.

ENDS

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Further information

Frequently Asked Questions

How much funding is available?

Our research grants can range from £5,000 up to £200,000, depending on the scale, focus and duration of the proposal.

The MPS Foundation will consider two types of proposals:

• proposals with a total budget up to £60,000, or equivalent in local currency, which last between three and twenty-four months
• proposals with a total budget between £60,000 and £200,000, or equivalent in local currency, which last between twelve and thirty-six months.

The total number, location, focus and value of the projects we fund will ultimately be based on the quantity and quality of applications received.

Who is eligible for funding?

The MPS Foundation has a global focus and is committed to providing funding to applicants from a range of different professions, including:

• universities
• medical and dental schools
• third sector and private research institutions and organisations
• hospitals or hospital groups (public or private)
• local hospital networks
• primary health networks
• dental practices
• dental groups
• MPS members and clients
• non-MPS individuals and organisations.

To check eligibility for funding, applicants can:

• submit their proposal online: www.thempsfoundation.org
• demonstrate how research reflects our goals and areas of focus
• agree to MPS Foundation grant conditions.

What does funding cover?

The MPS Foundation funds research, analysis, education, and training, to enable MPS members to provide better care for their patients and improve their own wellbeing.

What are the eligibility criteria?

In 2022, the MPS Foundation is particularly interested in research that focuses our priorities in the following areas:

• periodontal disease practice and care
• dental implantation practice and care
• perioperative care
• orthopaedic practice
• neurosurgery practice and care
• obstetric practice and care.

The MPS Foundation welcomes proposals that are original, evidence-based, and focussed on applied research. The Foundation also favour projects that focus on, outpatient practice, and dental care environments, and will give priority to proposals that involve and impact more than one country or region.

Where is funding available in the world?

The MPS Foundation is part of The Medical Protection Society Limited (MPS), the world’s leading protection organisation for doctors, dentists, and healthcare professionals. We welcome applications from researchers across the globe; however, we will only fund proposals that focus on at least one of the countries or jurisdictions that MPS operates in.

About MPS

The Medical Protection Society Limited (“MPS”) is the world’s leading protection organisation for doctors, dentists and healthcare professionals. We protect and support the professional interests of more than 300,000 members around the world. Membership provides access to expert advice and support and can also provide, depending on the type of membership required, the right to request indemnity for any complaints or claims arising from professional practice.

Our in-house experts assist with the wide range of legal and ethical problems that arise from professional practice. This can include clinical negligence claims, complaints, medical and dental council inquiries, legal and ethical dilemmas, disciplinary procedures, inquests and fatal accident inquiries.

Our philosophy is to support safe practice in medicine and dentistry by helping to avert problems in the first place. We do this by promoting risk management through our workshops, E-learning, clinical risk assessments, publications, conferences, lectures and presentations.

MPS is not an insurance company. All the benefits of membership of MPS are discretionary as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association.