Eligibility to apply to the BSPU

A study is eligible for participation in the BPSU scheme if:

• the condition of interest is a rare childhood infection or disorder (or a rare complication of a more common disease)
• it has low incidence (less than 300 cases a year) and requires ascertainment of cases on a national scale in order to generate sufficient numbers for study
• it addresses the epidemiology of a condition and/or variations in practice
• is of scientific or public health importance
• has achievable aims
• is appropriately resourced and managed
• it uses additional alternative data sources (not mandatory)
• it has MREC approval and conform to Caldicott and Data Protection procedures

The BPSU Executive Committee may also consider inclusion of short-term or geographically limited studies of comparatively more common conditions.

Studies must have:

• relevant ethical approval before they can commence
• Ethics and Confidentiality Committee approval
• proof of adequate funding and organisational arrangements

Consideration of suitability takes into account:

• the public health and scientific importance of the study
• the feasibility and acceptability of the methodology to be employed
• whether the BPSU is the most appropriate means of ascertainment
• whether there are mechanisms for validation - studies depending on reporting of patients immediately after admission, for example, are generally less suitable

Studies will not usually be considered if they are

• expecting more than 400 cases a year
• clinical trials
• case control studies
• developing a registry
• requiring long-term follow up (more than two years)
• requiring retrospective reporting

There is a two-phase application procedure to the BPSU

• Phase 1 
• A more detailed Phase 2 application will then be requested
• For more details of the application process please download The BPSU Study Application Handbook