Research with impact

The Research Impact Framework (RIF) is a guide for Macmillan Research Grants Scheme applicants, and for researchers who are successful in securing a grant. Its purpose is to help maximise the impact of the research that Macmillan funds through our grants scheme. It is intended to help researchers plan, deliver and demonstrate research impact and to enable Macmillan to facilitate, understand and communicate that impact.

It should act as an important reference point for grant applicants, grant holders and Macmillan, to ensure that impact remains a focus before, during and after a grant-funded research project is carried out.

What is impact?

For Macmillan, research impact is defined as the demonstrable contribution that research makes to our research goal and outcomes.

The goal and outcomes have been developed in partnership with people affected by cancer and are described in the Research Impact Framework. They focus on bringing benefit to people affected by cancer through improvements to treatment and care and through empowering individuals.

Why is impact important?

Macmillan has a duty to the public and its donors to use the money it raises as effectively as possible.

Therefore, it’s important we:

• fund research with the highest potential to benefit people affected by cancer
• work with researchers to help realise that potential
• clearly demonstrate the benefits of our research investments.

Researchers are increasingly expected to demonstrate the impact of their work and the RIF’s focus on systematic impact planning and monitoring will facilitate this.

Download the Research Impact Framework.

Working together to enable impact

The Impact Principles laid out in the RIF highlight the value of:

• working in partnership
• involving people affected by cancer
• regular communication
• proactive dissemination and engagement
• open access outputs
• long term impact monitoring.