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Extended Research Article

Key principles

  • The purpose of the extended research article is to provide a single account of the whole research award, providing all the relevant data and evidence to support its conclusions against the overarching research questions and objectives.
  • The format is to be used only after prior agreement from the publications team, when the Threaded Publication Model is either not appropriate or proportionate for reporting of the NIHR award.
  • The main body of the extended research article should not be more than 50,000 words. Fewer words are acceptable and will depend on the nature of the project. This limit includes all text, text within tables, and text within figures and boxes which are contained within the main body of the manuscript. Please note that your manuscript will not proceed to peer review if it is over this limit. The limit does NOT include the Abstract, Scientific Summary and Plain Language Summary (which continue to have their own individual word limits). It also excludes the table of contents, references, appendices, supplementary material and additional information (CRediT statement, Data sharing statement, Ethics statement, Information Governance Statement).
  • Articles over the word count will be sent back to the award team to reduce.
  • Award teams should follow the appropriate reporting guidelines for their study type. A comprehensive list of available reporting guidelines, listed by study type, can be found on the EQUATOR Network website.
  • Within the main body of the extended research article, authors have the flexibility to include a narrative that captures a critical and reflective discussion.
  • There is some flexibility to the ordering and naming of some of the main body headings so that the extended research article meets the need of the intended audiences e.g. policy review, patient partnerships, practitioners.
  • However, please note the following headings are mandatory and must appear in the article tofulfilwiderNIHR commitments in these areas:
    • Patient and Public Involvement
    • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
    • Impact and Learning
    • Research Recommendations.
  • Once the article has completed the editorial and production process it will be published as a single issue of the relevant journal.

Suggested headings

 Include in main body (Y/N)HeadingsDescription
N Title
  • Title
  • Author list
  • Affiliations
  • Review history (date received and accepted)
  • See our title page for more information
N Abstract
  • Study/trial registration details
  • See our abstract page for more information
N Contents list  
N Glossary
  • If required, abbreviations.
N  Plain language summary
N Scientific summary
Y Introduction
  • Rationale for research and background
  • Aim and objectives
Y Methods
  • Methods for data collection and analysis (linking to Study Protocol). Include a diagram of your research pathway showing how each element of your research links to another.
  • Statistical analysis
  • Data sources (for systematic reviews)
  • Ethics
  • Study/trial registration Details
Y Results

Y Discussion / Interpretation

Proposed themes for the discussion narrative:

  • Principal findings and achievements per project outcome.
  • Contribution to existing knowledge. Draw together the findings and show how your work contributes.
  • Strengths and weakness of the study/in relation to other studies.
  • Take-home message(s).
  • Reflections on the project and what could have been done differently. Describe major/ significant changes.
  • Challenges faced and limitations.
  • Engagement with Partners and Stakeholders
  • Individual training and capacity-strengthening activities.
  • Institutional Capacity Strengthening. 
Y Patient and Public Involvement   
  • Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) or Community engagement, and Involvement (CEI)
  • Dissemination to participants and related patient and public communities: to include information on dissemination plan
  • See our reporting patient and public involvement page for more information
Y Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
  • Language and Terminology
  • Consideration of the disease burden, epidemiology, presentation and outcomes the population groups and any differences in the application of existing preventative, screening or diagnostic strategies and treatments.
  • Generalisability and transferability of evidence
  • Participant representation
  • Enrol and retain diverse participants
  • Participant data
  • Reflections on your research team and wider involvement
  • See our reporting equality diversity and inclusion page for more information
Y Impact and Learning
  • Lessons learnt for future research.
  • Related work e.g., things not directly funded by NIHR, but arising from this study.
  • (If appropriate) Real-world impact/Potential impact.
  • What difference has been made already.
  • What longer term impact might there be? E.g., Economy, Efficiency, Effectiveness, Equity and Environmental impact
  • What are your aspirational/pre-planned dissemination or discussions to ensure the outcomes of the research are taken forward for implementation by your key stakeholders, partners and target audiences/groups?
  • Collaborations /further funding/future work.
  • Reporting on Climate, Health and Sustainability
Y Implications for decision makers 
Y Research recommendations
  • Three to five recommendations of priority areas for future research which could inform future funding calls
Y Conclusions
  • Headline summary of findings and their implications
N Additional Information 
  • Declaration of competing interests
  • Contribution of authors / CRediT and Acknowledgements
  • Patient data statement (if required)
  • Data sharing statement
  • Ethics statement
  • Information Governance statement
  • Full list of publications, conference papers, seminars etc resulting from this study
  • See our additional information page for more information
N References 
N Appendices
N Supplementary Material

If applicable, please submit alongside your manuscript.

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