Research grant development awards provide �pump-priming� funds for the development of high-quality, innovative and multidisciplinary research grants in medical sociology / sociology of health and illness. They are intended to support groups to work together to develop a research grant application and to submit it to a major national or international funding body within three months of the end of the award. Grants can be used to cover the costs of a range of activities, up to a maximum of �6,000, as required in the development of a grant application to submission.