Adding an economic evaluation aim to your grant proposal

Research and programme funders increasingly want to know not only whether an intervention works but what it costs and whether it is good value. Adding an economic evaluation aim can strengthen a proposal — if it is designed with the study rather than attached at the end.

Start with one clear aim

A good economic aim names the comparison, the measure and the perspective. For example:

To estimate the incremental cost per disability-adjusted life year averted of the intervention compared with current practice, from the health system perspective.

Keep it to one primary economic aim. Secondary aims, such as a budget impact analysis or a costing of scale-up, are useful only if the budget allows them.

Five design choices reviewers look for

1. Comparator — usually the study’s control arm, reflecting current practice.
2. Perspective — health system, provider or societal (including patients’ costs).
3. Time horizon — the study’s follow-up, and whether a model will extend it.
4. Outcome measure — the primary clinical outcome and, where useful, a generic measure such as DALYs or QALYs.
5. Methods guidance — a named reference case for economic evaluation and costing, and reporting in line with CHEERS 2022.

Plan cost data collection from the start

Costs are hard to reconstruct after a study ends. Build cost data collection into the study design:

• ingredients (bottom-up) costing of the intervention itself;
• resource use by participants, from records or questionnaires;
• patients’ costs, if the perspective requires them.

Budget realistically

Include health economist time across the whole study, not only at analysis; enumerator time for cost data collection; and time for a health economics analysis plan, analysis, reporting and publication.

A checklist before you submit

• One clear economic aim, linked to the main comparison
• Comparator, perspective, time horizon and outcome stated
• Cost data collection planned and budgeted
• Uncertainty analysis described
• Methods and reporting guidance named
• Health economics expertise named on the team

For a fuller structure, see our guide Writing the economic evaluation section of a grant proposal and the grant budget justification template. Our Grant Economic Evaluation Package covers both the proposal stage and the funded analysis.