SoECAT & Excess Treatment Costs (ETCs) - what it is and what it means to you

What is SoECAT?

The Schedule of Events Cost Attribution Template (SoECAT) captures and calculates the different activities and costs associated with clinical research in a standardised and consistent way.

From 1 October 2018, all researchers applying for certain clinical research grants will need to complete a SoECAT as part of the grant application process. This allows funders to receive reassurance that the cost activities within the study have been attributed correctly in line with AcoRD.

Who needs to complete a SoECAT?

• If you are the lead applicant for the research
• You want to carry out your research in the UK
• You’re completing a full application for NIHR, Health and Care Research Wales or Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) funding schemes that opened after 1 October 2018. It may also apply for other funders, if in doubt please contact Research-FundingSupport@wales.nhs.uk
• You want your study adopted on the NIHR portfolio to enable access to the support this provides

Completing a SoECAT form

These are the steps you need to take when you apply for a grant from portfolio eligible funders.

• Complete a SoECAT as early as possible in the grant application process
• Get your SoECAT signed off by an AcoRD specialist. You need to submit your completed SoECAT to an AcoRD specialist at least 10 days before the grant deadline. The AcoRD specialists cannot be held accountable for any delays for late submissions.

What are the benefits of SoECAT in Wales?

• The SoECAT has a positive impact for researchers in Wales by ensuring a consistent approach in applying AcoRD across Wales and the UK
• As part of the HRA/Health and Care Research Wales approvals process a SoECAT can be submitted instead of a Schedule of Events.
• The SoECAT allows Welsh-led researchers easier access to ETCs in England.
• In Wales, the completion of a SoECAT replaces the need for submitting separate applications for site level Excess Treatment Costs.

Excess Treatment Costs in Wales

Health and Care Research Wales has a ring-fenced centralised Excess Treatment Cost (ETC) budget. This provides one point of access for all ETCs related to non-commercial portfolio studies being carried out in Wales. One application can be made for Wales regardless of the number of sites involved in the study. 

Recently, the access to ETCs has expanded to portfolio adopted social care studies.

What are the benefits of Excess Treatment Costs in Wales?

• One point of access and a single application means that ETCs can be reviewed swiftly
• We accept completed SoECATs for applications in Wales, which avoids researchers needing to complete an additional ETC application form

What support is available to help me complete the SoECAT and apply for ETCs in Wales?

Please see the frequently asked questions which covers AcoRD, ETCs and SoECAT here.

Contact the AcoRD specialists for support if required:

• Mike Holloway michael.holloway@wales.nhs.uk
• Dr Helen Hodgson helen.hodgson@wales.nhs.uk 

Or contact research-fundingsupport@wales.nhs.uk for more information