The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has announced it will invest in a newly established Research Support Service (RSS), RSS Public Health Specialist Centre, and several new Policy Research Units (PRUs).

Free support and advice

Newcastle University has received almost £9 million to lead an RSS Hub and a further £22 million to lead an RSS Public Health Specialist Centre.

The RSS will provide researchers, especially those applying for and in receipt of NIHR funding, with free access to support, advice, and expertise for their studies.

It will offer seamless support for all researchers in England working across the remit of the NIHR, from pre-application through to post-application phases.

Professor Dawn Teare, Co-Director of the Newcastle hosted RSS Hub, said: “This funding recognises the strength and growing critical mass of applied methodological research expertise in Newcastle University and our partners.

“Underpinning our work is an ethos that research should be designed and delivered to best serve communities. Our partnerships will ensure our research innovations will change and improve lives.”

Professor Helen Hancock, Co-Director of the Newcastle hosted RSS Hub, added: “We will provide responsive, seamless access to expertise from internationally recognised groups of methodologists, and from a wealth of research infrastructure, including Newcastle Clinical Trials Unit.”

The RSS Public Health Specialist Centre is a nationwide service and will work with local authorities and other organisations to support public health research.

Professor Ashley Adamson, Director of the new RSS Public Health Specialist Centre, said: “I am excited to be part of this significant new investment to support the developing research structures and research capacity outside of the NHS.

“We are looking forward to working with local authorities and others to develop and deliver this service to support public health research.”  

One of the key partners of the RSS Hub is Newcastle Health Innovation Partners (NHIP) Academy, the training and career development structure for NHIP, the Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC) for the city. The academy will also support the Public Health Specialist Centre.

NHIP Academy’s well-established applied health research methodology pillar allows a diverse spectrum of researchers to come together. The academy will support bespoke training and development experiences as well as an accessible, innovative, and nurturing community for everyone on their methodology and public health research career pathways.

Assisting policy makers

The funding comes in addition to Newcastle University receiving almost £6 million for leading two PRUs.

These units will play a pivotal role in giving the government, and arm’s length bodies, the best information and evidence possible when making policy decisions about health and social care.

One PRU in Newcastle will focus on how to age well across the life course.

Professor Barbara Hanratty, director designate of the NIHR Healthy Ageing PRU, said: “I am delighted to be leading this Unit from Newcastle University.

“Our collaboration with the University of Manchester and the London School of Economics will provide policymakers with the information they need to make healthy ageing a reality for everyone.

“With world-leading expertise in ageing and inequalities research, Newcastle University will provide the ideal base for this Unit to make a difference.”

Newcastle will also be leading a PRU in Behavioural and Social Sciences, focusing on evidence to inform government decisions about health and social care.

Professor Falko Sniehotta, founding director of the Behavioural and Social Sciences PRU, said: “We will continue to work with our team at Newcastle and our partners at UCL, Warwick and the LSHTM to develop robust, timely and relevant evidence using behavioural and social science to support the development of effective and equitable health and social care policy in England.”

Professor Emily Oliver, Co-lead/Director of the PRU added: "We're delighted to have been awarded funding to continue to lead this partnership and to work closely with UK policymakers to improve health and social care.

“The award recognises the expertise we have within the unit and across Newcastle in behavioural and social sciences, and in their application to policy challenges."

Acting on latest evidence

The NIHR has awarded more than £100 million as part of their Policy Research Programme to 20 university based PRUs across England.

Newcastle University also is involved in three other PRUs, focused on public health, children and families, and seeking to inform policy in the areas of dementia and neurodegeneration. 

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Advisor Department for Health and Social Care and Chief Executive of NIHR, said: "The NIHR's new Policy Research Units are designed to provide strong evaluation of policy.

“This helps government and related organisations to be able to act on the latest evidence when making decisions about health and social care that could impact us all.”