Research and development

For up to date information on HSC R&D go to https://research.hscni.net/ or click on the banner below 

The work of HSC R&D is based on the principle that the best health and social care must be underpinned by knowledge, based on well conducted research, which can then be applied in the delivery of care.

HSC R&D does not ‘do’ research, but we work to support research that provides high quality evidence to improve care for patients, clients and the general population, and adds to our understanding of health, disease, treatment and care. This involves supporting researchers based in Northern Ireland as well as those in Health and Social Care Trusts or other bodies who use the outputs from research findings.

While the effectiveness of research performance and application depends ultimately on the skill and ability of individual researchers and users of research, the HSC R&D Division ensures that researchers can work within an environment that supports, encourages and facilitates them.

For example HSC R&D Division:

• funds essential infrastructure for research such as information databanks, tissue banks, clinical research facilities clinical trials units and research networks
• builds research capacity in Northern Ireland through research training opportunities
• enables research governance processes to be as efficient as possible
• creates opportunities for researchers to compete for research funding on a wider UK or international basis
• supports innovation as a means of transferring HSC R&D findings into practice
• ensures personal and public involvement (PPI) in HSC R&D

We work closely with:

• clinical and academic researchers based in Health and Social Care Trusts (HSCTs) and universities;
• policy-makers in the DHSSPS;
• practitioners throughout HSCTs;
• staff in other HSC bodies;
• members of the public, including patients and clients.

HSC R&D Division has a local focus and works in partnership with other public sector organisations, charities and businesses that are involved in health and social care research across Northern Ireland. Yet HSC R&D acknowledges that health and social care research is a global endeavour, and so, also forms effective partnerships and close working relationships with our counterparts in the other UK administrations and internationally, in particular in Ireland, the rest of the European Union and the United States of America. These partnerships are vital to the funding and delivery of our programmes and initiatives.

HSC R&D Division is currently headed up by Dr Janice Bailie, Assistant Director HSC R&D. It is part of the Public Health Directorate led by Dr Carolyn Harper, Director of Public Health (DPH). The DPH and HSC R&D Division are also supported by Professor Ian Young in the joint role of Director of R&D for the HSC and Chief Scientific Advisor to the DHSSPS. An R&D Strategic Advisory Group is in place to advise the Director of R&D. To view more information on the group click HSC R&D Strategic Advisory Group.pdf

For further information on HSC R&D Division please visit: www.research.hscni.net

HSC R&D Division works in a number of areas including:

Funding opportunities

HSC R&D Division provides a number of funding opportunities for researchers based in Northern Ireland to undertake research that provides high quality evidence to improve care for patients, clients and the general population, and adds to our understanding of health, disease, treatment and care.

HSC R&D provides funding in areas such as:

• Research Fellowships and other research training opportunities
• Knowledge Exchange to support innovation as a means of transferring HSC R&D findings into practice and thus improve the impact of research
• Needs-Led Commissioned Research derived from an on-going systematic process to identify and prioritise research needs
• Opportunity-Led Commissioned Research derived from ad-hoc opportunities to exploit partnership funding
• Enabling Research to create opportunities for researchers to compete for research funding on a wider UK or international basis
• Workshops and Conferences to support the dissemination of research
• US-Ireland R&D Partnership Programme

For all the latest opportunities please see: www.research.hscni.net

Research infrastructure

HSC R&D Division provides funding for essential infrastructure needed for research such as information databanks, tissue banks, clinical research facilities, clinical trials units and research networks. These are vital for the successful delivery of local research.

For example the Northern Ireland Clinical Research Network (NICRN) provides skilled health professionals who can help researchers to set up and run clinical studies quickly and effectively and work with patients and the public to ensure their needs are at the centre of research activity. This enables people in Northern Ireland to participate in well conducted clinical trials, thereby enabling them to access potentially superior new treatments before they are available through routine services.

For the more information on the entire research infrastructure please see: www.research.hscni.net

Enabling researchers and users of research

HSC R&D Division promotes, coordinates and facilitates the conduct of R&D by both HSC and non-HSC organisations across the academic, voluntary and commercial sectors. We are committed to ensuring that the research governance process within the HSC is as efficient as possible.

We are also committed to ensuring that researchers and users of research have access to the latest and most relevant information relating to research in health and social care in Northern Ireland including an understanding of the research landscape.

For further information, please contact HSC R&D Division at:

HSC Research & Development Division
Public Health Agency
12-22 Linenhall Street
BELFAST BT2 8BS
Tel: (028) 9536 3490
Email: enquiry.rdpha@hscni.net

HSC R&D is also involved in running events related to research, as well as promoting relevant events run by others. For information on relevant event please see: http://www.research.hscni.net/events

Personal and Public Involvement (PPI)

HSC R&D is committed to ensuring that there is personal and public involvement (PPI) in HSC R&D.

If you are a service user, carer or member of the public who would like to be involved in research, the following links provide more information about our Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) strategy and ways in which you could become involved in the work of HSC R&D Division.

For further information please see http://www.research.hscni.net/personal-and-public-involvement-research  or contact Dr Gail Johnston at gail.johnston@hscni.net

A study, Public Involvement in Research applications to the National research Ethics Service (October 2011) by Maryrose Tarpey published by the National Research Ethics Service (NRES) and INVOLVE, looked at the extent and nature of reported public involvement in health and social care research using information routinely collected by NRES as part of the applications process for ethical approval of research projects. The report:

• provides a ‘snapshot’ of public involvement in research and identifies practical actions for funders, sponsors and regulators in ensuring and facilitating further patient and public involvement;
• provides some key insights into the extent to which patients and the public are involved in research, and the understanding of researchers and funders of effective involvement.

A copy of the report is available by following this link: http://www.invo.org.uk/posttypepublication/public-involvement-in-research-applications-to-the-national-research-ethics-service-nres/

­­­­­­­For further information on HSC R&D Division please see our main website: www.research.hscni.net