HTA programme remit

The HTA programme supports research that is immediately useful to clinical practice and policy/decision makers. HTA research is undertaken when there is evidence to show the technology is efficacious but there is uncertainty around its clinical and cost effectiveness in a real life NHS setting in comparison to the current best alternative(s). There may also be uncertainty around its place in the existing care pathway.

The HTA programme commissions and funds research via four different routes:

  • Standard calls - commissions research proposals that address specific topics or themes;
  • Clinical evaluation and trials calls - invites research proposals for evaluation studies and clinical trials on topics proposed directly by researchers;
  • Themed calls - one-off invitations for proposals to fund research in areas where a particular need has been identified;
  • Technology Assessment Report (TAR) contract - specialist assessment centres are contracted by the Department of Health to undertake technology assessment reports on behalf of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and other policy customers.

Characteristics of HTA research

Evaluates Effectiveness of a medical intervention in a real life NHS setting.
Types of research Primary (clinical research), secondary (evidence synthesis, e.g. a systematic review or meta analysis), usually pragmatic research with routine care.
Stages of research The main focus of HTA research is long-term effectiveness and the impact on patients’ quality of life as well as cost-effectiveness. These studies would evaluate effectiveness in a real-world NHS setting.
Design Often a pragmatic randomised controlled trial although other study designs may be used for instance in the evaluation of diagnostic tests.
Participant eligibility criteria Wide and representative of the UK population and reflects the mix of patients likely to be seen in normal clinical practice.
No. of participants & centres Generally large – adequate to assess minimally important differences from a patient perspective; usually multicentre generating results that are generalisable to the NHS.
Technology* Fully defined and developed technology.
Comparator The best active alternative or usual care. Placebos may be used in conjunction with best treatment to blind trial participants.
Outcomes Clinically important outcomes that matter to patients and that measure health gain.
Follow up Sufficient to ensure that a wider range of effects are identified other than those which are evident immediately after treatment.
Health economic
component included?		 Usually cost-utility or cost-effectiveness.
Can a mechanistic
evaluation be included as part of the main study?		 Not usually, it would only be a secondary consideration to assessing cost-effectiveness.
Diagnostic evaluations Unlikely to support evaluations which seek to determine the normal range of values for a diagnostic test through observational studies in healthy people. Likely to support the evaluation of cost-effectiveness in routine clinical practice.

*By “technology” we mean any method used to promote health, prevent and treat disease and improve rehabilitation or long-term care. “Technologies” in this context are not confined to new drugs but include procedures, devices, tests, settings of care, screening programmes and any intervention used in the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of disease.

View Commissioned Call funding outcomes

View Clinical Evaluation and Trials funding outcomes

View a list of HTA Panels and Boards

If your proposal doesn't fit this remit please try one of the HTA programme's four sister programmes. For more information visit the NETSCC website.

Submitting a successful application for the HTA Clinical Evaluation and Trials funding stream click here

Email hta@hta.ac.uk if you would like to be alerted when a new call is advertised.

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