New opportunities for research

New developments in health research arrangements are set to transform the way research in the NHS is organised and carried out, and the HTA programme is to play an important role in this. Closer working of the NIHR and MRC through a new joint health research strategy is planned to speed up the translation of advances in basic science into applied research, converting excellent basic discoveries into innovations that directly benefit patients and help prevent disease.

Under the new system the NIHR and MRC will work together to expand the base of translational and applied research, particularly evaluation and trials. The NIHR will lead on all evaluation and trials, presenting many new opportunities for researchers through an expansion of the HTA programme and the creation of new research programmes.