The NIHR RSS has been established following an open and competitive process assessed by research experts and public contributors.
The service will operate nationally and allow researchers to access the most appropriate support independent of their location. It will provide seamless support for all researchers in England working across the remit of the NIHR, from pre-application through to post-application phases. It will connect with the NIHR Clinical Research Network to support the development of studies designed to ensure they are optimised for delivery at study sites.
The service will be delivered collaboratively through eight hubs, which will individually bring together a variety of partners. UCL’s Prof Greta Rait and Prof Victoria Cornelius (Imperial College London) will direct the London Methods RSS. They will work in collaboration with Queen Mary University London and King’s College London to provide specialist support in research methodology. The team have been awarded 8.7 million over 5 years, across the four institutions.
Prof Greta Rait said “Our NIHR Research Support Service is an exciting opportunity to support researchers nationally to design and deliver the highest quality research. We have brought together leading methodologists and academics from world-class institutions across London to provide cutting edge methodological advice in innovative ways. Developing research and methodological capacity, inclusion and the involvement of patients and the public are core components of our service."
Each hub will be able to respond or direct researchers to the most appropriate methodological expertise within the NIHR RSS that supports their study requirements. This will include:
- advice and assistance with study development, design and delivery
- advice on patient and public involvement
- approaches to addressing research inclusion
- signposting to other support available from the NIHR
The NIHR RSS will function as an integrated research design, development, collaboration and implementation system. It will support training and career opportunities for everyone working in health and care research design. It will also help develop capacity in areas of current and future need. This will ensure that research design and methodology keep up with new technologies and ways of conducting research.
Further details about the new NIHR RSS, including how to access it, can be found on the NIHR website.