Researchers at the University of Sheffield, alongside partners at the University of York and the University of Leeds, have received £8.8m to provide integrated support and guidance to health and social care practitioners and researchers across the country.
Hosted by the University of York, the hub is one of eight National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Support Service (RSS) Hubs set to launch on 1 October 2023. The Hub will bring together expertise from across the Universities of Sheffield, York and Leeds, enabling researchers and practitioners to access free advice and support; from initial research design through to communication of research outcomes.
Expertise will span the entire spectrum of health research, including statistics, data science, clinical trials, qualitative methods, health economics, evidence synthesis, research inclusion and patient and public involvement. The interdisciplinary team at Sheffield includes researchers from Sheffield Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU) and the Sheffield Centre of Health and Related Research (SCHARR).
The Hub will form part of a national community of researchers, professional support staff, clinicians and public and patient contributors who will design, deliver and collaborate on research of strategic importance to NIHR. The breadth of skills embedded within the Hub will provide career development opportunities for all staff engaged in healthcare research. The interdisciplinary nature of the Hub will also help innovate research design and methodology within the field.
Professor Cindy Cooper, Director of Sheffield Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU) and Professor of Health Services Research and Clinical Trials at the University of Sheffield, said: “We are delighted to be working with our partners at the University of York and the University of Leeds on this important initiative. This new hub will allow investigators to access a wide range of expertise, from within SCHARR and the CTRU, in research design, implementation and analysis.”
Professor Wendy Baird, Director of NIHR Research Design Service for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to continue building capacity to undertake inclusive high quality innovative research that is aligned to national priorities in health, public health and social care.”