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Get involved in health research

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Health research...

Helps find new tests, treatments and better ways of working to benefit users of NHS, public health and social care services

Happens in a range of locations including hospitals, GP practices and the home

Involves people with health conditions as well as healthy people

This slide introduces the NIHR and its role in the research landscape.

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) was established by the Department of Health and Social Care in 2006 to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.�
The NIHR plays a key role in the Government’s strategy for economic growth, attracting investment by the life-sciences industries through its world-class infrastructure for health research. This builds on the office of life science strategy.

Together, the NIHR people, programmes, centres of excellence and systems represent the most integrated health research system in the world. �
This was evident in the way the COVID-19 research was delivered – including the most recent discoveries in the RECOVERY study. �
The RECOVERY study was an NIHR research study. It used dexamethasone to save over 22,000 lives in the UK and over a million worldwide.

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Health research...changes lives

This slide introduces the NIHR and its role in the research landscape.

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) was established by the Department of Health and Social Care in 2006 to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.�
The NIHR plays a key role in the Government’s strategy for economic growth, attracting investment by the life-sciences industries through its world-class infrastructure for health research. This builds on the office of life science strategy.

Together, the NIHR people, programmes, centres of excellence and systems represent the most integrated health research system in the world. �
This was evident in the way the COVID-19 research was delivered – including the most recent discoveries in the RECOVERY study. �
The RECOVERY study was an NIHR research study. It used dexamethasone to save over 22,000 lives in the UK and over a million worldwide.

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Health research...changes lives

A drug can halve bad cholesterol, saving 3,000 lives a year

Giving new mums blood pressure kits can cut heart attacks and strokes

Keyhole surgery leads to better hip function than physiotherapy for hip pain

Wearing a pedometer to measure steps encourages healthy lifestyles

This slide introduces the NIHR and its role in the research landscape.

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) was established by the Department of Health and Social Care in 2006 to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.�
The NIHR plays a key role in the Government’s strategy for economic growth, attracting investment by the life-sciences industries through its world-class infrastructure for health research. This builds on the office of life science strategy.

Together, the NIHR people, programmes, centres of excellence and systems represent the most integrated health research system in the world. �
This was evident in the way the COVID-19 research was delivered – including the most recent discoveries in the RECOVERY study. �
The RECOVERY study was an NIHR research study. It used dexamethasone to save over 22,000 lives in the UK and over a million worldwide.

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This slide introduces the NIHR and its role in the research landscape.

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) was established by the Department of Health and Social Care in 2006 to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.�
The NIHR plays a key role in the Government’s strategy for economic growth, attracting investment by the life-sciences industries through its world-class infrastructure for health research. This builds on the office of life science strategy.

Together, the NIHR people, programmes, centres of excellence and systems represent the most integrated health research system in the world. �
This was evident in the way the COVID-19 research was delivered – including the most recent discoveries in the RECOVERY study. �
The RECOVERY study was an NIHR research study. It used dexamethasone to save over 22,000 lives in the UK and over a million worldwide.

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What study participants think...

95% would consider taking part in research again

96% said researchers valued their taking part in the research

Source: survey of 1,237 study participants in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes and Oxfordshire from 1/4/20 - 31/3/21

This slide introduces the NIHR and its role in the research landscape.

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) was established by the Department of Health and Social Care in 2006 to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.�
The NIHR plays a key role in the Government’s strategy for economic growth, attracting investment by the life-sciences industries through its world-class infrastructure for health research. This builds on the office of life science strategy.

Together, the NIHR people, programmes, centres of excellence and systems represent the most integrated health research system in the world. �
This was evident in the way the COVID-19 research was delivered – including the most recent discoveries in the RECOVERY study. �
The RECOVERY study was an NIHR research study. It used dexamethasone to save over 22,000 lives in the UK and over a million worldwide.

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“Clear information about the study, clear instructions and very easy to access to take part”

“Being able to contribute to science that will benefit people like me in future”

“All the staff I have dealt with have been excellent. They have taken the time to explain the process and answered any questions that I have”

This slide introduces the NIHR and its role in the research landscape.

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) was established by the Department of Health and Social Care in 2006 to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.�
The NIHR plays a key role in the Government’s strategy for economic growth, attracting investment by the life-sciences industries through its world-class infrastructure for health research. This builds on the office of life science strategy.

Together, the NIHR people, programmes, centres of excellence and systems represent the most integrated health research system in the world. �
This was evident in the way the COVID-19 research was delivered – including the most recent discoveries in the RECOVERY study. �
The RECOVERY study was an NIHR research study. It used dexamethasone to save over 22,000 lives in the UK and over a million worldwide.

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How to get involved in research

Talk to your doctor or nurse about studies you could take part in

Search for studies at the Be Part of Research website

Sign up to be told about dementia studies you could take part in at Join Dementia Research

This slide introduces the NIHR and its role in the research landscape.

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) was established by the Department of Health and Social Care in 2006 to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.�
The NIHR plays a key role in the Government’s strategy for economic growth, attracting investment by the life-sciences industries through its world-class infrastructure for health research. This builds on the office of life science strategy.

Together, the NIHR people, programmes, centres of excellence and systems represent the most integrated health research system in the world. �
This was evident in the way the COVID-19 research was delivered – including the most recent discoveries in the RECOVERY study. �
The RECOVERY study was an NIHR research study. It used dexamethasone to save over 22,000 lives in the UK and over a million worldwide.

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Be Part of Research

Search and browse studies near you

Read more about what research is and what taking part involves

Read case studies about people who have taken part in research

bepartofresearch.uk

Facility to search for research studies by:

Keyword, eg foot;
Medicine, eg penicillin
Location, eg Leeds or LS1
Condition, eg mental health, diabetes.
Can also look for studies looking for healthy volunteers
Option to “rate” the usefulness of study information

easy to download and share or print study details so you can pass a study onto friends or family or so healthcare professionals can speak to you about it
Information to help members of the public understand what research is and how to take part
Links from NHS.uk to the site
An API (Application Programming Interface) that can be embedded onto other sites to enable them to promote Be Part of Research
A hub to help people find other research opportunities such as:

NIHR services and resources - Bioresource, Join Dementia Research, People in Research, suggest a idea for research etc
Other local and condition-specific research registries, such as Discover, Share, Healthwise Wales etc.

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Search a range of medical specialities

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Join Dementia Research

Sign up to be contacted about dementia studies you could take part in
For people diagnosed with dementia and healthy volunteers
Search ‘Join Dementia Research’

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Go further….

Become a Research Champion to promote research (see tvsmchampions.nihr.ac.uk)

Work with researchers to decide what is studied and how (see peopleinresearch.org)

This slide introduces the NIHR and its role in the research landscape.

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) was established by the Department of Health and Social Care in 2006 to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.�
The NIHR plays a key role in the Government’s strategy for economic growth, attracting investment by the life-sciences industries through its world-class infrastructure for health research. This builds on the office of life science strategy.

Together, the NIHR people, programmes, centres of excellence and systems represent the most integrated health research system in the world. �
This was evident in the way the COVID-19 research was delivered – including the most recent discoveries in the RECOVERY study. �
The RECOVERY study was an NIHR research study. It used dexamethasone to save over 22,000 lives in the UK and over a million worldwide.

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How we make this happen

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) supports patients, the public and health and care organisations across England to participate in high-quality research, advancing knowledge and improving care through funding and support

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In 2020/21...

in the �last five years

4.9 million

participants

1.4 million

1.1 million took part in COVID-19 studies

101

COVID-19 studies

This slide provides a dashboard of key statistics from 2020/21. The dashboard is editable, so the figures can be updated.

1,390,483 participants took part in studies across England – the equivalent of 3,809 participants per day.
This brings the total number of participants recruited over the last 5 years to 4,914,130. (*based on the working week)
In 2020/21,35,488 participants took part in commercial studies that were supported by the NIHR CRN.
As the pandemic took hold and COVID-19 case numbers soared across the UK in early 2020, it was necessary to pause many non-COVID-19 studies to ensure patient safety, as both research and NHS services responded to the pandemic.
101 COVID-19 studies were prioritised with Urgent Public Health status
1,012,485 participants took part in COVID-19 studies across the UK. 905,790 participants were recruited in England alone.