Health InsurancePioneering Research Benefits The West Midlands, UK
Top researchers from the West Midlands are working to improve the treatment of conditions that affect millions of people. Across the region research into areas such as osteoarthritis, joint pain and sciatica, stroke prevention and treatment, community care for people living with diabetes, and the treatment of liver disease have received a real boost over the last three years.
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is bringing together the region"s health researchers to work in partnership with the NHS. As a result there are more scientific studies now being conducted in this part of the country than ever before.
More scientists - based in universities like Birmingham, Coventry and Warwick - are joining forces with local NHS trusts and patients to develop new treatments which can be translated quickly into better care.
Today Professor Dame Sally C. Davies, Director General of Research and Development at the Department of Health addressed a conference of 300 health researchers from the West Midlands region where she talked about the progress that had been made since the National Institute for Health Research was launched in 2006. She also thanked them for their role in translating research activity into real benefits for patients, the public and the NHS. She said:
"When we launched the NIHR, we knew what we wanted to achieve and understood what we had to do to get there. We could see the huge potential for improving, expanding and strengthening the way that health research is delivered for patients, the public and the NHS. Today"s report entitled Delivering health research explains how we are delivering the vision first set out in the Government"s health research strategy: Best Research for Best Health. By working together across the NHS, and with patients, the best health research academic institutions in the country and industry, we are delivering that promise."
The aim of NIHR funded research is to find and evaluate treatments for patients across the spectrum of medical settings, so that people receive better care when they need it. The NIHR only funds studies where there is a clear link to the quality of patient care. The result is that more NHS patients are benefitting from leading edge research.
The NIHR approach, which has been developed over the last three years, is helping to bring together the research community and creating more opportunities for patients to be involved in trials to develop new treatments.
All of this work is highlighted in a new report published by the National Institute for Health Research, entitled Delivering Health Research.
Department of Health, UK