NISCHR Research Infrastructure for
Wales
Angela Martin
Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodevelopmental disorders
network (LDAN) Conference
April 2013
Angela.Martin4@wales.gsi.gov.uk
www.nischr.org.uk
Today’s Research, Tomorrow’s Care
NISCHR is the Welsh Government body that develops, in consultation with partners,
strategy and policy for research in the NHS and social care in Wales.
The aim of NISCHR is to support research in health and social care to improve the
health and wealth of people in Wales
Three main NISCHR workstreams: 1.Infrastructure 2.Programmes 3.NHS R&D
NISCHR Research Infrastructure
To increase the quality and quantity of health and social care research taking place in
Wales
Increase the competitiveness of the Welsh H&SC R&D community and its ability to
generate increased grant income from both commercial and non-commercial sources
Why investing in research is so important…….
Invest in research to enhance the knowledge and generate the sound
evidence upon which improvements to healthcare in Wales are based
Advances in our understanding of diseases, their causes; treatments;
prevention
Importance of research activity translating into public benefits
Developing and retaining talented researchers and research support staff in
Wales
The NISCHR Research Infrastructure for Wales
The NISCHR Clinical Research Infrastructure contains the following
elements:
17 Registered Research Groups (RRGs)
4 Infrastructure Support Groups (ISGs)
3 Clinical Trials Units (CTUs) and
A Clinical Research Centre (CRC)
The NISCHR Translational Research Initiatives include:
1 Biomedical Research Centre (The National Centre for Mental Health)
3 Biomedical Research Units
Wales Gene Park
Wales Cancer Bank
The NISCHR Research Infrastructure for Wales
NISCHR Clinical Trials Units (CTUs)
NWORTH
Bangor University
SEWTU
Cardiff University
WWORTH
Swansea University
WCTU
Cardiff University
NISCHR Infrastructure Support Groups (ISGs)
Health Economics (WHESS)
Glamorgan University
Medical Image Analysis and Visualisation (MIAV)
Aberystwyth University
Welsh Language (LLAIS)
Bangor University
Health Informatics (HIRU)
Swansea University
The NISCHR Research Infrastructure for Wales
The NISCHR Clinical Research Centre (CRC)
Research Professional Network
Maintain Clinical Research Portfolio (CRP)
Training and development
Patient, service-user and carer involvement (PPI)
NISCHR Clinical Research Infrastructure
NISCHR
Infrastructure
Support Groups
NISCHR Trials
Units
NISCHR Clinical
Research Centre
NISCHR Registered
Research Groups
9 original funded research groups
Children and Young People (CYPRN)
Cardiff University
Diabetes Research Network (DRN)
Swansea University
Emergency and Unscheduled Care (TRUST)
Swansea University
Wales Epilepsy Research Network (WERN)
Swansea University
Learning Disabilities and Autism (LDAN)
Cardiff University
Mental Health (MHRN-C)
Swansea University
Neurodegenerative Disorders (NEURODEM)
Bangor University
Older People and Ageing (OPAN)
Swansea University
Public Health Improvement (PHIRN)
Cardiff University
8 additional research groups funded in 2010
Welsh Arthritis Research Network (WARN)
Swansea University
Cancer (WCTU)
Cardiff University
Cardiovascular Disease (CvRG)
Cardiff University
All Wales Kidney research Network (AWKRN)
Cardiff University
Lung Research Wales (LUNG)
Swansea University
Microbiology and Infection (MITReG)
Cardiff University
Wales School Primary Care Research (WSPCR)
Cardiff University
Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality (PSHQRG)
Cardiff University
Registered Research Groups (RRGs)
NISCHR funds a range of Registered Research Groups (RRGs) across topic and
disease areas
RRGs are all-Wales collaborations between academics, clinicians, patients, service users
and others
Core functions:
Bringing groups of researchers together
Generating research proposals in areas of significance and opportunity;
Winning grant funding;
Generating a growing research portfolio of high-quality, ‘people-focused’ research;
Engaging and collaborating with UK-wide groups
Measures of success
Research Proposals
Grant Capture
Portfolio Growth
Publications
Case Studies
Impact of the Research Infrastructure for Wales
Portfolio 953 studies; 255 Welsh-led
Estimated grant value >£106m
RRG Activity Original 9 - from 94 projects (£21.6m) in 2007 to 673
projects (£180m) in 2012
Patient Recruitment: ~59,000 recruited (portfolio studies) in last 3yrs
BRC/BRU activity: 29 new grants, total income ~£9.4m; 88 articles
WGP/WCB activity: WGP ~£6m 66 articles; WCB 7140 patients
recruited
Programmes
NISCHR Programmes: NISCHR grant schemes (projects,
fellowships, PhD studentships)
UK Programmes and Partnerships (NIHR Programmes; funding
consortia)
Recent Successes:
NISCHR grants: 144 awards since 2007 (value: £14.8m)
NIHR Programmes: £5.5m invested/£11.5m return
UK Centres of Research Excellence: DECIPHer, CIPHER
All-Wales Academic Social Care Research Collaboration (ASCC)
NISCHR Faculty
Research for Patient and Public Benefit (RfPPB)
Innovation and commercialisation
NISCHR All-Wales Academic Social
Care Research Collaboration (ASCC)
3-year social care research capacity-building pilot scheme
which aims to:
build closer relationships between research and practice
improve research skills, awareness and activity in the
social care workforce
facilitate evidence-based practice in social care
Three universities currently involved:
Bangor: use of routinely collected data in social care
research
Cardiff: targeted e-learning courses in research methods
and statistics
Swansea: Making Research Count initiative to improve
‘research mindedness’ in social care practice
Capacity building Masters/PhD scheme in development for
social care professionals
Contact details
For further enquiries please contact:
Angela Martin
NISCHR
Welsh Government
Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ
Tel: 029 2082 3686
E-mail: angela.martin4@wales.gsi.gov.uk