WIREDGOV

A newly published report on the National Prevention Research Initiative (NPRI) shines a light on how we can take a fresh approach to preventing ill health.

The NPRI was a national initiative made up of government departments, research councils and major medical charities that worked together to encourage and support research into chronic disease prevention. Its core aim was to develop and implement successful, cost-effective interventions that reduce people’s risk of developing major diseases by influencing their health behaviours.

In 2014, the current funders of the NPRI tasked a Scientific Review Group with reviewing the outputs from individual projects and the initiative as a whole, and to advise on future opportunities in prevention research. The report was published this month.

• To read the report and for more details, visit the MRC website.

Professor Sir John Savill, MRC Chief Executive, stated:

"NPRI has been an enduring and effective partnership of Research Councils, government and charities which led the way in strengthening prevention research and supported novel impactful work. For the future, we need to effect population-wide reduction in chronic ill health and the economic cost of NHS medications and surgery for these long term conditions. Research that integrates imaginative research designs and innovative technologies can, I believe, accelerate progress but multi partner, collaboration, multi-disciplinary thinking and researcher-user cooperation will be key."

Professor Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive of Public Health England said:

"We are learning how to prevent many illnesses that still affect people in all parts of the country and society. The research supported through NPRI makes a real contribution to our knowledge and evidence for action. We will be drawing upon this very valuable resource for years to come."

Professor Jane Elliott, ESRC Chief Executive, said:

"The National Prevention Research Initiative is a great example of what can be achieved when funders work together in an area of need. The complexity of the social, cultural and economic environments within which we live need to be at the forefront of research into prevention."

Mr Paul Lincoln, CEO of the UK Health Forum and member of the NPRI review Group said:

"I was very pleased to see how NPRI project outcomes have influenced national policy and practice and provided some well-used resources to help people manage their health better. In the future, researchers need to collaborate with users throughout the design and execution of research to accelerate the impact of the work."