DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service. 3 October 2008
A directory
listing 100 of the most prestigious health and social care
researchers has been published by the National Institute for
Health Research (NIHR) today.
The Directory lists Senior Investigators who have been chosen to
support the people making the most outstanding contribution to
patient and people-focused health research. In addition to their
research, Senior Investigators will give new leadership to the
NIHR Faculty, expert advice to the Director of the NIHR, act as
NIHR ambassadors and promote clinical and applied people-focused
research in health and social care.
The NIHR Senior Investigators, who feature in the directory
published today, lead some of the most prestigious applied health
and social care research projects in the country. The importance
of their work has been highlighted by the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said:
"I want Britain to lead the world in beating the diseases
which cause such heartbreak for families. Over the last few years
we have made major breakthroughs in research relevant to cancer,
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and strokes and many more - but
these have yet to be turned into treatments from which we can all
benefit. So let me tell you today that the unprecedented £15
billion we are investing in medical research will be directed to
turning the major advances of the past few years into actual
treatments and cures for NHS patients."
The research led by the NIHR Senior Investigators targets
significant health issues which affect large numbers of the UK
population. These include cancer, mental health, obesity, diabetes
and cardiovascular disease.
Professor Sally C. Davies, Director General of Research and
Development at the Department of Health said:
"The NIHR wants to support and encourage the people who are
leading clinical and applied health research that is of direct
relevance to the needs of the people of this country".
Today's announcement is in line with the National Ambition
for Translational Health Research - the ability to make research
move forward into excellent health practice. The UK is widely
regarded as having some of the strongest basic medical research in
the world. It generates 13.7 per cent of world citations, second
only to the US and has thriving research communities in the
private and university sectors.
The ways of ensuring that this happens are:
* A greater strategic focus - to ensure coordination of the
government health research strategy, communicate the UK's
National Ambitions, and encourage a stronger partnership between
Government, health industries and charities.
* A research focused NHS - key steps in implementing this have
included setting up NIHR clinical research networks to support
clinical trials throughout England, and promote patient and public
involvement in health research.
* Cross-government support - the government has established a
cross-cutting PSA (public service agreement) to "promote
world class science and innovation in the UK" and set up (in
2002) Research Councils UK (RCUK), a strategic partnership of the
UK's seven Research Councils.
Notes to editors
1. The NIHR Senior Investigator Directory can be viewed at:
http://www.nihr.ac.uk/faculty_senior_investigators.aspx
2. About NIHR - The National Institute for Health Research
provides the framework through which the research staff and
research infrastructure of the NHS in England is positioned,
maintained and managed as a national research facility. The NIHR
provides the NHS with the support and infrastructure it needs to
conduct first-class research funded by the Government and its
partners alongside high-quality patient care, education and
training. Its aim is to support outstanding individuals (both
leaders and collaborators), working in world class facilities
(both NHS and university), conducting leading edge research
focused on the needs of patients.
3. The successful applicants were selected in an open competition
by an international panel of experts.
4. For any media enquiries, please call the Department of Health
Newsdesk on 020 7210 5221