Providing the most effective health and social care is a huge challenge. There are so many products and procedures in use, with more being developed all the time, but often there is little good evidence about what works and what doesn’t.
We commission and fund projects looking at the usefulness of new and existing tests, treatments and devices and at new and existing ways of doing things. We also look at how to improve public health to see what really works in practice.
To make good decisions about what research to fund we need a complete and balanced picture about which questions most urgently need answering. We ask patients, carers, clinicians, health care workers, service managers and researchers. Whoever you are, we need your voice too. Use the form below, with help from the examples, to make your research suggestions.
We receive a large number of valuable research suggestions each year. Not all of these can be funded. However, our research funding programmes work closely with patients, members of the public, users of social care services and carers as well as health and social care experts, to ensure our research will answer the most pressing questions. To find out if your question has reached a committee please contact netspublic@nihr.ac.uk.
What should we test?
Where’s the best or safest place to have a baby?
Who is it for?
Pregnant women.
Help us understand what difference the evidence could make to patients and the public, the NHS or social care.
Although women are offered a choice where to have their baby; in hospital, in a birthing centre or at home, it doesn’t seem clear which is the best or safest. It is important to find this out because it would help women and healthcare professionals make an informed choice. It could also help to reduce the costs.
What should we test?
Does oral immunotherapy help children with peanut allergy?
Who is it for?
Children with peanut allergy.
Help us understand what difference the evidence could make to patients and the public, the NHS or social care.
Peanut allergy is very common in the UK and can be life threatening. Patients live in fear of accidentally eating peanuts, are restricted on their food choices and must carry epipens at all times. Due to lack of treatment, the only option is to avoid peanuts and many have accidental reactions. A treatment would be life changing for these patients.
What should we test?
Does reduced street lighting lead to more accidents and crime?
Who is it for?
The general public.
Help us understand what difference the evidence could make to patients and the public, the NHS or social care.
Local Authorities are reducing levels of street lighting by using dimmer lights or turning lights off at a set time, often midnight. Some members of the public & media think that this could lead to increases in crime or road casualties. Research is needed to see if this is actually happening and to find out if there are other effects on public health and wellbeing.
What should we test?
Does Chondroitin work for osteoarthritis in the hand?
Who is it for?
Patients who have painful osteoarthritis in their hands.
Help us understand what difference the evidence could make to patients and the public, the NHS or social care.
A friend of mine takes chondroitin for osteoarthritis in her hands and says it helps with the pain and swelling. I have asked my doctor if I can get it on prescription, but she said that it isn’t a prescription drug. I have looked it up on the internet and there are some sites that says it works for some people. It is easy to get hold of online as a remedy for arthritis. Arthritis is a painful disease which affects a lot of people, and if it’s in your hands it really affects what you are able to do. I think we should test chondroitin properly to see if it helps in hand osteoarthritis and if it does, it should be made available on prescription.
