Research 'revolution' unveiled to tackle public health challenges and health inequalities
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has launched a bid to ‘revolutionise’ the health and social care by focusing on prevention. In a release published on its website on 7 October, the NIHR unveiled a new themed funding initiative that focuses on early action to prevent poor health outcomes.
Funding will be made available through existing NIHR research programmes, such as the Programme Grants for Applied Research and Public Health Research.
Lucy Chappell, NIHR chief executive officer and chief scientific adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care, said: ‘A focus on prevention and early action will enable people to live healthier and happier lives, address health inequalities, reduce pressure on the NHS, and have positive economic impact for individuals, regions and the country.’
Professor Chappell added: ‘Through this funding call, the NIHR is increasing its focus on the wider determinants of health, ensuring that research takes places in areas of the country where the public health challenges and health inequalities are greatest.’
The funding aims to support innovative research that will
- drive improvements in population health
- reduce pressure on health and social care systems
- drive economic growth through a healthy working age population
Public health minister Andrew Gwynne said: ‘Every year across the country, too many people die of diseases that are preventable, including cardiovascular disease and many cancers.'
Mr Gwynne added: ‘Prevention will always be better than cure so we must take preventive public health measures to tackle the UK’s biggest killers and build a fairer Britain where everyone lives well for longer. ‘
The NIHR is increasing its focus on the wider determinants of health, ensuring that research takes places in areas of the country where the public health challenges and health inequalities are greatest [Lucy Chappell]
Researchers are being encouraged to submit proposals for research into
- preventive strategies for escalating health and care needs
- early diagnosis techniques
- effective interventions for individuals at increased risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, cancer, type 2 diabetes, mental health disorders and more as well as communities facing health and social care inequalities
The shift from treatment to prevention
The new targeted funding opportunity is part of a co-ordinated response by NIHR to the Department of Health and Social Care’s Area of Research Interest 1.
In the UK, many lives are lost to preventable causes. The costs to the health and care system and the economy are also significant. Cardiovascular disease costs the UK economy £15.8 billion a year and the NHS £7.4 billion. The NHS spent over £10 billion on diabetes care in 2019, with one in six hospital beds occupied by someone with diabetes.
Research to prevent ill-health could help significantly improve health, wellbeing and economic outcomes for individuals, support a healthy workforce and reduce pressure on the NHS and social care. Preventative interventions and early diagnosis could help to reduce strokes, heart attacks and dementia cases by 150,000 over 10 years, saving £2.3 for every £1 spent.
In England, more than 90 per cent of people survive bowel, breast and ovarian cancer for at least five years if diagnosed at the earliest stage. Cancer Research UK estimates the cost of treating late-stage colon, rectal, lung and ovarian cancer is nearly two and a half times the amount for early-stage treatment.
How to apply
Researchers can apply for relevant funding via upcoming NIHR funding opportunities - more information is available on the themed funding page on the NIHR website. All research proposals will be expected to consider engagement, impact and knowledge mobilisation strategies in addition to the following cross-cutting themes: reducing health inequalities; promoting economic growth; and accelerating the speed and adoption of innovation in the health and care system.
Find out more about NIHR's involvement with the ARIs on the ARI webpage.
By supporting innovative research in this area, the NIHR says it will help to create a ‘fairer Britain where everyone lives well for longer, with fewer lives lost to the biggest killers’. It adds: 'Better research addressing the needs of people at increased risk of poor health will also help to ensure that the NHS is there when people need it.’
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Author: I A McMillan