Celebrating 20 years of NIHR research in the North East and North Cumbria
Researchers, health and care professionals, public contributors and partners from across the North East and North Cumbria came together this week (Tuesday 8 September) to celebrate 20 years of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the difference research has made to people’s lives.
The event marked two decades of NIHR investment in research and innovation, providing an opportunity to reflect on how research has improved health and care, informed policy, tackled health inequalities and strengthened research capacity across the North East and North Cumbria and beyond.
A strong culture of collaboration
Since 2006, NIHR in the North East and North Cumbria has grown into a thriving network of more than 20 centres working to improve health outcomes locally and nationally.
Together, these organisations support and deliver research that helps to prevent ill health, improve treatments and strengthen health and care services for communities across our region and nationally.
Throughout the day, speakers highlighted how NIHR funding and collaboration have helped to turn research evidence into real-world improvements for patients, communities and health and care services.
The event was opened by Dr Louise Newport, Head of Research Delivery Infrastructure at the Department of Health and Social Care.
Partnership working
A key theme throughout the celebrations was the importance of partnership working.
Speakers shared examples of how researchers, healthcare organisations, local authorities, community groups and members of the public have worked together to ensure research addresses the issues that matter most.
Among the examples highlighted was work led by Professor Clare Bambra, Health Inequalities lead for the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria (NENC), which demonstrated how NIHR infrastructure funding for Applied Research Collaborations in the north of England enabled researchers to respond rapidly during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Their research helped identify links between health inequalities and Covid-19 outcomes, generating evidence that informed national discussions about the unequal impact of the pandemic.
Delegates also heard from Dr Sarah Sowden from Newcastle University and ARC NENC Research Fellow Dr Angela Wearn about the impact of the Deep End Network North East and North Cumbria.
Supported by NIHR funding, the Network brings together general practices serving some of the region’s most disadvantaged communities to share learning, influence practice and develop solutions to improve primary care.
Their presentation shared how research, collaboration and community involvement are helping to address some of the most complex challenges facing healthcare in areas experiencing high levels of deprivation.
They also launched a brand new animation and impact report about the Deep End Network.
One of NIHR’s greatest strengths is collaboration. Our region is known for delivering impactful research through strong partnerships across universities, health and care providers, local authorities, the voluntary sector, patients and members of the public.
The NIHR 20 event was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate that collective effort, and strengthen our connections even further.
Professor Ruth McGovern, Co-Director, NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria.
The NIHR 20 event in the North East and North Cumbria was supported by:
- NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Organ Donation and Transplantation
- NIHR Commercial Research Delivery Centre: Newcastle
- NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaborations Newcastle, South Tees and Cumberland
- NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Diagnostic and Technology Evaluation
- NIHR Innovation Observatory
- NIHR Clinical Research Facility: Newcastle
- NIHR Newcastle Clinical Trials Unit
- NIHR RSS Specialist Centre for Public Health (Newcastle University and partners)
- NIHR Patient Safety Research Centre: Newcastle
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Newcastle
- NIHR Research Delivery Network
- NIHR PHIRST
- NIHR Policy Research Unit: Healthy Ageing
- NIHR Policy Research Unit Behavioural and Social Sciences
- NIHR Research Support Service
- NIHR School for Public Health Research
- NIHR Tees Valley Primary Care Commercial Research Delivery Centre
It was organised and delivered by the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) North East and North Cumbria, and NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria.