New NIHR Research Collaborations for Health Announced

Public Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo today announced the establishment of seven new NIHR Collaborations for Health Research and Care which will conduct research and improve care in major conditions including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and obesity.

£64 million funding will be invested in the seven new Collaborations for Health Research and Care will start work on 1 October 2008. Each Collaboration will bring together universities and their surrounding NHS organisations to conduct research to test new treatments and new ways of working in specific clinical areas, to improve care in major conditions including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and obesity.

Professor Sally C. Davies, Director General of Research and Development, Department of Health said:

"NIHR Collaborations for Health Research and Care represent an exciting and innovative partnership between Universities and the NHS. They will undertake high quality applied health research and develop new ways of translating research findings into improved outcomes for patients. They will be conducting this work at the front line of the NHS so that the benefits and findings from research can be swiftly incorporated into routine clinical practice."