Acknowledging NIHR support

If we have enabled your research, you must name and acknowledge the NIHR in any research outputs.

This acknowledgement is vital to ensure transparency and help improve the visibility of NIHR research.

This guidance outlines: 

There is specific guidance tailored to the funding you are receiving:

Programme funding

Career development funding

Infrastructure, schools and units

Global Health funding

Research outputs

A research output is any item that enters the public domain from research we have funded or otherwise enabled.

Outputs can include:

  • publications, such as research papers and abstracts, conference papers, research reports, books or book chapters
  • media activity, such as online, print, magazine or newsletter pieces, blogs, case studies, media interviews or press releases
  • engagement activities, such as talks or presentations
  • policy, practice and public outputs, such as policy documents and participant materials
  • research databases and models
  • research tools or methods, software or technologies 
  • intellectual property

The NIHR tracks research outputs from funded research and researchers throughout the funding, for between 3 and 5 years, and within infrastructure up to 6 years, afterwards. 

Acknowledgement

Research outputs should appropriately acknowledge all NIHR funding or other types of support received for the research.

All written and oral research outputs should:

  • acknowledge the NIHR funding in full
  • include the NIHR disclaimer
  • include the NIHR unique award identifier if requested

Some outputs may display the ‘Funded by NIHR’ logo, where appropriate, except for research papers.

Please note that although the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) funds the NIHR, the Department should not be named as the funder. The NIHR should be accredited as the funder.

See individual funding guidance pages for more information.

Evidence of impact

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • health and care guidelines

  • policy documents

  • diagnostic tools

  • therapeutic interventions

  • health or social care service design

View more about NIHR impact

Research papers

NIHR-funde researchers are expected to publish their main study findings in a peer-reviewed, open access journal. 

Read our open access policy

Clinical trials

Key outcomes and trial protocols are to be made publicly available within 12 months from primary study completion. 

Clinical trial findings should be published in a peer-reviewed journal within 24 months from study completion. 

Read more about our policy on clinical trial registration and disclosure of results

NIHR disclaimer

Research papers should include a disclaimer as part of the acknowledgement to demonstrate the independence of the research such as this:

"[NIHR acknowledgement]. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care."

Please also acknowledge any other type of NIHR support your project/study may have received. For example, from our Research Delivery Network or an NIHR Clinical Research Facility.

Tailored acknowledgements and disclaimers are available on individual guidance pages.

Press releases, media briefings and interviews

Help us to promote your work and our research funding by letting us know about any media activity as soon as possible.

Media activity to tell us about includes:

  • press releases issued through the researchers’ host or partner institution
  • press releases issued by the journal, funder or partner in the research
  • researchers taking part in interviews for press or broadcast
  • media exclusives or journalist briefings

Please let us know about any planned media activity as soon as reasonably practicable and at least 3 working days before you reach out to any journalists or publications. Please include a copy of the draft press release and any relevant research outputs in your notification. These will be confidentially reviewed by relevant staff at NIHR and DHSC.

The NIHR will need to be named in all media activity and press releases must acknowledge NIHR funding, including infrastructure funding, by naming and linking to the NIHR, ideally in the first or second paragraph of the body of the press release.

Example phrasing:

  • Researchers funded by the NIHR
  • Research funded by the NIHR
  • Researchers at the University of Bristol funded by the NIHR
  • NIHR research(ers) at the University of Leeds...'
  • An NIHR study at ....

The NIHR boilerplate should be carried in the notes to editors section of your press release.

The mission of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. 

We do this by:

  • funding high quality, timely research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care
  • investing in world-class expertise, facilities and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services
  • partnering with patients, service users, carers and communities, improving the relevance, quality and impact of our research
  • attracting, training and supporting the best researchers to tackle complex health and social care challenges
  • collaborating with other public funders, charities and industry to help shape a cohesive and globally competitive research system
  • funding applied global health research and training to meet the needs of the poorest people in low and middle income countries

NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. 

Our work in low and middle income countries is principally funded through UK international development funding from the UK government.

For more information, please contact the NIHR press office at pressoffice@nihr.ac.uk

Generating media activity 

We work with colleagues from across NIHR communications, dissemination, public and patient engagement, and policy teams to support researchers in communicating and disseminating their work. 

This support includes planning and distribution of selected press releases through NIHR and sometimes DHSC channels and spokespeople.   

If you are unsure if the research announcement you are planning is likely to generate public interest or newsworthy or impactful outputs, consider: 

  • Is it a first? In human/ ever/ in the UK? 
  • Does the condition/ health/care issue affect a large number of people or seriously impact the lives of a smaller number of people, such as a rare disease?
  • Is this a topic that is featured heavily in the media or public discourse?
  • Is the spotlight on underrepresented groups?
  • If implemented, could the research findings deliver significant cost-savings or economic benefits? 
  • Could it change practice in health, public health or social care?
  • Does the research focus on ethically, socially, politically, legally or commercially sensitive issues?
  • Does the research take place in an unusual setting?
  • Are the findings surprising or pivotal? 
  • Does the research evaluate or challenge current policies or practices? 
  • Do the research findings demonstrate that current treatments/ approaches can cause harm?

If you have a significant upcoming research publication or output and would like to find out more about our support, please contact the NIHR press office at pressoffice@nihr.ac.uk

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