The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme funds research about the clinical and cost-effectiveness, and broader impact of healthcare treatments and tests, for those who plan, provide or receive care from NHS, and social care services.
The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is funded by the NIHR, with specific contributions from the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) in Scotland, Health and Care Research Wales, and the HSC R&D Division, Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland.
HTA research is undertaken where some evidence already exists to show that a technology can be effective, and this needs to be compared to the current standard intervention to see which works best.
Research can evaluate any intervention used in the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of disease, provided the study outcomes lead to findings that have the potential to be of direct benefit to NHS patients.
The HTA Programme needs to be convinced that an intervention is ready for HTA evaluation. We've prepared a document outlining the issues that may determine this judgement.
The researcher-led workstream offers researchers the opportunity to submit proposals on topics or research questions within the programme’s remit. The commissioned workstream invites applications in response to calls for research on specific questions, which have been identified and prioritised for their importance to the NHS and patients. Proposals may include primary research, evidence synthesis, or feasibility and pilot studies, when requested within the commissioning brief.
All of our funded projects are eligible for publication in the NIHR Journals Library. This open access resource is freely available online, and provides a full and permanent record of NIHR-funded research.
The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme supports research that is immediately useful to patients, clinical practice, and policy or decision makers.
HTA research is undertaken when evidence exists to show that a technology can be effective. The purpose of an HTA study is to establish the clinical and cost-effectiveness for the NHS in comparison with the current best alternative(s). A study may also investigate uncertainty around a technology’s place in the existing care pathway.
“Technologies” in this context mean any method used to promote health, prevent and treat disease, and improve rehabilitation or long-term care. They are not confined to new drugs and include any intervention used in the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of disease.
Examples include:
The technology doesn't necessarily need to exist in current NHS practice, but a study would need to show that it could. Health Technology Assessment asks important questions about these technologies such as:
It answers these questions by investigating four main factors:
The following guide compares the remits of the HTA Programme with the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme:
EME or HTA? Would my primary research idea be of interest to the HTA Programme or the EME Programme?
In this section you can read more on the people involved in the assessment of applications for the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme, and find out more about becoming a reviewer or a Committee member.
New developments in health research funding are transforming the way research in the NHS is organised and carried out. The HTA Programme invites and works with a range of individuals to meet the research needs of the NHS. Their support and input allows us to fund high-quality, evidence-based, value for money research.
The people who work in, work with or use NHS services provide vital input into all stages of the HTA Programme.
Members of NIHR Committees are required to declare any interests which conflict, or may be considered to conflict, with NIHR business, or may be perceived as influencing decisions made in the course of their work within NIHR. All members are asked to complete the Register of Interest form (annually), which is intended to capture long term predictable interests that could be perceived to lead to conflicts of interest. These and other interests are judged on a case by case basis at individual meetings.
The HTA Committees meet three times a year to assess the scientific merit of proposals submitted to both the commissioned and researcher-led workstreams, including themed calls and evidence synthesis proposals, and to make funding recommendations to the Programme Oversight Committee. You can view the members of our committees on the links below:
Funding Committee minutes and outcomes.
To assure the scientific quality of its research, the HTA Programme relies upon the help of external reviewers to review:
External reviewers play a vital part in maintaining and improving the quality of HTA Programme research and are sought from a variety of fields, including clinical, methodological and those who use NHS services.
We offer a wide variety of assistance during all stages of the research process. If in doubt, please get in touch. For help with applying for HTA funding:
Tel: 023 8059 5510
Email: htacommissioning@nihr.ac.uk
Tel: 023 8059 5544
Email: htacet@nihr.ac.uk
Email: htafunding@nihr.ac.uk
Most research supported by the HTA Programme will follow the normal two-stage process of assessment before being funded. However, it may sometimes be necessary to accelerate the handling of a topic and in such circumstances researchers may be eligible to apply through the fast-track scheme. Please note that this scheme is not open to HTA commissioned calls.
NIHR-funded research published this week, finds no overall effect of statins on the frequency or severity of muscle symptoms in people who had previously reported severe muscle symptoms when taking statins. Dr Emma Gray, Assistant Director of Research, at the MS Society writes about how recent scientific breakthroughs, and the launch of the landmark ChariotMS trial, funded by an NIHR and MRC partnership, are offering hope to patients with MS. The NIHR has awarded funding to the University of Liverpool and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital to conduct a trial to improve the lives of people with cystic fibrosis (CF). The results of the FAST-Forward trial came in the nick of time last year. Professor Jon Wadsley, NIHR National Specialty Lead for Radiotherapy and Imaging, writes about the importance of radiotherapy research on World Cancer Day. A new trial funded by NIHR will look at reducing the transmission of Covid-19 and its severity in care homes.Trial finds no overall effect of statins on muscle painA pivotal point for MS researchNew trial aims to improve the lives of people with cystic fibrosisHow radiotherapy research has helped safe and effective treatment for cancer patients throughout the COVID-19 pandemicNew trial to test drugs for preventing Covid-19 in care homes
A guide to which sorts of primary research studies are best suited to either the HTA Programme, or the EME Programme.
Specification document for those applying to the HTA researcher-led open call for primary research and evidence synthesis
List of members of the HTA Prioritisation Committee A membership
List of members of the HTA Prioritisation Committee A membership
HTA Funding Committee Public Minutes 10 - 11 November 2020
