The Public Health Research (PHR) Programme funds research to generate evidence to inform the delivery of non-NHS interventions intended to improve the health of the public and reduce inequalities in health.
The Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is funded by the NIHR, with contributions from the CSO in Scotland, Health and Care Research Wales and the HSC R&D Division, Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland.
The primary aim of the programme is the evaluation of practical interventions. We will fund both primary research (mainly evaluative, but also some preparatory research) and secondary research (evidence synthesis); precise methods will need to be appropriate to the question being asked and the feasibility of the research.
Our research serves a variety of key stakeholders including: decision-makers in local government; primary care organisations and other local public services; third sector organisations; relevant national agencies (e.g. NICE) concerned with improving public health and reducing health inequalities; researchers; public health practitioners and the public.
We fund research through our commissioned and researcher-led workstreams. The researcher-led workstream offers the flexibility for ambitious evaluations of public health interventions. If a case can be made for public health importance, scientific quality and value for money, there is no upper limit to the amount of funding that can be applied for and applications can be made at any point, with three cut-off dates throughout the year. Multi-factorial research will be considered.
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.
Our scope is multi-disciplinary and broad, covering a wide range of interventions that improve public health.
The programme funds research to generate evidence to inform the delivery of non-NHS interventions, specifically, we provide new knowledge on the benefits, costs, acceptability and wider impacts of non-NHS interventions intended to improve the health of the public and reduce inequalities in health.
Proposed primary outcome measures should always be health-related, unless otherwise specified in a commissioning brief. Examples include examining whether regeneration programmes improve public health and reduce health inequalities; evaluating employer schemes to encourage walking or cycling to work; and assessing interventions that encourage healthy eating among school children.
Applicants wishing to evaluate public health interventions that sit both inside and outside of the NHS, or on the boundary, are encouraged to discuss their proposals with PHR Programme staff at an early stage.
The PHR Programme will support:
applications focused on intervention development where an intervention already exists and for which there is an evidence base, but it requires adaptation to situations such as a new context (e.g. a change in setting or target behaviour or client group) or amalgamation of separate, defined interventions so that they complement each other.
Where a compelling case is made, we will also fund work to establish feasibility and to pilot a definitive intervention. However, any work related to optimising an existing intervention prior to evaluation, where research has shown that the intervention performs sub-optimally and there are specific remediable aspects of the intervention such as the delivery method or the timing of elements, must not exceed 6-months in duration.
The PHR Programme will not support:
The creation of new interventions*, or processes, where active components of existing interventions are recombined to create a new intervention whether or not driven by a logic model or underlying theory.
The design and development of new websites, apps, text messages or other software designed as all or part of creating a new intervention. Websites or other supporting material with the aim of publicising the study or supporting study recruitment, for example, which is only required to carry out the research study, would be supported within the general rules of the programme as would material associated with the optimisation of an existing intervention prior to evaluation.
*The creation of new interventions would likely fall under the remit of the MRC Public Health Intervention Development (PHIND) Programme.
In this section you can read more on the people involved with the assessment of applications for the PHR Programme, read the minutes of previous funding decisions and find out more about becoming a reviewer or a Committee member.
The Public Health Research (PHR) Programme has two committees of experts who play an important role in assessing our stage 1 and stage 2 proposals and identifying topics for research.
The PHR Prioritisation Committee (view list of members) advises on the identification and prioritisation of research topics and stage 1 proposals based on public health importance. Those successful applicants are assessed by the PHR Funding Committee (view list of members) based on their scientific quality, feasibility, and value for money.
Members of PHR Programme Committees are required to declare any interests which conflict, or may be considered to conflict, with PHR Programme business, or may be perceived as influencing decisions made in the course of their work within the PHR Programme in line with the Conflicts of Interest Policy. 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. View the Register of Interests for each PHR Programme committee.
Our community of reviewers play a vital part in maintaining and improving the quality of the PHR Programme projects and outputs. They are sought from a variety of fields, including from those who work in and use NHS services.
To demonstrate our gratitude to our reviewers and acknowledge the important work they do for the programme the names of past year’s reviewers are listed on our website. View list of reviewers.
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 PHR funding:
Tel: 023 8059 9697
Email: phr@nihr.ac.uk
Most research supported by the PHR 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.
The fast-track scheme provides an opportunity to submit a stage 2 proposal directly, shortening the length of time it takes for a funding decision to be made. However, please bear in mind that proposals accepted onto the fast-track scheme will compete on equal terms with other stage 2 proposals which have had the benefit of feedback by the Research Funding Board at stage 1.
The most obvious indication for fast-tracking is to take advantage of a time-limited opportunity to conduct research. This may be when research is needed around a natural experiment where data collection needs to start within a timescale which can’t be accommodated by the programme’s normal processes.
If you would like your proposal to be considered for the fast-track scheme, please contact phr@nihr.ac.uk . You will be asked to:
The information you provide will then be considered and you will be informed whether your proposal is eligible for fast-tracking. You will then be provided with more information about submitting your stage 2 application and the timescales for doing this.
The PHR Programme is also keen to see applications for large-scale evaluation studies with the potential for national reach. This means primary research projects which:
If you are planning a project of this type you may wish to refer to the MRC Complex Interventions Framework.
The Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is accepting expressions of interest to their researcher-led workstream for research which provides health and health services related learning from recent emergencies and Mass Casualty Incidents that will demonstrate a clear pathway to influence and impact.
We are accepting applications for this funding opportunity.
The EME, HS&DR, HTA and PHR Programmes are all accepting applications for this funding opportunity.
The EME, HS&DR, HTA and PHR Programmes are all accepting applications for this funding opportunity.
The Public Health Research Programme are accepting stage 1 applications to their researcher-led workstream (including brain tumours highlight notice).
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PHR Funding Committee Meeting - Public Minutes February 2019
Specification for the Emergency Response and Preparedness funding call.
Commissioning brief Perinatal Mental Health
Commissioning brief for solid organ replacement, transplant and donation
Commissioning brief Liver disease
