Internet Explorer is no longer supported by Microsoft. To browse the NIHR site please use a modern, secure browser like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge.

Home > Explore NIHR > Support > Health determinants research collaborations

Health Determinants Research Collaborations

Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs) boost research capacity and capability within local government. They aim to embed a culture of always using evidence when making decisions. HDRCs use research findings to understand how decisions impact on health and health inequalities. They also carry out research where evidence isn’t already available.

Health is unequal across the UK and there are many factors which cause this. These include social, economic and environmental factors - also known as wider determinants of health - which are heavily influenced by the work of local government. HDRCs enable local authorities to use and conduct high-quality research into these determinants.

Find out more about the strategy and ambitions behind HDRCs in this video:

Video transcript

Creating an evidence-informed culture

Our investment in HDRCs will help create an evidence-informed culture within local government. It enables researchers and local authorities to collaborate and use evidence when it comes to making decisions. This approach helps improve health and means better outcomes for the public.

"It’s clear that people working in local government have the added advantage of knowing their local areas and communities. This investment will equip them to embed a lasting legacy of research culture to help local populations take important steps forward in tackling health inequalities."
Professor Lucy Chappell, NIHR CEO

Each HDRC is usually hosted by a single local authority which works with universities. This brings together local government knowledge and research skills from the academic community.

What are wider determinants of health?

Many factors affect health and wellbeing in our daily lives. Our health is impacted by the environment we live in, the economy and our social relationships. These are what we call wider determinants of health.

Wider factors affecting health and wellbeing include:

  • air and water pollution
  • food security and diet
  • housing and homelessness
  • access to green and blue space
  • income
  • employment and working conditions
  • transport methods
  • social inclusion
  • climate change

Research is key to discovering how we can improve community health and reduce health inequality. HDRCs ensure there is public health research capacity to look into wider health determinants so that decision makers have the research evidence they need.

In October 2023, we awarded a further 11 local authorities with HDRC status and 6 with development funding*.  This follows our first cohort of 13 HDRCs established in 2022-23.

Current Health Determinants Research Collaborations

Map of HDRCs

  1. HDRC Aberdeen
  2. HDRC Blackpool
  3. HDRC Bradford 
  4. HDRC Cornwall
  5. HDRC Coventry
  6. HDRC Cumberland
  7. HDRC Doncaster
  8. HDRC Ealing
  9. HDRC Greater Essex
  10. HDRC Gateshead 
  11. HDRC Glasgow*
  12. HDRC Islington
  13. HDRC Lambeth
  14. HDRC Leicestershire*
  15. HDRC Liverpool
  1. HDRC Manchester*
  2. HDRC Medway
  3. HDRC Newcastle
  4. HDRC North Yorkshire
  5. HDRC Plymouth
  6. HDRC Portsmouth*
  7. HDRC Rhondda Cynon Taf
  8. HDRC Sandwell
  9. HDRC Somerset
  10. HDRC Southampton
  11. HDRC South Tees
  12. HDRC Surrey*
  13. HDRC Torfaen*
  14. HDRC Tower Hamlets 
  15. HDRC Wakefield

Find out more about HDRC funding

Professor Brian Ferguson, Director of our Public Health Research Programme, talks about the strategy behind the HDRC investment.
Read the HDRC strategy blog