Published: 06 February 2023
Be Part of Research, the online service that makes it easy for people to find and take part in health and care research, is now available through the NHS App in England.
The service, run by the NIHR, helps members of the public understand what research is, what it might mean to take part, as well as showing what research is currently happening across the UK.
Through the Be Part of Research website, people can search for what trials and studies are taking place for particular health conditions they are interested in, at locations that are easy for them to get to.
CEO of the NIHR, Professor Lucy Chappell said: “Research improves health and social care for patients and the public, and underpins the discovery of new treatments and innovations in care, as well as helping the NHS make better use of resources and bringing inward investment from the global life sciences industry.
“We want everyone to be able to access research opportunities, no matter what health condition they have or where they live. I am excited that we are now making it even easier for people in England to find and register their interest in suitable research opportunities via the NHS App and Be Part of Research.”
Without people taking part in research, it would not be possible to advance care and treatment for diseases such as motor neurone disease. Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Steve Barclay announced the addition of Be Part of Research to the NHS App at a motor neurone disease round table event this week - calling for more people to get involved to help researchers accelerate the search for a cure.
Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “I encourage people in England to sign up to research via the NHS App and join our ever-growing UK-wide register Be Part of Research.”
Members of the public are encouraged to use Be Part of Research themselves. Health and care professionals can also use the service to support patients who ask about research and to sign-post to research opportunities. The service is aimed at everyone. Healthy volunteers as well as those with a diagnosis or health condition can use the service to find out about a broad range of research, from lifestyle questionnaires to clinical trials, taking place at local hospitals, GP practices, or at home.
The Be Part of Research service supports the UK’s vision for the Future of Clinical Research Delivery - creating a digitally enabled and people-centred clinical research environment, embedded in the NHS.
It provides a key offer to the global life sciences industry and to charities undertaking research in the UK, helping them to quickly find suitable participants, reduce delays and expense, and ultimately producing meaningful results more effectively.
The UK-wide service is delivered by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and supported by the devolved nations.