The UK is set to receive a vital £55 million research investment aiming at addressing health inequalities and enhancing health outcomes in local communities. This second wave of funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) will establish 11 new Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs) over the next five years. These innovative partnerships between local government and academia will bolster research capacity in some of the country’s most deprived regions, including urban, rural, and coastal areas.
The primary goal of these HDRCs is to investigate the broader determinants of health, such as employment, housing, education, and the physical environment to make a lasting impact on health inequalities and deprivation. Active engagement with local communities will ensure that the research addresses the unique challenges faced by residents.
Scheduled to launch on January 1, 2024, these 11 new HDRCs follow the success of 13 existing collaborations established during the first wave of funding. By early 2024, there will be a total of 24 active HDRCs, with plans for further expansion to reach a total cohort of 30 HDRCs, each receiving an annual recurring investment of £30 million.
Empowering Local Communities to Tackle Health Inequalities
Professor Brian Ferguson, Director of the NIHR Public Health Research Programme, emphasized the importance of empowering local government to develop research initiatives that improve community health and well-being. These collaborations will strengthen partnerships between local authorities and academic institutions, enabling evidence-informed decision-making, especially critical during financial constraints. Engagement with local communities is expected to be a key component of the HDRCs’ work.
The focus on wider determinants of health, including employment, housing, education, and the physical environment, presents a significant opportunity to address health inequalities and deprivation comprehensively.
Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins highlighted the importance of ensuring everyone, regardless of location, has access to high-quality health and social care services. This substantial government funding, distributed through NIHR, will support local projects in areas ranging from Cornwall to Cumberland. These initiatives play a crucial role in ensuring that research funding reaches rural and coastal communities.
At the heart of this investment is NIHR’s commitment to providing infrastructure that enables local authorities to engage actively in research. By building stronger collaborations with the higher education sector, the HDRCs aim to stimulate economic growth and regeneration in deprived areas while relieving pressure on NHS services through enhanced public health initiatives.
The Collaborative Approach of Health Determinants Research Collaborations
Typically, each HDRC is hosted by a single local authority, collaborating with local universities or institutions specializing in the wider determinants of health. This brings together local government knowledge and research expertise from the academic community. The overarching objective is to improve the evidence base for policy decisions in areas that significantly impact health and health inequalities.
Previous HDRCs that received funding have demonstrated a clear commitment to addressing the needs of underserved communities, with well-defined plans for active involvement of the local population. Research topics have included interventions for drug-related deaths, violent crime, challenges faced by children and young people, employment and skills development, as well as initiatives aimed at reducing health inequalities and deprivation.
Resource: NIHR, November 29, 2023
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