News

A call for research on the emerging influenza pandemic

Press Release 22 June 2009
A call for research on the emerging influenza pandemic is being launched by the NIHR as the World Health Organization (WHO) announces the move to pandemic phase 6.  The research will provide evidence to influence ongoing health policy and practice.

As part of the collaborative effort into research concerning pandemic flu with MRC and Wellcome, the Director General for Research and Development at the Department of Health has asked the National Institute for Health Research to undertake a themed call for research that will inform policy and patient care in the current influenza pandemic.  This call is being managed by the NIHR Evaluation, Trials, and Studies Coordinating Centre.  It is limited to research that will have rapid practical benefit to the NHS and to NHS patients.

This call is not restricted to the remits of any individual research programme, and studies may be very varied in design.  They will be assessed for scientific rigour and their ability to produce timely evidence for patients and the NHS. This research will have to be planned, funded and completed very quickly in order to make a difference during this pandemic.  Because the research results are needed by the end of 2009, the usual timetable is being greatly shortened to reflect the urgency to the NHS.  The deadline for the submission of proposals is Friday 26 June 2009.

For further information please go to the NETSCC web site (www.netscc.ac.uk)

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Notes to editors

1. The National Institute for Health Research provides the framework through which the research staff and research infrastructure of the NHS in England is positioned, maintained and managed as a national research facility. The NIHR provides the NHS with the support and infrastructure it needs to conduct first-class research funded by the Government and its partners alongside high-quality patient care, education and training. Its aim is to support outstanding individuals (both leaders and collaborators), working in world class facilities (both NHS and university), conducting leading edge research focused on the needs of patients. Visit www.nihr.ac.uk

1. The NIHR Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre (NETSCC) manages evaluation research on behalf of the National Institute for Health Research.  NETSCC provides a single research management centre meeting the needs of the research programmes it coordinates, and supporting scientific quality in all aspects of the research management process.  NETSCC manages the following research programmes, for more information visit www.netscc.ac.uk
1. NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme – www.hta.ac.uk
2. Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation programme – www.eme.ac.uk
3. NIHR Health Services Research programme – www.hsr.nihr.ac.uk
4. NIHR Public Health Research programme – www.phr.nihr.ac.uk
5. NIHR Service Delivery and Organisation programme – www.sdo.nihr.ac.uk

Further information: 
Helen Payne, Senior Programme Manager – Communications, NETSCC Tel: 023 80597431 email: h.r.payne@southampton.ac.uk