NISCHR was launched in 2009 as a division of the Welsh Government within the Department of Health and Social Services. Its primary goal is to stimulate health and social care research to improve wellbeing and contribute to wealth generation. Undertaking research and development leads to new discoveries that improve care, outcomes, and productivity. It also generates income through innovation and attracts major investment by supporting a strong integrated research base. Research helps improve decisions by basing them on evidence of what works best. Going forward, NISCHR will focus more on translating research into practice and meeting national targets for attracting both commercial and non-commercial funding to support research in NHS Wales.

1. NISCHR looking to the future
Jon Bisson
Head of NISCHR

2. NISCHR
• Launched 2009
• Division of Welsh Government
– Within Department of Health and Social
Services
• Primary goal to stimulate health and social
care research to improve health and
wellbeing, while contributing, directly and
indirectly, to wealth generation

3. Why undertake R&D?
• New discoveries improve care, quality,
productivity and outcomes
• Income generation through innovation
• Strong NHS integrated health science research
base to attract major investment
• Thriving R&D environment improves recruitment
and retention of high calibre staff (NHS, Social
Care, Universities and other sectors)

4. Why undertake R&D?
• Improving health and social care by basing
decisions on evidence about what works
– Focusing resources where they will be most
effective
– Informing optimal design and delivery of
services
– Embracing new ways of working and
opportunities to improve care

5. NHS & social care Universities Industry
Welsh Government
NISCHR leads on strategy, policy, commissioning, funding, contract management and governance of
NHS & social care R&D
Faculty
The
community
of NISCHR
funded
researchers
People, patients, service users, carers
Academic
Health Science
Collaboration
Runs NHS
Permission unit, &
NHS support
posts, links to
R&D offices,
monitors NHS
R&D funding and
leads on industrial
collaboration
Biomedical
Research
Centre and
Units
Support for four
flagship high
quality
translational
research groups
to help them
deliver
Clinical
Research
Centre
Support for
studies through
research
professional
network, portfolio
management,
training and
development and
public/patient
engagement
Networks
(Registered
Research
Groups)
Networks of
researchers who
generate
proposals,
win grants,
deliver and
disseminate
Trials Units &
Infrastructure
Groups
Support and
deliver high quality
research
Community
Academic
Social Care
Research
Collaboration
A capacity
building pilot
scheme with
social services

6. Programmes
• NISCHR Programmes
– Studentships, Fellowships & Research
Awards
– Research for Patient and Public Benefit
• UK Programmes
– NIHR Evaluation, Trials and Studies Co-
ordinating Centre
– MRC Clinician Scientist
– NIHR Fellowship

7. Translational Research
Evaluation
Fundamental
Science
Impacts
Gap 4 – Population Sciences
Gap 1 –
Into Man
Gap 2 –
Into Clinic
Gap 3 –
Into Community,
Population, PolicyTrials & other well designed studies

8. Basic Research
The role of
National Institute
for Social Care
& Health Research
(NISCHR) in the
Innovation Pathway
NISCHR supports innovation primarily through the
provision of funding to undertake evaluations in
NHS, social care and public health research. Our role is
to develop research evidence and encourage its uptake
and use.
The chart shows research programmes and initiatives
that fit into the 'innovation pathway’ (please note that the
chart is not a comprehensive representation of all
NISCHR initiatives and does not show formal
relationships between programmes and organisations).
This pathway covers the full range of interventions -
pharmaceuticals, biologicals, biotechnologies,
procedures, therapies, practices, service design and
developments - for the full range of health/social care and
health care delivery - prevention, detection, diagnosis,
prognosis, treatment, care.
NISCHR also provides funding to support an
infrastructure that facilitates the delivery of non-
commercial and commercial research, informatics and
career development opportunities.
Registered/Infrastructure Research Groups
Research for Patient and Public Benefit
Clinical Session Time Competition
Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation
Providers of NHS services
Research Funding Schemes
National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence Guidance on Health and Healthcare
NHS Technology Adoption Centre Support for the NHS
NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership Support for Procurement
Health Services and Delivery Research
Health Technology Assessment
NHS Evidence Access to Evidence
Developmental Pathway Funding SchemeMRC
Bio-medical Research Centre/Units
Invention for Innovation
Experimental Medicine Centre
School of Primary Care
NLIAH – 1000 Lives programme Support for the NHS
INVENT
INVENTION EVALUATION ADOPTION DIFFUSION
Patient Care
Public Health Research
Academic Social Care Research
Collaboration
Centre for Reviews & Dissemination, Cochrane
Academic Health Science Collaboration
Clinical Research Centre

9. The Future
• Increased focus on translational gaps
• Transition to activity based NHS R&D
funding
• National targets covering commercial and
non-commercial research
• Opportunities to attract R&D funding into
NHS Wales
• Restructuring of NISCHR funded
infrastructure and programmes