Describing NIHR and partner relationships 

All websites for designated parts of the NIHR are required to include a relationship statement and a standard description of NIHR and in the ‘About us’ page of the website, as well as a short descriptor of the scheme part of the NIHR falls within. This information represents the minimum that should be included in ‘About us’ pages.

Relationship statements (A) spell out the NIHR funding and the names of the host and partner institutions. They also include the name of any co-funder.

The standard description of the NIHR (B) is available in the NIHR Websites Acceptable Use Policy (section 1.4.a).

Descriptors provide more information on the funding scheme that the designated part of the NIHR sits within (C), introducing shared language across all parts of the NIHR within a certain scheme. Web owners may choose to use the recommended description in full, word for word, or write their own text incorporating the recommended three key phrases (D). 

Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs)

Type of information and required text for each

Relationship statement (A)

The NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) [NAME] is part of the NIHR and hosted by [HOST TRUST NAME] in partnership with [PARTNER UNI NAME].

Description (C)

NIHR ARCs are regional collaborations between organisations that undertake applied health and care research. The NIHR has awarded £135 million over five years to 15 ARCs across England. ARCs support applied health and care research that responds to the needs of local populations and health and care systems.

Key phrases (D)

15 ARCs

£135 million funding

Regional collaborations between organisations that undertake applied health and care research

Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs)

Type of information and required text for each

Relationship statement (A)

The NIHR [NAME] Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) is part of the NIHR and hosted by [HOST TRUST NAME] in partnership with [PARTNER UNI NAME].

Description (C)

NIHR BRCs are collaborations between universities and NHS organisations. They bring together academics and clinicians to translate lab-based discoveries into potential new treatments, diagnostics and technologies.

The NIHR has awarded £816 million over five years to 20 BRCs across England.

Key phrases (D)

20 BRCs

£816 million funding

Translating lab-based scientific breakthroughs into potential new treatments, diagnostics and medical technologies.

Additional text for associate partners 

Other partners may be acknowledged with the following text

Our associate partners bring additional expertise, increase our research capacity and add regional capability. They include [ASSOCIATE PARTNERS NAMED IN FUNDING APPLICATION]

Only those named as part of the original funding application should be named

Blood and Transplant Research Units (BTRUs) 

Type of information and required text for each 

Relationship statement (A)

The NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit (BTRU) in [NAME] is part of the NIHR and is a partnership between NHS Blood and Transplant and [HOST UNI NAME].

Description (C)

NIHR BTRUs undertake research to improve the supply of blood, plasma, stem cells, and organs for transplantation. 

The NIHR has awarded £20 million over five years to five units to research new technologies and techniques that will benefit donation, transfusion, and transplantation.

Key phrases (D)

Five units 

£20 million

Research to improve the supply of blood, plasma, stem cells, and organs for transplantation

Commercial Research Delivery Centres (CRDCs)

Type of information and required text for each

Relationship statement (A)

The NIHR [NAME] Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC) is part of the NIHR and hosted by [HOST TRUST NAME].

Description (C)

The NIHR CRDCs work with industry and other research delivery infrastructure to enhance the speed and efficiency of commercial clinical  research delivery in the UK.

The NIHR has awarded £71.8 million of funding over 7 years to establish 15 new CRDCs across England.

Key phrases (D)

15 NIHR CRDCs

£71.8 million funding

Enhancing the speed and efficiency of commercial clinical research delivery

Clinical Research Facilities (CRFs)

Type of information and required text for each

Relationship statement (A)

The NIHR [NAME] Clinical Research Facility (CRF) is part of the NIHR and hosted by [HOST TRUST NAME].

Description (C)

NIHR Clinical Research Facilities (CRFs) are purpose-built facilities in NHS hospitals where researchers can conduct studies. 

The NIHR has awarded £161 million over five years to 28 CRF facilities across England, to support early-phase and complex studies.

Key phrases (D)

28 CRFs

£161 million funding

Supporting early-phase and complex studies

With prior permission, other collaborating organisations may also be acknowledged, although only those named as part of the original funding application and not any others added on subsequently. 

Global Health Research (GHR) Centres

Type of information and required text for each

Relationship statement (A)

The NIHR Global Health Research Centre for [RESEARCH TOPIC AREA] is part of the NIHR and hosted by [UK ORGANISATION] and  [LMIC ORGANISATION].

Description (C)

The NIHR Global Health Research Centres programme funds research-driven partnerships between institutions in low and middle income countries (LMICs) and in the UK.

In 2022, five Global Health Research Centres were established to address the global burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and strengthen research capacity across the world.

Key phrases (D)

5 GHR Centres

The Centres are receiving around £10m in funding over 5 years

Institutional consortia developing sustainable, competitive research capacity in developing countries in a thematic area

Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs)

Type of information and required text for each

Relationship statement (A)

The NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) [NAME]  is part of the NIHR and hosted by [CONTRACTING ORGANISATION]

Description (C)

NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaborations enable local authorities to become more research-active, embedding a culture of evidence-based decision making. 

This major investment is central to NIHR's offer to local government, providing infrastructure to enable local authorities to become more research active. 

Key phrases (D)

30 HDRCs

£150 million funding

  Addressing the wider determinants of health and health inequalities.

Health Protection Research Units (HPRUs)

Type of information and required text for each

Relationship statement (A)

The NIHR Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in [NAME] is part of the NIHR and is a partnership between the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and [HOST UNI NAME].

Description (C)

NIHR HPRUs are research partnerships between universities and the UK Health Security Agency. The units act as centres of excellence in multidisciplinary health protection research.

The NIHR has awarded £59 million over five years to 14 HPRUs across England.

Key phrases (D)

14 HPRUs

£59 million

funding Multidisciplinary centres of excellence

HealthTech Research Centres (HRCs)

Type of information and required text for each

Relationship statement (A)

NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in [topic area] (HRC) is part of the NIHR and hosted by [HOST TRUST NAME]. 

Description (C)

HealthTech Research Centres (HRCs) are centres of expertise which drive life-changing research into health technologies. They bring together patients, clinicians, researchers, commissioners and industry. The NIHR has awarded £42 million over five years to 14 HRCs across England.

Key phrases (D)

14 HealthTech Research Centres (HRCs)

£42 million funding

NIHR HealthTech Research Centres (HRCs) will work with businesses to support the development of medical devices, diagnostics and digital technologies

The HRCs will also work with companies to develop and test products to support rehabilitation and help those with social care needs to maintain their independence. They will work closely with carers, patients and users at all stages.

Patient Safety Research Collaborations (PSRCs)

 Type of information and required text for each

Relationship statement (A)

The NIHR [NAME] Patient Safety Research Collaboration (PSRC) is part of the NIHR and hosted by [NHS ORGANISATION NAME] in partnership with [KEY PARTNER NAME(s)].

Description (C)

NIHR PSRCs are partnerships between NHS organisations and key partners to support patient safety research. The collaborations aim to bring patient safety discoveries to NHS frontline services.

The NIHR has awarded £25 million over five years to six research collaborations across England.

Key phrases (D)

6 PSRCs

£25 million funding

Bring patient safety discoveries to NHS frontline services

Policy Research Units (PRUs) 

Type of information and required text for each

Relationship statement (A)

The NIHR [NAME] Policy Research Unit (PRUs) is part of the NIHR and hosted by [PARTNER UNI NAME].

Description (C)

NIHR PRUs are composed of experts and researchers who undertake policy research providing evidence to support national policy making in England through the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and its Arm’s Length Bodies (ALB).

The NIHR has awarded £100 million over five years to 20 PRUs across England that provide evidence to respond to new and emerging policy needs.

Key phrases (D)

20 PRUs

£100 million funding

Policy research providing evidence to support national policy making in England

Research Support Service (RSS)

 Type of information and required text for each

Relationship statement (A)

The NIHR Research Support Service is part of the NIHR. This RSS Hub is delivered by [UNI NAME] and Partners.

If applicable: The NIHR RSS Specialist Centre for [Public Health or Social Care] is [jointly] hosted by the RSS Hub delivered by [UNI NAME] and Partners [and [UNI NAME] and Partners]

Description (C)

The NIHR RSS is a national and confidential service. It is delivered by 8 NIHR RSS Hubs across England to assist researchers in applying for funding and to develop and deliver clinical and applied health and care research.

Key phrases (D)

8 RSS Hubs

Support and advice

Guidance at every stage of the research journey, from pre-application through to post-award delivery.

NIHR RSS Specialist Centres for Public Health and Social Care hosted by 3 RSS Hubs

Research Schools 

Type of information and required text for each

Relationship statement (A)

The NIHR School in [NAME] is part of the NIHR and hosted by [UNI NAME].

Description (C)

NIHR SPCR is a partnership between nine leading academic centres for primary care research in England. The school brings together academics and practitioners to collaborate on primary care studies.

NIHR SPHR is a partnership between eight leading academic centres in applied public health research in England. The school supports research to improve the health of the population, which can aid policymakers and practitioners.

NIHR SSCR is a partnership between seven universities conducting research in adult social care  in England. The school aims to develop the evidence base to inform and improve adult social care practice in England.

Key phrases (D)

Partnership between leading academic centres

Related pages

Managing other NIHR websites - overview of advice for webmasters of sites on the NIHR subdomain (www.example.nihr.ac.uk)

Acceptable Use Policy - requirements for websites on an NIHR subdomain (example.nihr.ac.uk)

Relationship statements and descriptors

Design advice - guidance for webmasters who have a website on an NIHR subdomain (example.nihr.ac.uk)

Subdomain applications

Archiving NIHR websites