Research Priorities

Picture of James Lind and the James Lind Alliance heading

Priorities for research identified by patients, carers and health professionals

The James Lind Alliance (JLA) brings patients, carers and health and social care professionals together equally in Priority Setting Partnerships (PSPs). Using the long-established JLA method, PSPs identify and prioritise the unanswered questions or evidence uncertainties in a particular health condition or setting. The aim of this is to make sure that what gets researched are the things that really matter most to the people who need to use the research findings in their everyday lives.

Amongst the list of research priorities (the ‘Top 10s’) on the JLA website, you can find priorities for Adult Social Work, Dementia, Digital Technology for Mental Health, Multiple Conditions in Later Life, Palliative and end of life care, and Safe Care for Adults with Complex Health Needs.

The ‘Making a Difference’ section of the JLA website shows examples of how PSPs have made an impact on research. For example, the NIHR Health and Social Care Delivery Research (HSDR) Programme has funded two studies as a result of the Dementia PSP: Optimising acute care for people with dementia: a mixed-methods study, and Evaluation of specialist nursing support for carers of people with dementia, as well as a study resulting from the Palliative and end of life care PSP: Optimum ‘Hospice at Home’ Services for End of Life Care.

When you look at the list of JLA PSP Top 10s, you will see that each title is followed by the year in which the priorities were published and considered to be unanswered questions. You will also see that the Top 10s vary in the types of priorities they include. Some priorities are fairly specific. Others are broader areas of importance, to allow you to consider and explore what the specific research question might be.

If you’re interested in developing research and applying for funding, looking at the priorities that have already been set by patients, carers and health professionals using the JLA method is a really good place to start.