January 2021
Strategic co-ordination for health of the public research – OSCHR sub board
Tuesday 22nd Sept 2020, 3-4.30pm
Attendees
Anne Johnson (chair)
Chris Whitty NIHR/DHSC
Mary de Silva Wellcome Trust
Joy Todd ESRC
Philippa Hemmings EPSRC
Joe McNamara MRC
Michael Bowdery Welsh Government
Andrew Fraser Scottish Government
Janice Bailee Northern Ireland
Gavin Malloch MRC
Rachel Conner DHSC (secretariat)
Charlotte Miller DHSC (secretariat)
Decisions and Actions:
Updates from group members on Covid-19 work
Each SCHOPR member provided information on what their organisation is doing on Covid-19 research. It was noted that there has been a great response to the pandemic from the scientific community and funders with the pandemic having a galvanising effect. It was noted that ESRC have set up an Economics Observatory and International Public Policy Observatory and that the Welsh government have setup a policy facing COVID-19 evidence centre.
The funders discussed their views on some of the outstanding research gaps including those captured in the UKRI COVID research priorities document, direct long-term effects of covid (there are some research calls open on this areas), indirect long-term effects of covid on health of the public and social and economic impact, and vaccine acceptability and hesitancy (although some research was noted).
Presentation on MRC analysis of prevention research portfolio
Gavin Malloch presented the findings of an analysis of the primary prevention portfolio which was undertaken on behalf of the Medical Research Council (MRC) by the MRC Population Health Sciences Group (PHSG) to describe how funds were being deployed by 149 UK funders to support prevention research.
The analysis identified 1156 awards live in 2018 representing a total spend of £220 M. Half of this research was targeted at health overseas and another overlapping half was spent on infection (this was pre-COVID-19). Only £54 M was spent on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the UK, which is just 2% of all health research spend. Little research took account of the wider social and environmental determinants of health.
The group should consider the consequences of this analysis and how it may be used to emphasize the limited investment in health of the public research compared to other health areas.
Embedding research in new public health structures
In October 2020 the SCHOPR chair, on behalf of SCHOPR members, sent a letter to Johnathon Marron, Director General, Prevention, Community and Social Care, DHSC, and Anne then met with Johnathon and discussed the importance of:
Having a stronger evidence base within the new structure
Linking NHS with public health
Regional hubs of engagement
Health of the public interventions
The Academy of Medical Sciences also wrote a letter to Johnathon Marron.
The secretariat discussed with DHSC and PHE colleagues involved with the restructure about the importance of research from a health improvement perspective and emphasized the importance of research, regions, local authority access to journals, and funding for excess treatment costs.
It is still important to emphasize the following points and suggest they are part of new structure:
PHE staff should be able to access competitive funding
Encourage joint posts of academics and LA/PHE contracts
Ensure all geographic areas are reached, especially areas with the most public health need
Build networks across local authorities and link with best universities in country to tackle issues (not necessarily local universities)
AOB
SCHOPR has been asked to report to OSCHR, so we will prepare a short paper and send