Research delivery pilot updates

20 February 2026

Since December, we have moved forward with our scoping activity to identify the needs for public health research outside the NHS.  

Our scoping survey was launched on Thursday 12 February and is being targeted to a range of audiences involved in public health research outside the NHS, this includes:  

• researchers who have been awarded funding (now or in the past) to do public health research 

• colleagues working in settings outside the NHS, including local authorities, voluntary, community and social enterprises, the education sector, prisons or probation service, who support and enable public health research to happen within their organisation 

• organisations and teams that help make public health research happen, including the Research Delivery Network and NHS Integrated Care Boards 

In the survey, we are asking respondents to share any challenges experienced when doing public health research outside the NHS, and about the usefulness of some potential support options. We are inviting colleagues to leave their contact details if they would like a further discussion on their responses, input into the design of the pilot delivery support service, or to discuss potential support options for an active study they are involved in.  

The survey is due to close on Friday 13 March and we anticipate sharing the scoping report in April. 

If you’d like to find out more about the pilot, please get in touch with us: nihr.rss.publichealthdelivery@newcastle.ac.uk 

18 December 2025

Over the last 3 months we have been working closely with RDN colleagues to establish ways of working and refine the process for eligibility and cross-referrals. We have also appointed a Public Health Senior Research Delivery Manager and a Public Health Research Deliver Manager, both of whom bring a wealth of experience to the pilot.

We have also attended meetings with the RDN Board, our Public and Community Partnerships Advisory Board and our Public Health Engagement Leads to talk about the pilot, and to share our plans and explore how colleagues and stakeholders can be involved.

In early 2026, as part of our scoping activity,  we will be reaching out to local authorities, Health Determinants Research Collaborations and public health researchers with experience of carrying out research in settings outside of the NHS. 

By September 2027, the pilot will deliver recommendations on how a future service could be structured, scaled, and hosted. 

If you’d like to find out more about the pilot, please get in touch with us: nihr.rss.publichealthdelivery@newcastle.ac.uk