HTA hosts first biennial event

News release from the National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment

11 October 2005

The HTA programme has hosted its first biennial event aimed at providing those closely involved with the programme with an update on latest developments and programme news.

HTA 2005: Setting Priorities for the Future, which took place at Westminster Central Hall on Thursday 29 September, aimed to give guests an overview of the HTA programme and its context within NHS R&D, as well as provide opportunities to receive feedback and for networking.

The morning session commenced with an overview of the HTA programme by Professor Tom Walley, Programme Director. This was followed by an update from the chairs of the three HTA advisory panels, Professor Bruce Campbell, Dr John Reynolds and Dr Ron Zimmern, with questions and discussion. This session also included an introduction to the HTA programme's new Disease Prevention Panel, by the chair Dr Edmund Jessop and the chair of the HTA Commissioning Board, Professor Jon Nicholl, updated guests on the work of the HTA programme in commissioning new research.

During the afternoon, guests were invited to choose from one of four workshops. These included an introductory session for new panel and commissioning board members, a workshop on preparing and writing good research recommendations, feedback from researchers working on two HTA projects and an overview of HTA activity.

This was followed by a key note speech from Noreen Caine, Deputy Director of Research and Development at the Department of Health, who talked about "Best Research for Best Health: A New National Health Research Strategy," the development of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) and Clinical Research Network (UKCRN) and also about HTA and its future within NHS R&D.

Notes for editors


  1. The HTA programme is a programme of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and produces high quality research information about the effectiveness, costs, and broader impact of health technologies for those who use, manage and provide care in the NHS. It is the largest of the NIHR programmes and publishes the results of its research in the Health Technology Assessment journal, with more than 400 issues published to date. The journal’s 2007 Impact Factor (3.87) ranked it in the top 10% of medical and health-related journals. All issues are available for download free of charge from the website, www.hta.ac.uk The HTA programme is coordinated by the National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment (NCCHTA), based at the University of Southampton.
  2. The National Institute for Health Research provides the framework through which the research staff and research infrastructure of the NHS in England is positioned, maintained and managed as a national research facility.  The NIHR provides the NHS with the support and infrastructure it needs to conduct first-class research funded by the Government and its partners alongside high-quality patient care, education and training.  Its aim is to support outstanding individuals (both leaders and collaborators), working in world class facilities (both NHS and university), conducting leading edge research focused on the needs of patients. www.nihr.ac.uk

Contact details

Naomi Stockley, Programme Manager (Communications)
Telephone: 02380 595 646, Email: ns5@soton.ac.uk

Helen Nikandrou, Assistant Programme Manager (Communications)
Telephone: 02380 595 584, Email: h.nikandrou@soton.ac.uk

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