Research topics advertised

News release from the National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment

13 December 2006

The NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme, the largest and longest running of the Department of Health's national research programmes, is inviting proposals for research into some of the most pressing issues facing the NHS. Topics advertised include preventing and treating obesity in children; diagnosis of epilepsy in children; home oxygen therapy for chronic heart failure; cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for insomnia; management strategies for sciatica; and CBT for post-natal depression.

“The research topics advertised are identified by people who use, manage and provide care in the NHS and cover a broad range of NHS priority areas including obesity, public health and sexual health,” says Professor Tom Walley, HTA programme director. “The HTA programme identifies important evidence gaps in the NHS and fills these by commissioning research which is led by the needs of patients.”

To view the full list of topics, commissioning briefs, the application form and associated guidance notes visit the funding pages on the HTA programme website . The deadline for applications is 1pm on Wednesday 7 February 2007. All proposals received will be considered by the HTA Commissioning Board at its July 2007 meeting.

The HTA programme is keen to receive suggestions for more HTA research topics from people who use, manage and work in the NHS. To help shape the HTA programme's agenda, you can suggest a topic for research by visiting www.hta.ac.uk/suggest

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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