HTA funding set to increase

News release from the National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment

30 January 2006

The HTA programme is set to expand under new plans for a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The virtual institute is a key element of the Department of Health's newly-published national research strategy: Best Research for Best Health. As one part of the new NIHR, the HTA programme will launch a major new programme of Pragmatic Clinical Trials to address questions of direct relevance to clinical practice in the NHS.

The national research strategy sets out the direction that NHS research and development will take over the next five years. Its broad aim is to create a system that supports leading-edge research, focused on the needs of patients and the public. Key to achieving these aims is the new NIHR, which will seek to develop the reputation of the NHS as a world class environment for collaborative research. As a part of the NIHR, the HTA programme will develop a substantial portfolio of Pragmatic Clinical Trials, which are seen as essential for translating research into benefit for patients. Further details about how the facility will be developed are to follow.

"We welcome the direction for NHS research outlined in the new strategy, in particular the proposed National Institute for Health Research. We are delighted with the expanded role of the HTA programme and additional resources available to us as part of that," says Professor Tom Walley, director of the HTA programme. "The HTA programme will be developing the new responsive pragmatic trials facility in addition to our existing arms. This will enhance our current standing as a world leader in HTA, and allow us to support the NIHR in establishing the NHS as an internationally recognised centre of research excellence."

Best Research for Best Health and associated implementation plans are available for download in full or executive summary from the Department of Health website.

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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