University project to help healthcare professionals utilise research

Four universities are to collaborate with more than 30 partners to deliver world-leading health and social care research training in the region

The initiative will focus on training newly qualified health and social care professionals to understand research and use it effectively to underpin their practice.

The £3m, four-year Inspiring Students into Research Scheme (INSIGHT) has been funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and will be lead by the University of Central Lancashire.

The university will partner with Universities of Manchester, Liverpool, and Lancaster, along with more than 30 co-applicants and partners representing NHS Trusts, primary care, local authorities, voluntary and community organisations, to deliver a range of initiatives.

This will be done primarily through degree programmes that address health and care challenges and build regional capacity for the delivery of high-quality research and implementation. 

Further support for the scheme will be provided by NIHR infrastructure partner organisations including the Applied Research Collaborations (ARCs) and Clinical Research Networks (CRNs) of Greater Manchester and the North West Coast, the Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), and the region’s Research Support Service Hub.

INSIGHT’s main aim is to develop a highly skilled research savvy workforce equipped to tackle the complex health and care challenges of the future and navigate a landscape of widening health inequalities, where people are living longer but with complex health conditions.

With the NHS under strain due to staff shortages and funding cuts, this type of investment in the skills of health and social care practitioners is essential to develop solutions to overcome the challenges faced.

The scheme will fund up to 30 health and social care research Masters degrees each year, hosted by the four partner universities. 

Dame Caroline Watkins, professor of stroke care at the University of Central Lancashire will lead the four-year initiative. She said: “The university is known for its academic excellence and has a strong reputation for delivering high-quality education and research at all levels in the health and care professions, nursing and midwifery, social work, pharmacy and public health.

“By leading on this exciting National Institute for Health and Care Research initiative, we will use the power of partnership to address the challenges faced by our communities. Our vision is for graduates to continue working in our partner organisations to drive innovation, translate evidence into practice, and promote practice relevant research.

“The goal as ever would be to improve patient experience, outcomes, and health and social care systems.”