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Public Health research delivery support
Date: 20 February 2026
The NIHR has expanded its offer to further support public health research.
Why this work is happening
Some Public Health research requires delivery support that extends beyond the usual support provided by the Research Delivery Network (RDN). So, to enhance the delivery support offer for public health research outside the NHS, the Research Support Service Specialist Centre for Public Health (SCPH) delivered by Newcastle University and Partners will run a 2 year delivery pilot, commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care. The RDN and SCPH are working together to strengthen and streamline the overall offer to public health research. A joint forward plan has been agreed, focusing on:
- improving shared understanding of public health research delivery needs
- supporting clearer determination of research delivery eligibility for RDN and/or SCPH delivery pilot support
What this means in practice
Together, the RDN and SCPH offer enhanced delivery support for public health research.
- studies involving the recruitment of individual participants, including those delivered outside the NHS, will be considered for inclusion on the RDN Portfolio. These studies benefit from the integrated support of the SCPH delivery pilot, where appropriate.
- research involving population-level interventions or data that sits outside of the NHS fall within the remit of the SCPH delivery pilot.
To reflect these changes and clarify the RDN’s role in public health research delivery, the Department of Health and Social Care has updated the Eligibility Criteria for NIHR Research Delivery Network Support.
The RDN and SCPH are working together to ensure studies are directed to the most appropriate organisation based on their specific needs.
These changes aim to improve visibility of public health research, reduce duplication, and strengthen collaboration across organisations.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss how this applies in practice, please contact nsst@nihr.ac.uk and we will direct your query to the appropriate team.