New tool available to scope research locations across the UK
Date: 25 November 2024
The Scoping Locations for Research tool is now live and ready to use. It has been created to boost transparency of UK research capabilities. The aim is to attract research to the UK and secure inclusion in global studies.
This self-service tool combines RDN research activity data with local prevalence. It helps Sponsors, their delegates and researchers take a data-driven approach to quickly scoping potential locations for research. This proof-of-concept will be further expanded to include population demographics to support visibility of participant diversity.
Co-created with customers and delivery organisations by the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN), the tool acts as an additional entry point into the UK wide research location identification service, which coordinates study specific interest nation-wide. This service is also being transformed to deliver a consistent, quicker and transparent approach to match studies with optimal research locations for research delivery. Learnings from implementation of this new approach, with over 50% of NHS organisations to date, is being consolidated to refine the approach as this is rolled out.
The insights gained from this collective work will inform NIHR Digital Transformation Programme. It is aligned with the ongoing digital transformation initiatives from the Health Research Authority and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority,to create a seamless experience across the UK research ecosystem.
The tool is one of the government priority projects being delivered by the RDN to respond to the changing requirements of the health and care research system and to help make the UK a more attractive place to conduct high quality research.
Access the Scoping Locations for Research tool
Watch the training video