Applied Health Research

The LTHT needs to strengthen its capacity in Health Services Research in order to bid for more high-quality external funding for applied health research from funders such as major medical charities and National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) programme grants (for example, Service Delivery and Organisation (SDO) Programme and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) funds).  Such applications require high quality methodological input and for this reason the LTHT, through the BHRC, has invested in expanding capacity and infrastructure in the Leeds Institute of Health Sciences (LIHS) and Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU). 

LIHS is an internationally recognised multidisciplinary Institute with numerous successful applied health research programmes and other activities.  The Institute aims to utilise the current NHS investment and BHRC supporting mechanisms in extending its capacity in applied health research and continue working in a multidisciplinary approach in order to produce work of high methodological quality.  LIHS work encompasses health technology assessment, pragmatic clinical trials, healthcare policy evaluation, meta-analyses, systematic reviews and other methodological work.

The CTRU has a reputation as a centre of excellence in clinical trial research.  The Unit’s expertise ranges from trial research methodology and statistical support, access to clinical trial research infrastructure, successful operation and management of trials, highest level Quality Assurance & Regulatory Compliance, to financial planning and management.  Among the CTRU’s capabilities are its large size of operation with three Specialist Divisions reflecting disease priority areas with 80 skilled clinical trials staff and 12-strong clinical trial statistical team.