News
01-May-2009 - Department of
Health extends research programme management contract with
LGC
LGC to manage funding competitions for the National
Institute for Health Research to 2016
International science service company LGC is
to provide programme management for the National Institute for
Health Research (NIHR) in an extended contract with the Department
of Health (DH) to 2016.
The NIHR is a key component of the Department
of Health’s strategy 'Best Research for Best Health' (January 2006)
for the NHS in England. Following the initial five year period
(2006-10), LGC will continue to operate the NIHR’s Central
Commissioning Facility (NIHR CCF) to 2016.
Established in 2006, the NIHR CCF has
introduced a streamlined application process for health research
funding and has launched four new NIHR programmes: Programme Grants
for Applied Research, Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB),
Invention for Innovation (i4i) and
Research for Innovation, Speculation and Creativity (RISC).
It manages other funding competitions and monitors existing awards
to support the NIHR Faculty and Infrastructure.
Dr David King is the Director of the NIHR CCF,
joining LGC from the Department of Health in June 2008. His
extensive experience in research management includes roles within
the Medical Research Council, the
Wellcome Trust and the
North West London Hospitals NHS
Trust.
Outsourced programme management, particularly in
health, science and technology R&D, is one of the principal
activities of LGC’s Life & Food Sciences division within which
NIHR CCF is based.
LGC also manages the commissioning process for
the Department of Health's Policy Research Programme (PRP).
Notes to
editors: