News
08-March-2006 - LGC extends R&D programme management with
Department of Health under new NHS health research strategy
LGC to provide Central Commissioning Facility and programme
management for the National Institute for Health Research
LGC, Europe’s leading provider of analytical and diagnostic
services and reference standards, is to provide programme
management for the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
The NIHR is a key component of the Department of Health (DH)
strategy publication, ‘Best Research for Best Health: A New
National Health Research Strategy´ (January 2006), for the NHS in
England.
For an initial period of five years, LGC will operate the NIHR’s
Central Commissioning Facility. This is being created to streamline
and simplify the application process for DH research and
development funding. LGC will also manage two of the programmes
that will come under the Central Commissioning Facility: the
existing ´Policy Research Programme´ (PRP), and a new response mode
programme, ´Research for Patient Benefit´ (RfPB).
LGC´s External Programme Management Group (EPMG), which will
lead on the new work, already manages two existing DH research
programmes: ´New and Emerging Applications of Technology´ (NEAT)
and ´Genetics´. Staffed by qualified research scientists and
professional programme managers, EPMG´s combined skills have
produced a highly specialised team for science and technology
programme management, with all contracts performed to ISO 9001
standard.
Central to LGC´s bid was its partnership with NEL Management
Consulting to construct a secure website and database for the
Central Commissioning Facility. LGC and TUV NEL Ltd also manage the
DTI Technology Programme, an output of the government’s ten-year
Science and Innovation Investment Framework published in 2004.
Dr Emily Gardner, Team Leader of LGC’s EPMG, said: "The
tendering process has been extremely thorough and competitive so we
are absolutely delighted that LGC will have a role to play in
achieving strategic goals in national health research. We have been
working with DH in the management of R&D programmes for a
number of years and we value the opportunity to further develop
this relationship in the coming months as the NIHR’s Central
Commissioning Facility comes on-stream.”
Notes to Editors