What is clinical research?

Clinical research is about finding out new knowledge that could lead to changes in treatments, policies or care. There are many different types of research – from studies in a scientific laboratory to those that observe and examine people with different conditions or develop new treatments. Research might be concerned with preventing disease and promoting good health or finding out people’s experience of different services and support in the community.

The people who carry out research will be doctors, healthcare professionals, psychologists, sociologists or researchers, working in a University or other health or social care organisation. In most research teams there will be service users, carers, patients or members of the public involved.

Why do we need research?

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We need research to provide evidence that something works.  It is equally important to show that something is not effective or does not work in the way we thought it should.

Health and social care research can help us to:

• identify people at risk of getting ill and help to prevent illness
• provide the best advice and treatments for people
• share knowledge and understanding about different conditions
• find out what people think about services
• assess how effective services are
• improve the environment, health and wellbeing of a local population.

Read our Strategy and Objectives for 2017-22 to find out how we are involving and engaging patients and the public in our work.

Read the full article from NIHR Involve and the Be Part of Research Campaign.