National Institute for Health and Care Research

05/11/2025

We’re proud to support Stockport County Community Trust as they launch a new project giving local people the chance to take part in health and care research at the club’s stadium. ⚽

Delivered in partnership with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, this initiative marks our second collaboration with an English Football League club — helping bring research opportunities even closer to local communities.

🔗 Click the link in the comments below to read more!

30/10/2025

Michelle was diagnosed with lupus 30 years ago. Back then, there weren't many effective treatments for lupus, and the side effects were sometimes worse than the symptoms themselves.

From witnessing the progression of treatments over the years, she wanted to take part in research to help improve treatments for the future. She was the first person in the UK to join a global trial looking at a new treatment for lupus.

Read Michelle's story in the comments below! ⬇️

27/10/2025

When 77-year-old Wendy Groves joined a research study at her GP practice in Devon, she saw it as a chance to help others — and look after her own health.

The study, supported by the NIHR Research Delivery Network, explored alternatives to statins and Wendy took part at Claremont Medical Practice, Exmouth Health Centre.

“Getting to know my GP through research has been one of the best things,” Wendy said. “Having research in local practices means more people like me can take part, and that’s good for everyone.”

For Wendy, taking part brought reassurance, trust and a real sense of giving back.

🔗 Read Wendy’s story and learn how you can get involved through Be Part of Research: https://rdn.nihr.ac.uk/stories/statins-research-wendys-journey-her-gp-practice

24/10/2025

Kim was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022. Her treatment plan of chemotherapy and mastectomy, a surgery to remove all of the breast, soon followed. Kim was then due to receive radiotherapy, to lower the risk of cancer coming back.

She was at increased risk of developing long term heart problems years after radiotherapy, due to a pre-existing heart condition.

She was the first person in the UK to take part in the PARABLE trial. The trial is looking at a type of proton beam therapy, which uses charged particles instead of x-rays to target tumours more precisely.

Researchers hope it will allow doctors to deliver the required dose of radiotherapy where it is needed and minimise the dose of radiation delivered to the heart.

💬 Kim said: “I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to take part in the trial and pleased with all the treatment that I’ve had to date. I’m looking forward to the future and I’m feeling pretty optimistic about everything.”

Read Kim's story in the comment below! ⬇️

23/10/2025

Nearly everyone experiences some form of acne in their lifetime.

It can range from a few spots on the face, neck, back or chest to a more severe problem with painful lumps under the skin.

Acne is most common in teenagers and younger adults, but 3% of adults will experience acne over the age of 35.

Research shows that acne, and acne scarring, can have a significant impact on mental health. Common treatments can also have side effects.

Click the link in the comment below to read a blog by Dr Beibei Du-Harpur, an NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer, on how research is helping to shatter some of the myths around acne, understand its causes and look for new treatments ⬇️

22/10/2025

A group of social care researchers in Darlington have developed a series of resources to help other practitioners to better support the people they care for. 💙

Called the Experts in Practice Project, the initiative supported professional development by giving staff dedicated research time and opportunities to co-produce training, tools, and resources for colleagues and partner agencies.

The project was nominated for the Social Worker of the Year Awards under the Practitioner-Led Research category. Here they are with their gold award!

💬 Amy Waterfield, Senior Practitioner at Darlington Borough Council , said: "We thought we were just going to be helping ourselves but actually we’ve ended up helping the wider community. Every single person involved in the project just put their heart and soul into developing research and then disseminating that to professionals who can then help the wider public.”

Congratulations to the team!

Find out more in the comments below ⬇️

21/10/2025

Logan, 12, from Norfolk, took part in a type 1 diabetes screening study.

The ELSA study is open to families across the UK for children aged 3 to 13. It is taking place in schools to make it easier for children to get involved. 🏫

Pupils whose parents and guardians agree to the study have a simple finger stick blood test. Tests on the blood then show if the children have any of 4 antibodies, which are markers found in the blood, for type 1 diabetes.

Where children are found to be at risk of developing type 1 diabetes, they can be monitored and supported. This will reduce the risk of them becoming seriously unwell.

💬 Logan said: “It was really easy taking part and the people were really nice to me. I'm really happy to take part in research, because in the future I can help people by having this test.”

Read Logan's story and about how children and young people are getting involved in research in the comment below ⬇️

20/10/2025

"I wish I had taken part sooner."

Gulliver was diagnosed with clinical depression at 19. For years, he struggled with extremely low mood, anxiety, frequent panic attacks and occasional paranoia.

💊 He tried a range of treatments, including antidepressants and talking therapies. But nothing helped with his symptoms.

📱 Then his mother came across a clinical trial called PAX-D on Facebook. As a therapist, she would receive a lot of information about mental health studies and thought the trial could help her son.

The study was testing whether a drug commonly used for Parkinson’s disease could help with treatment-resistant depression. Unlike antidepressants, which target serotonin, pramipexole mimics dopamine, which influences the energy with which people pursue goals.

He continued to take pramipexole after the trial concluded. A year ago, he stopped taking the drug, or any other antidepressants. It is the longest he has been off medication since he was 19.

💬 He said: “The day after I started taking the drug I felt so much better. I had loads more energy and stopped sleeping during the day. My sleep quality improved drastically as well as my overall mood.”

Read Gulliver’s story in The Guardian below ⬇️

Exclusive: Gulliver Waite signed up after antidepressants and talking therapies failed to alleviate clinical depression

18/10/2025

🎤 “When I hear about IBHO, I finally gain hope. Knowing that my voice matters – we represent the unrepresented, speak for the unspoken. Because the aim in the name is Improving Black Health Outcomes.”

This Black History Month, we’re sharing a powerful spoken word performance by A Star, artist, sickle cell advocate, and member of the NIHR BioResource. 🧬

In his performance, he highlighted the importance of participation in health research via the Improving Black Health Outcomes (IBHO) BioResource, which aims to improve our knowledge and understanding of health conditions and their unique impacts on UK Black communities.🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏿

Find out more about IBHO in the comment below ⬇️

17/10/2025

It took Zaynah nearly a decade to be diagnosed with endometriosis, which caused her painful periods with heavy bleeding.

Now, she is taking part in research to improve care for young people with period pain 💙

🗞️ Read Zaynah's story in The Independent and find out how you can get involved in research too.

Links in the comment below! ⬇️

17/10/2025

Professor Charlotte Coles grew up in a small Suffolk town, the first in her family to go to university. Today, she leads research that’s changing the standard of care for breast cancer globally.

Every year, around 56,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer, and nearly 1 in 7 women will face it at some point in their lives.

With NIHR funding, Charlotte and her team proved that radiotherapy could safely be reduced from 5 weeks to just 5 days 📉

Read her story in the comments below ⬇️

16/10/2025

💬 “Everyone deserves to be part of the science that shapes healthcare and impacts lives."

We spoke to NIHR Director of Research Inclusion, Dr Esther Mukuka, about building trust, breaking barriers, and embedding inclusion as a core part of research.

This Black History Month, we’re recognising the importance of inclusion and representation in delivering research that serves everyone. 💙

Read a Q&A with Esther in the comment below ⬇️