National Institute for Health and Care Research

National Institute for Health and Care Research Funding, enabling and delivering world-changing research We’d love for you to ask questions, comment on posts and share your thoughts here on our page.

We want to spark conversation, inspire collaboration and encourage people to get involved in research. Please don’t be rude, hateful or insulting. Bullying of any kind isn’t allowed, and degrading comments about things like race, religion, culture, disability, sexual orientation, gender or identity won’t be tolerated. We are committed to clear public health messaging and reserve the right to remov

e any comments that are inappropriate, or are sharing false information. We will ban individuals who persistently ignore these rules. If you notice any inappropriate comments, please send us a message or report directly to Facebook.

08/08/2026

💜 Heart disease affects around 2% of pregnant women and is the leading cause of maternal death in the UK.

Despite accounting for more than one third of pregnancy-related deaths, current evidence is limited. A major new NIHR-supported study to transform understanding of cardiovascular disease in pregnancy has launched across the UK with women’s voices at its heart.

The new study, known as PREG-HEART, is being hosted by the The heart hive, and invites pregnant women anywhere in the UK diagnosed with heart conditions to join online and take part from the comfort of home on a smartphone or computer.

By partnering with maternity units serving diverse communities and trusted community organisations like British Heart Foundation, the team will reach women from Black and other minority backgrounds, who experience poorer maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Claire Sheppard, who was diagnosed with heart failure following pregnancy, is part of the research team. She helped shape the study’s design as a patient contributor and expert-by-experience.

Claire said: “So little is known about heart disease in pregnancy, my diagnosis was delayed and my life was put at risk. PREG-HEART gives women like me the chance to change that by helping researchers build the evidence needed to improve care for future mothers.”

Read more stories like this via the link in the comments 👇

What happens to people with learning disabilities and/ or autistic people when they leave ‘long-stay’ hospital settings?...
07/08/2026

What happens to people with learning disabilities and/ or autistic people when they leave ‘long-stay’ hospital settings?

An initial NIHR-funded study found that some 2,000 autistic people and people with learning disabilities are inpatients in secure hospitals, often for several years. But they have no sense of when they might be able to leave, and little is known about their health and care outcomes once they do.

The study identified the barriers they face, often related to:

➡️ navigating complex processes to prove they’re fit to leave hospital
➡️ lack of coherence between different services
➡️ delayed discharge plans

With this in mind, and because research into this community has rarely taken their lived experiences into account, researchers are conducting further NIHR-funded work focusing on their transition out of hospital.

The study will meet 30 people, shortly after they’ve left hospital, and then again over 2 years.

By learning more about their journeys and experiences after hospital, researchers hope to identify what health and social care support people need to help them lead ordinary lives in their communities.

Studies like this not only tackle health and social inequalities, but also form a more holistic, person-centred approach - ultimately transforming outcomes for some of the most marginalised and excluded groups in society.

Read more stories about how we prioritise inclusion in all areas of our work via the link in the comments 👇

Many communities are underrepresented in health research. The reasons why are as diverse as the UK itself, but healthcar...
06/08/2026

Many communities are underrepresented in health research. The reasons why are as diverse as the UK itself, but healthcare outcomes cannot be ‘one size fits all’.

We know research is at its best when it represents the communities it serves and we need research volunteers that represent the whole of the UK population.

That’s why we’ve launched our biggest ever push for people to sign up to our flagship Be Part of Research service. The nation’s largest-ever recruitment drive for clinical trials - we aim to sign up 1 million people to our world-leading register, connecting volunteers with studies across the UK.

Click the link in the comments to read more Inclusion highlights in the Inclusion section of our Annual Report 👇

For the last 6 years, Jordan Brook, 35, has lived with ulcerative colitis, a long-term inflammatory bowel disease which ...
05/08/2026

For the last 6 years, Jordan Brook, 35, has lived with ulcerative colitis, a long-term inflammatory bowel disease which affects around 1 in 227 people in the UK.

Jordan’s diagnosis impacted all areas of his life, leaving him unable to spend time with friends, family and his nine-year-old son.

“One day, I was living a normal life and the next I wasn’t.”

Symptoms for ulcerative colitis can include recurring diarrhoea, tummy pain and needing the toilet frequently. People may also experience fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss.

Jordan tried many treatments for his condition over the years, but nothing seemed to work:

“I missed a lot of time at work, and I couldn’t socialise with my friends and family, which made me feel sad and low in mood. I wasn’t confident leaving the house and I became housebound.”

Jordan was discussing surgery to remove part of his bowel. He was then offered the opportunity to take part in a clinical trial investigating a new treatment for the condition.

Despite being initially sceptical about taking part, Jordan’s life has been transformed thanks to research. ✨

“Since starting the trial my symptoms have improved massively and I’m basically back to living a normal life.”

“I feel fit and strong again.”

Click the link in the comments to read Jordan’s full story and see how you can take part in research 👇

An accessible toolkit co-created with people with a learning disability, their families and carers is helping people wit...
04/08/2026

An accessible toolkit co-created with people with a learning disability, their families and carers is helping people with a learning disability talk about dying and be involved in end-of-life choices, thanks to NIHR funding.

Health and social care staff can use the toolkit to help people get the support that’s right for them to live with dignity and care at the end of their life.

The toolkit is now widely used across social and palliative care services and included in Marie Curie UK ’s online library of recommended materials; and an evaluation of the toolkit was recently published in the Journal of Intellectual Disabilities.

The Victoria and Stuart Proiect, which developed the toolkit, was led by researchers from Kingston University alongside co-investigators from The Open University, Dimensions, MacIntyre and The Mary Stevens Hospice.

Read more stories like this here ⬇️
https://www.nihr.ac.uk/about-us/who-we-are/reports-and-performance/annual-report-202526/inclusion?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ar2526

Chronic snoring isn’t just disruptive; it can indicate serious conditions such as Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA), which ...
31/07/2026

Chronic snoring isn’t just disruptive; it can indicate serious conditions such as Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA), which affects millions of people in the UK and around a billion worldwide.

But the standard treatment for OSA, a continuous positive airway pressure or ‘CPAP’ device worn over the face, is difficult for many patients to use for comfort, cost and maintenance reasons.

Around 25% of patients abandon treatment after just 3 months, and after 5 years, 75% of patients no longer use their device. Leaving their condition unmanaged puts them at increased risk of serious health problems.

As demand for sleep services grows, there is a need for evidence-based treatments that work well in everyday life, not just in clinical settings. With CPAP alternatives such as surgical interventions still limited, the NIHR-supported development of ZeusOSA represents a leap forward in OSA treatment.

The non-invasive device, worn on the skin under the jaw, offers a cheaper, simpler and more comfortable alternative that patients are more likely to use. It was developed with support from the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Cardiovascular and Respiratory Medicine, by London based spin-out company Zeus Sleep.

Early studies demonstrated the feasibility of the technology, while market validation of the device is strong, with enthusiastic retail demand across 54 countries - demonstrating the value of our support in helping UK health and care businesses to thrive.

Now, the technology has advanced from early-stage testing to NIHR-funded clinical trials in NHS sleep centres, supported by our Regional NIHR Research Delivery Network in South London. The trial hopes to generate the robust clinical evidence needed for the NHS to offer this non-invasive, scalable treatment to an underserved - but significant - patient population.

Click the link in the comments to read more stories like these in our investment highlight of our Annual Report 👇

Did you know that 50% of vaccines are wasted globally?❄️ Many vaccines rely on a consistent cold temperature which makes...
30/07/2026

Did you know that 50% of vaccines are wasted globally?

❄️ Many vaccines rely on a consistent cold temperature which makes getting them to people in remote areas, during natural disasters and in countries with unstable infrastructure extremely challenging.

UK-based scientists have now developed a fridge-free vaccine. The revolutionary technology means vaccines can be stored at room temperature, eliminating reliance on a cold chain.

This means that vaccines can be transported more easily, reducing waste, simplifying global distribution and reaching the people that need them most. 💜

The vaccine development has now been trialled through a UK government-backed programme, and the first-in-human trial took place at our NIHR Clinical Research Facility: Southampton at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust/Health Research Southampton and delivered through our Biomedical Research Centre in Southampton.

Look out for an update on this trial coming soon or click the link in the comments to read more stories like these in our investment highlight of our Annual Report 👇

People from South Asian backgrounds in the UK are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes at a younger age than White Eur...
27/07/2026

People from South Asian backgrounds in the UK are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes at a younger age than White European populations. They are also more likely to develop the condition at a lower body weight.

Researchers aim to understand how genetic, biological, environmental and lifestyle factors can make people of South Asian heritage more susceptible to the condition.

These studies include:

🧬 Exploring how genes influence diabetes risk
🔎 Exploring the link between burning fat and insulin resistance
🍏 Programmes to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes

Understanding how genetics and lifestyle factors like diet and exercise impact type 2 diabetes is only part of the puzzle. Right now, people of South Asian heritage in the UK are underrepresented in clinical trials across all health conditions.

It is vital that research involves people from diverse and underrepresented communities. This makes it easier for everyone to take part in trials and studies.

Click the link in the comment below to find out more about how you can get involved ⬇️

Around 8,000 people in the UK are living with Huntington’s disease and, until now, there has been no treatment proven to...
23/07/2026

Around 8,000 people in the UK are living with Huntington’s disease and, until now, there has been no treatment proven to slow the progression of the devastating condition.

An NIHR-supported study into gene therapy has offered long-awaited hope for a potential treatment option, showing a significant 75% slowing of disease progression.

Jack May-Davis, who carries the Huntington’s disease gene, said, “This feels like a huge moment that will mean so much to families who carry the Huntington’s gene.”

This study was run at our Clinical Research Facility at UCLH - University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with support from our NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, and was one of the 12,500 studies supported by our research infrastructure this year. Recruitment to the study was supported by our NIHR Research Delivery Network.

Read more stories like this on the Innovation section of our Annual Report via the link below ⬇️

"I was so worried about my liver failing, but now that worry has been taken away."Lorna, a grandmother-of-three, was dia...
22/07/2026

"I was so worried about my liver failing, but now that worry has been taken away."

Lorna, a grandmother-of-three, was diagnosed with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), a chronic autoimmune liver condition, following a routine blood test back in 2008.

It is often called a silent condition because the immune system slowly damages the liver’s tiny bile ducts long before a patient feels ill.

Despite not having any symptoms, Lorna was very worried that her liver would fail. She was prescribed the standard medication, ursodeoxycholic acid.

“The initial medication didn't change anything, and my blood levels were showing that it was not getting any better; it was getting worse. I was so worried as I was hopeful the standard medication would be enough.”

However, things changed when Lorna’s consultant suggested she take part in a clinical trial. The trial was evaluating a new medication designed to reduce liver inflammation and bile acid build-up.

“In the first year of the trial my blood tests showed that my liver markers were improving and the peace of mind I felt was immense.

It has continued to improve to now being told I have a healthy liver. It was definitely the right decision to take part. I’ve not looked back since.”

Click the link in the comments to read Lorna’s full story and see how you can take part in research
👇

Address

Kosti

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 17:00

Website

, , htt

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when National Institute for Health and Care Research posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category