Information for patients and the public
about COVID-19 research
We are here to help you find out about health and social care research that is taking place across the UK.
We are here to help you find out about health and social care research that is taking place across the UK.
Taking part in research is particularly important at this time. Travel to research appointments is considered essential travel. Please continue to access healthcare research or other healthcare services, even at this time of extra COVID-19 restrictions, unless you hear otherwise.
There are a number of studies taking place into COVID-19, including vaccines as well as many other health conditions. Whatever research is right for you, your healthcare team have put in place changes to keep people safe. Check this site or speak to your health professional for updates on opportunities to take part in research, as things are changing quickly.
about COVID-19 research
Information for Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities
New monologues sharing conversations about vaccine research
Taking part in research can have benefits for your health, from being offered more time or extra tests to the possibility of being one of the first to benefit from a new treatment. This information explains what research teams are doing to keep you safe whilst taking part in research during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Participating in research is not just about taking pills. Some research studies simply require you to complete a survey, attend a group with other patients, talk about something, try a new cream or treatment. There really is something for everyone. Explore our site to find more.
Find out about the opportunities available such as learning about research through a course, donating a sample to the NIHR BioResource bank to help research for chronic health conditions, giving feedback on research study design or registering your interest in helping Dementia Research.
Type 2 diabetes is not a single disease. This was shown in 2018 when doctors in Scandinavia identified several sub-groups of type 2 diabetes in their population. Each sub-group has distinct characteristics and may respond to different treatments. Now, researchers have discovered different sub-groups among people in India. Their study included more than 19,000 people ...
From the moment of diagnosis to the provision of support, understanding patient experience is a key step to improving quality of care. An evidence-based approach to patient experience can help ensure health and care services listen to and work with patients to improve the experience of care. This Collection brings together NIHR research relating to ...
Simple low-cost video technology allowed residents in different care homes to enjoy taking part in virtual quizzes. Staff support was needed but new research found that the sessions were feasible and low-cost. This is the first study to trial connecting care homes virtually via quiz sessions. Interviews revealed that residents felt more connected with each ...
Meningitis caused by tuberculosis (TB) is rare in the UK, but it is a dangerous disease which can be fatal or leave people with disabilities. Children are particularly vulnerable to poor outcomes. TB is better known for causing lung disease, but the bacteria can also infect the brain, causing TB meningitis. The disease is often ...
People with long term neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis may have important needs that are not met within standard care. Palliative care considers the whole person, not just the illness, and aims to manage pain and other distressing symptoms while also providing psychological, social and spiritual support for ...
People with anaemia who were due to have major abdominal surgery did not see the expected benefits from receiving iron infusions in advance. A new study found that iron infusions did not reduce blood transfusions or deaths compared to a dummy treatment with salt water (placebo). There was no reduction in complications while people were ...
Aggression and conflict are common in high-security psychiatric hospitals. High-risk interventions – including restraint, seclusion and tranquilisers – are sometimes used to manage violence. De-escalation is an alternative approach which may help staff respond to aggression without using these restrictive interventions. It trains staff to recognise and understand the early signs of agitation and irritation. ...