National Institute for Health and Care Research

Sharing news and info from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). We drive life-changing research for the health and wealth of the nation.

[National Institute for Health and Care Research @NIHRresearch]

"Vaccines save lives, but only if they can reach the people who need them. Removing the need for refrigeration could be transformative for communities around the world.

"This is a great example of UK research once again leading the way to bring life-saving treatments to people where they are, making health equity a reality."

- NIHR Chief Executive Professor Lucy Chappell on today's exciting vaccine research news from @SouthamptonCRF and @SouthamptonBRC

[NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Southampton @SouthamptonBRC]

New research published today reports promising results from the first human trial of a fridge-free vaccine.

Delivered through our BRC and the @SouthamptonCRF, the study could help transform vaccine delivery worldwide. 💉🌍

🔗 https://t.co/8IQjWMOVlH

[National Institute for Health and Care Research @NIHRresearch]

“This pioneering research demonstrates how British innovation is helping to tackle some of the biggest challenges in global healthcare, and providing life-saving breakthroughs for use around the world.

“Right now, people are dying of preventable diseases all over the world, not due to a lack of vaccines, but a lack of refrigeration. Fridge-free vaccines have the potential to be a game-changer for global health, especially for people in remote communities, or regions affected by conflict.

"Backed by NIHR's world-leading research, this breakthrough shows once again how our investment in science and life sciences is driving better health outcomes, while supporting economic growth and reinforcing the UK's position at the forefront of medical innovation."

- @DianaJohnsonMP, Health and Social Care Minister at @DHSCgovuk, on today's exciting vaccine research news from @SouthamptonBRC and @SouthamptonCRF

[NIHR Clinical Research Facility: Southampton @SouthamptonCRF]

What if vaccines didn't need a fridge?

A world-first trial at our @NIHRresearch facility has shown encouraging results for a fridge-free tetanus-diphtheria vaccine, with the potential to reach more people worldwide and reduce vaccine wastage. 🌍

🔗 https://t.co/yP22oo9Khf

[National Institute for Health and Care Research @NIHRresearch]

We know that people with lived experience improve our research immeasurably, and have been dedicated to listening to the people who benefit from our research since we were founded 20 years ago.

Inclusive research doesn't just improve health, it also makes the UK a better place to do research, helping us attract global innovation and investment which leads to growth and strengthens our economy.

Read more about how we prioritise inclusion in all areas of our work in the Inclusion chapter of our Annual Report ⬇️
https://t.co/DNBWvRZmLD

[National Institute for Health and Care Research @NIHRresearch]

❄️ The world-first trial of a fridge-free tetanus-diphtheria vaccine has produced encouraging results that could improve access worldwide to crucial treatments, while reducing carbon emissions.

Around half of vaccines are wasted globally each year due to of temperature changes during storage and transport, according to the @WHO. Fridge-free vaccines have the potential to transform vaccine delivery by reducing this dependence on refrigeration.

Read the full story on our website ⬇️
https://t.co/1oo6F4oVNV

[National Institute for Health and Care Research @NIHRresearch]

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

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.

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

Read Jordan's full story and see how you can take part in research
👉https://t.co/tPuhIzKMzz

[National Institute for Health and Care Research @NIHRresearch]

We’ve partnered with the @DMS_MilMed to co-fund research career development opportunities for the military.

The partnership will strengthen research capacity within the military medical workforce, which spans 11,000 staff across the @RoyalNavy, @BritishArmy, @RoyalAirForce and @UKCivilService.

As well as bringing new perspectives to research, the collaboration will broaden access to research careers beyond traditional NHS and academic pathways. It will focus on mental health, surgical care, pain management and infectious disease diagnosis and treatment

Read more stories like this in the Inclusion section of our Annual Report ➡️ https://t.co/DNBWvRZmLD

[National Institute for Health and Care Research @NIHRresearch]

Our research is for everyone and we are committed to making sure our research addresses the needs of all communities and makes it easier for people of all backgrounds to take part in our trials and studies.

Read the Inclusion Spotlight in our 2025/26 Annual Report and find out about:

💜 A community-focused approach to prevention and neighbourhood health
🧰 An accessible toolkit co-created with people with a learning disability, their families and carers
🤰 A major new NIHR-supported study to transform understanding of cardiovascular disease in pregnancy has launched across the UK

Read more on our website:
https://t.co/DNBWvRZmLD
With thanks to our partners:
@NAPC_NHS
@imperialcollege
@NIHRARCs
@RoyalNavy
@BritishArmy
@RoyalAirForce
@UKCivilService
@NIHRBioResource
@NHSBT
@mariecurieuk
@WHO
@TheBHF
@thehearthive

[National Institute for Health and Care Research @NIHRresearch]

Poor air quality has negative health impacts and poses immediate and long-term health risks.

Effective interventions will improve health for everybody, however air pollution does not affect everyone equally. Inequalities exist both by exposure and by vulnerability to air pollution.

That’s why our Public Health Research Programme has just opened a new funding opportunity for research to answer the question: what are the impacts on health and health inequalities of interventions that affect air quality in indoor public spaces, indoor workplace settings and transport microenvironments?

Find out more and apply ⬇️https://t.co/8cSGV83NIb

[National Institute for Health and Care Research @NIHRresearch]

Our Director of the NIHR Health and Social Care Workforce Research Unit, Professor Annette Boaz, has spent her career championing social care research and mentoring the next generation of researchers.

She’s supporting underrepresented areas of research and inspiring others to build thriving careers through NIHR.

Find out more about our Senior Investigator award and apply here ⬇️
https://t.co/JOJjRwjU3v

[National Institute for Health and Care Research @NIHRresearch]

We've launched a scheme to pair prospective applicants for the Research Professorship award with experienced academic mentors who can offer guidance, share insights and provide valuable feedback throughout the application process.

Who should apply as a mentee?
We are looking for prospective mentees who are;
➡️based at a post-1992 university or non-Russell Group institution
➡️working within health & care professions, social care or local authority
➡️eligible for the NIHR Research Professorship award

Apply now if you are interested in taking part as a mentee or mentor: https://t.co/XuLuQ1vaBo

[National Institute for Health and Care Research @NIHRresearch]

🩸 Could a simple blood test help transform the future of lung cancer screening?

The APPLIED-LUNG study, funded by our Invention for Innovation (i4i) programme and Oxford Cancer Analytics, is investigating whether a blood test could help target CT scans to those most at risk.

🎧 Hear Dr Serena Chee explain more in this @BBC Radio Merseyside interview.

Listen to the full interview (1:07:19–1:16:08) ➡️ https://t.co/uNnTTOWy9L

@CMCaAlliance

[National Institute for Health and Care Research @NIHRresearch]

The theme of this year's #SouthAsianHeritageMonth is Unity in Diversity.

This highlights how South Asian communities in Britain are not a single, uniform group, but a rich tapestry of communities.

However, they are united in how they are historically underserved by research.

Read our latest blog by @Nikkived of @1928institute about how we are getting people of South Asian heritage involved in research and why their participation matters: https://t.co/7S0cQK0kMN

@SAHM_UK

[National Institute for Health and Care Research @NIHRresearch]

Our research helps people live longer, healthier and more independent lives. But the impact of our research extends far beyond health alone.

We deliver substantial economic value to the UK - attracting global investment, strengthening the NHS, supporting highly skilled jobs and driving growth.

In the Investment chapter of our Annual Report, we outline some of our highlights including our year in numbers ⬇️

Read the full report on our website: https://t.co/7iBGmMMwek

[National Institute for Health and Care Research @NIHRresearch]

This year marks 20 years of the NIHR, and 2 decades of our Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) programme! 🎉

Since 2006, RfPB has funded low-cost, high-impact research that improves people's health and care, while championing regionality, building research capacity, and supporting early-career researchers and under-represented disciplines.

Read more in our latest blog ➡️ https://t.co/GAdUzqGAH7

#NIHR20 #HealthResearch #ResearchImpact

[National Institute for Health and Care Research @NIHRresearch]

Featuring: @uclhresearch @imperialbrc @manchesterbrc @nihrmaudsleybrc @cambridgebrc @oxhealthbrc @bartsbrc @birminghambrc @southamptonbrc @bristolbrc @leedsbrc @exeterbrc @leicresearch @nottmbrc @sheffieldbrc

[National Institute for Health and Care Research @NIHRresearch]

🔬 What could the future of health research look like?

From promising treatments and new discoveries to pandemic preparedness and research shaped by patients and the public, explore 16 highlights from our Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs).

🎥 Watch the video below for the highlights.
🔗 Read the full roundup in our LinkedIn newsletter: https://t.co/tirIBFWQjD
👀 Which BRC story caught your attention?

[National Institute for Health and Care Research @NIHRresearch]

We’re offering #ResearchFunding to researchers evaluating the health and health inequality impacts of

➡️ linking multiple datasets and big data usage in local/regional government, and/or
➡️interventions that address barriers to, or risks associated with, big data usage

Find out more details and apply: https://t.co/AdfEg5sneY

[National Institute for Health and Care Research @NIHRresearch]

🚀 A new RfPB funding opportunity is now open for applications.

💡This funding opportunity continues RfPB’s commitment to researcher‑led, practice‑focused studies that deliver real improvements for patients, services and communities.

🦷 Alongside this funding opportunity, RfPB is also running a dental highlight notice to boost research that strengthens NHS dentistry and generates evidence to prevent oral disease.

🔗 https://t.co/oX7gLQawQe

[National Institute for Health and Care Research @NIHRresearch]

REGISTRATION CLOSING for in-person places at the Academy Members' Conference! Apply by 5pm tomorrow, Friday 31 July to attend. In-person places are open to NIHR Academy Members.

The conference takes place on 6 and 7 October in Leeds and online, and this year's theme is 'NIHR 20 - The future is digital: revolutionising health and care research'.

Register now: https://t.co/txZcdrlALw