Health Research Board

What changes have the HRB made to their funding structures?

• Over the next five years the HRB will continue to support research of the highest quality and excellence.
• We will gradually concentrate our resources into research that offers the most potential for rapid translation into impacts and benefits for patients, for the population and for the health system.
• Our investment will focus on clinical including applied biomedical research, patient-oriented research, health services research and population health sciences research.

What kind of research is eligible for HRB funding?

• Specific and clear eligibility guidelines are provided for all grants. These should be read carefully.
• Overall, the HRB will support research that offers the most potential for rapid translation into impacts and benefits for patients, for the population and for the health system.
• This includes clinical including applied biomedical research, patient-oriented research, health services research and population health sciences research. Clear definitions of these are available in the HRB Strategy.

What kind of research is not eligible for HRB funding?

Projects that are predominantly, or wholly, basic biomedical research.

Why did the HRB change the focus of funding for research?

• The majority of resources in health research in Ireland to date had been concentrated in biomedical research. HRB, HEA, Enterprise Ireland and SFI all had investments in this area.
• There was a clear need to address obvious gaps and low levels of funding in the in the clinical, health services and population sciences area.
• If we are going to exploit the opportunities that research presents to turn new discoveries into benefits for patient care, health care transformation as well as new products or services these gaps had to be filled.
• For this reason the HRB is going to concentrate funding resources in these areas.

What value does the HRB place on basic biomedical science?

We firmly believe that basic biomedical science is essential and must continue. Other agencies, including SFI and the HEA, have a mandate to support and are currently major funders of basic research.  It is essential that all research agencies work in collaboration to avoid any duplication. The HRB will work with other agencies to ensure basic biomedical research is supported into the future.

What benefits will there be as a result of these changes?

Benefits will include: -

• A stronger focus on health outcomes and effectiveness and efficiencies in the health services.
• Greater impact on patient care.
• An increase in capacity within the health system to absorb and drive innovation.
• Opportunities for academics to work closely with clinicians to help accelerate their research into benefits for both patients and the health system.
• Networks in place so patients can participate in the latest research and clinical trialsInfrastructure to carry out research within the health system.
• Collaborations with industry and creation of commercially viable products, therapies, drugs and medical devices.