The programme between the HRB and the Department of Health is designed to support research that will underpin health and social care policy.

The three projects will be funded through the Evidence for Policy programme (EfP) which aims to respond directly to priority research questions from policymakers, generating high-quality evidence in a rigorous and transparent way.

Announcing the awards, Dr Gráinne Gorman, Chief Executive at the Health Research Board (HRB), says:

“This successful HRB – Department of Health partnership reinforces our commitment to embedding research within policy development and implementation.

“The programme fosters crucial collaboration between the policy and research communities, strengthening the evidence base for policy development on key societal healthcare challenges, enhancing healthcare decision-making and ultimately improving health outcomes and care for people.”

The three successful projects from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and Trinity College Dublin will:

  • Enhance responsiveness of Ireland’s home support services as the country prepares to introduce a statutory home support scheme. The study will examine how responsive current services are to older people’s needs, and deliver actionable indicators and policy recommendations to ensure they meet the needs of Ireland’s ageing population. (RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences)

 

  • Develop a robust, evidence-based framework for medical workforce planning in response to the challenges Ireland’s health system faces in medical staffing. The framework will deliver actionable strategies and policy recommendations to strengthen workforce planning and ensure a resilient, patient-centred health system. (RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences)

 

  • Generate critical evidence to strengthen Ireland’s national Stroke Strategy focusing on the promotion of physical activity for secondary stroke prevention. The research will update international evidence on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of exercise interventions, map current services, and evaluate real-world implementation. The project will deliver policy recommendations to ensure equitable, community-based, patient-centred stroke care across Ireland. (Trinity College Dublin)

John O’Neill, Research Policy & Innovation Unit, Department of Health says:

“In this co-created programme, the Department of Health and the Health Research Board are developing new mechanisms to allow policy units and research teams collaborate more widely on multi-year projects. We aim to continue increasing policymakers’ access to emerging evidence and innovative research so as to inform relevant policy and service delivery and ultimately achieve better health outcomes for the State.”

Lay summaries for the three successful awards along with details for communication contacts in relevant institutions are available to view here.

Further information on the EfP Programme is available on the HRB website.