Website of the Department of Health

An advisory group to the NHS Central Research and Development Committee (CRDC) identified 20 priorities for Research and Development (R&D) in the area of the evaluation of methods to promote the implementation of research findings and these priorities were ratified in 1995.

Responsibility for the national programme on the evaluation of methods to promote the implementation of research findings (implementation methods programme) was taken forward by North Thames RHA under the directorship of Professor Andy Haines (who was also the Chairman of the Advisory Group). Dr Janet Wisely, also the programme manager of the national programmes on the Primary / Secondary Care Interface (PSI) and Mother and Child Health (MCH) was appointed to manage the programme. Professor Andy Haines stepped down as Director in April 1997 and Professor Sally C Davies, the Head of R&D for DHSC London, became the programme director. An eighteen member commissioning group under the Chairmanship of Professor Jeremy Grimshaw was established to advise on the programme.

The first call for proposals was issued in July 1995 which resulted in 32 projects being recommended for funding at a total cost of £4 million. A second call for proposals was issued in February 1997 which resulted in 3 projects being recommended for funding. There will be no further commissioning in this programme. On completion of peer review Executive summaries of final reports will be available to view on this home page, including details of publications.

The management of the programme has now been given over to the NHS Service Delivery and Organisation (SDO) Programme which is based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. For further details please see their website.