The Chief Scientist Office

Developments/Restructuring Of Research Funding In

Scotland• Overview of NHS Infrastructure funding

(2002-06)

• What we have delivered through the UKCRC (2006-09)

• What we are planning through the SAHSC (2009-12)

• Current/ongoing Support Issues

1. Overview of NHS Infrastructure Funding (2002-06)

• Prior to 2002, R&D infrastructure funds embedded in NHS budgets

• New funding arrangements introduced to deploy funds in relation to ongoing research activity

• Three main activities funded:– Investigator Support (clinical time to do “eligibly

funded” research) – output allocated (~£12m) – Service Support Costs (additional patient care costs

in hosting eligibly funded research) (~£11m)– NHS Programmes (non-eligibly funded e.g. local

charity, own account research) (~ £10m)

1. Overview of NHS Infrastructure Funding (2002-06)

• Phased in over 3 years in Scotland to avoid instability

• Outstanding Issues:– Service Support Costs allocations not linked to

activity; “embedded”?– NHS Programmes not always well managed and

not a high priority for CSO funding.

2. What we have delivered through the UKCRC (2006-09)

UKCRC Aims:

• Expand research infrastructure

•Co-ordinate and expand clinical research (particularly multi-centre trials)

•Streamline regulatory and governance processes

•Strengthen collaborations with Industry

2. What we have delivered through the UKCRC (2006-09)

• Development of NHS research facilities in the main centres across Scotland, providing– Generic services – e.g. trials management,

statisticians, research nurses, pharmacy, imaging support

– Disease specific supports – e.g. paediatric and mental health nurses

– Networks in certain disease areas

– Capacity building initiatives (personal awards)

• New Investment: ~ £8m/year

2. What else we have delivered (2006-09)

Regionalisation of the Scottish Research Ethics Service– All RECs now managed through 4 Health Boards– Efficient approvals (49 days and falling)– Better managed & reduced number of RECs

NHS Research Scotland (NRS)– R&D Approval now co-ordinated through same 4

Boards– Standard procedures and single generic opinion– More efficient approvals– Greater clarity on where problems lie and why they

occur (R&D office, researcher, service dept.)

3. What we are planning through the SAHSC (2009-12)

Four Health Boards/four University Partnership

• Aim: “NHS Scotland’s new platform to support research for patient benefit and foster related economic development”

• Establish by 2012 a world-leading platform of ~250 infrastructure posts supported by ~£15m pa funding;

• £10m required to be freed up from the “embedded” NHS funds (Service Support Costs and NHS programmes)

• Provide a single point of contact and a streamlined system for clinical research relating to 5.5m people;

• Drive external investment from non-commercial and commercial R&D partners.

3. What we are planning through the SAHSC (2009-12)

• Co-ordinated NHS R&D approvals & use of standard documents (NRS) central to SAHSC

• Universities now moving to use common documents (and costing?)

• New investment in staff introduced over 3 years

• Managed by a Board of 9 key partners and chaired by CMO

Why?

UKCRC Analysis of all major public funders

• 13.1% of UK health research expenditure in Scotland

• Scotland has 8.5% of UK population• Estimated that proportion with a clinical

component even higher

Why?

OSCHR£1.7bn by 2010-11

Strategy / co-ordination

NIHR£992m by 2010-11

MRC£682m by 2010-11

“Cooksey” Review led to significant new funding

New money£300m by 2010-11

Focus – translational, public health and e-health research

4. Current/ongoing Support Issues

• Clinician Research Time– Paid for by CSO (Investigator Support) but does not

always make it through to the researcher– SAHSC motivating Boards to make this money “real”– Will be addressed in our new Research Strategy

• Accessing Service Support (nurses, imaging)– Less of a problem than in the past, but still difficulties

when money must be identified– Further investment through SAHSC in these services– BUT you will not always able to select how you will

have that (generic) support provided

4. Current/ongoing Support Issues

• Different Systems in England– England now managing their Service Support Costs

budget through Comprehensive Local Research networks (CLRNs)

– Comparisons not always valid/understood– Big Bang v Incremental

• Clarity on Who Funds What (ARCO)– CLRNs require clarity– Discussions on new ARCO document– Aim to simplify through clearer principles (impossible to

cover all situations) and possibly central/single decision?– Fewer players in Scotland – Boards v CLRNs, Trusts

4. Current/ongoing Support Issues

• Co-ordination in non-Network Areas of Activity

• No intention to fund any new Networks– NIHR Specialty Groups cover 26 areas of

disease/clinical need – CSO intend funding some clinical time for Scottish

Specialty Group representatives to co-ordinate research activity

Mike StevensDeputy Director, CSO

Mike.Stevens@scotland.gsi.gov.uk