National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is a large, nationally distributed UK health and care research system—not a university—designed to move evidence toward patient and service impact. Its infrastructure links universities, NHS trusts, care providers, patients, and communities, giving companies access to clinical expertise, specialist facilities, real-world settings, and participant recruitment. Clinical research facilities and a national delivery network support studies from experimental medicine through evaluation and implementation. NIHR is funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care; its network also supports research backed by UKRI, medical research charities, and life-sciences companies.