What is the NIHR portfolio and why should I know about it?
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is a virtual organisation through which funded research in the NHS is now organised. If your study is funded by a recognised funding body it may be eligible to go onto the portfolio. This means it becomes eligible for support through the UK Clinical Research Network. For example, the Trust has two Mental Health Research Network Clinical Studies Officers based in the Trust that help with applications, recruitment and the general running of portfolio studies. The Trust will also receive research support costs through the Comprehensive Local Research Network for all portfolio studies. If you are still waiting to hear whether your study has been funded you should still complete a Portfolio Adoption Form on the IRAS (Integrated Research Application System) website. Ticking the appropriate area for your research (eg. mental health) registers your study with that particular network. You still need to go through a formal adoption process with t
