Tuesday, 05 December 2023
A group of leading experts, led by the University of Nottingham, has secured over £900K in funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to establish the Knowledge for Public Health (KNOW-PH) team.
This groundbreaking initiative aims to revolutionise the way research is used in public health planning and delivery, paving the way for a healthier and more equitable society.
Despite the vast amount of existing research, its translation into effective public health interventions often falls short. This stems from how organisations struggle to discover and implement new research findings in practice. KNOW-PH addresses this critical gap by establishing a dedicated team of experts committed to bridging the divide between research and practice.
We are delighted that we have received this vital funding from NIHR to progress with KNOW-PH. The group will bring together people working in universities, local government, the voluntary sector and creative industries to help improve the delivery of public health services. Everyone within the group has experience of public health and health inequalities and will use novel, creative ideas to help turn evidence into action. We will work with people who will benefit most from the work we do.”
At the heart of KNOW-PH's mission lies a comprehensive and creative approach to sharing knowledge. This involves the development, design and implementation of innovative methods to support local and national governments to harness research outputs and make informed decisions. With a specific focus on tackling health inequalities, KNOW-PH will strive to ensure that the benefits of research reach all communities, regardless of their socioeconomic status or background.
The KNOW-PH consortium brings together a diverse range of expertise, including researchers, public health practitioners, and local government representatives.
The project is a collaboration between the universities of Nottingham, Sheffield, and Sheffield Hallam University with partners AFRUCA Safeguarding Children and City of Doncaster Council.
Dr Such adds: “This collaborative approach ensures that the project's outcomes align with real-world challenges and with the needs of the public health community. The team will create training materials, animations, podcasts, short videos, toolkits and infographics which they will share with people from local governments and members of the public.”
Story credits
More information is available from Dr Liz Such, from the University of Nottingham in the School of Life Sciences at elizabeth.such@nottingham.ac.uk
About the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR):
The mission of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. We do this by:
- Funding high quality, timely research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care;
- Investing in world-class expertise, facilities and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services;
- Partnering with patients, service users, carers and communities, improving the relevance, quality and impact of our research;
- Attracting, training and supporting the best researchers to tackle complex health and social care challenges;
- Collaborating with other public funders, charities and industry to help shape a cohesive and globally competitive research system;
- Funding applied global health research and training to meet the needs of the poorest people in low and middle income countries.
NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. Its work in low and middle income countries is principally funded through UK Aid from the UK government.
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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