Resources to make research connections

There are a range of research advice and support resources available including:

• The NIHR provides free support and advice for health and social care researchers via their Research Support Service (RSS)
• The NHS Health Research Authority (HRA) has advice about planning and carrying out research
• The Council for Allied Health Professions Research (CAHPR) has a range of resources for practitioners who want to develop research goals
• The NIHR also has discipline specific resources and NIHR SSCR for social care research
• The Race Equality Network can advise on linking up with diverse groups.

Expanding your professional network and speaking informally to people involved with research can be helpful:

• The Council for Allied Health Professions Research (CAHPR) has a number of UK hubs that could help you contact researchers in your region
• Link up with other NIHR-supported incubator hubs
• Sign up for the NIHR post-doctoral mentorship scheme
• Get involved with rehabilitation research networks. For example, the Society for Research in Rehabilitation (SRR)and Rehabilitation Alliances in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
• Contact us at the CRRN if you want to have an informal chat about research.

We have compiled some resources to help guide and facilitate formal research collaborations:

• The NIHR provides guidance for collaborations in health care research
• Find research community research partners or organisations to work with
• Other guidance is also available for collaboration advice
• The Council for Allied Health Professions Research (CAHPR) supports collaboration between health professionals to strengthen allied health professional research
• Contact peers, find a sponsor or contact research sites via the Research and Development (R&D) Contacts Directory
• Get in touch with regional Research Delivery Networks (formerly Clinical Research Networks) that aims to bring research to under-served regions and communities with major health and care needs, considering the need for research inclusion and for the benefits of research to be spread across the whole country.
• Collaborate with medical technology companies, NHS, universities, patients and public at one of 14 UK Health Tech Research Centres