The Chief Scientist Office

Developments/Restructuring Of Research Funding In Scotland Overview of NHS Infrastructure funding ( ) What we have delivered through the UKCRC ( ) What we are planning through the SAHSC ( ) Current/ongoing Support Issues

1. Overview of NHS Infrastructure Funding ( ) 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 ( ) 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 ( ) 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 ( ) 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 ( ) 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 ( ) 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 ( ) 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 Strategy / co-ordination NIHR £992m by MRC £682m by “Cooksey” Review led to significant new funding New money £300m by 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 Stevens Deputy Director, CSO