The University of Southampton has been awarded two major contracts by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to deliver research commissioning and management services on behalf of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
The contracts have a combined value of £125 million over an initial five-year period, with the option for extension for a further four years.
They build on the University's long-standing relationship with the DHSC, having delivered health and care research management services on its behalf since 1996.
The University has hosted the NIHR Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre (NETSCC) since 2008. It's based within the School of Healthcare Enterprise and Innovation in the Faculty of Medicine.
NETSCC has supported research with significant real-world impact, including the TRANSFORM trial exploring new approaches to prostate cancer screening, the SENTINEL trial investigating early detection of lung transplant rejection, and research linking improvements in air quality following the introduction of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone with improved lung growth in children .
The new contracts are an important milestone in the evolution of NIHR and its operations, helping ensure it continues to power life-changing research for the health and wealth of the nation.
Professor Cheryl Metcalf , Head of the School of Healthcare Enterprise and Innovation, said: "Securing these contracts is a significant achievement for the University and our school and reflects the strength and expertise we have built in health and care research management over many years. It also gives us an exciting opportunity to build on our experience and work in new ways with partners across the health, innovation and policy landscape.
"At the heart of this work is a shared ambition to ensure research and innovation address the questions that matter to patients, communities and the health and care system, and that evidence, products and service improvements can translate into real-world improvements.
"We are proud to continue playing a national role in supporting the NIHR's research ambitions and look forward to working with our partners to maximise the impact of this new contract."
The successful bids were strengthened through partnerships with the Health Innovation Network, via Health Innovation Wessex, and with Public Policy Southampton.
Health Innovation Wessex will build on the University's links with industry, supporting innovators to progress promising interventions towards adoption and integration into health and care systems.
Public Policy Southampton will work with DHSC policy leads to develop research questions and longer-term research strategies, helping them identify and articulate their evidence needs.
The current NETSCC contract comes to an end in March 2027, with the newly awarded NIHR Research Programmes contract being hosted in the school from April 2027. The period between now and then will be used to plan and manage the transition, with continuity of services a key priority.
