LGC, a provider of analytical and diagnostic services and reference standards, is to provide programme management for the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
LGC, a provider of analytical and diagnostic services and reference standards, is to provide programme management for the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
The NIHR is a key component of the Department of Health (DH) strategy publication, 'Best Research for Best Health: A New National Health Research Strategy' (January 2006), for the NHS in England.
For an initial period of five years, LGC will operate the NIHR's Central Commissioning Facility.
This is being created to streamline and simplify the application process for DH research and development funding.
LGC will also manage two of the programmes that will come under the Central Commissioning Facility - the existing 'Policy Research Programme' (PRP), and a new response mode programme 'Research for Patient Benefit' (RfPB).
LGC's External Programme Management Group (EPMG), which will lead on the work, already manages two existing DH research programmes: 'New and Emerging Applications of Technology' (NEAT) and 'Genetics'.
Staffed by qualified research scientists and professional programme managers, EPMG's combined skills have produced a highly specialised team for science and technology programme management, with all contracts performed to ISO9001 standard.
Central to LGC's bid was its partnership with NEL Management Consulting to construct a secure Web-site and database for the Central Commissioning Facility.
LGC and TUV NEL also manage the DTI Technology Programme, an output of the government's ten-year Science and Innovation Investment Framework published in 2004.
Dr Emily Gardner, Team Leader of LGC's EPMG, said: "The tendering process has been extremely thorough and competitive so we are absolutely delighted that LGC will have a role to play in achieving strategic goals in national health research".
"We have been working with DH in the management of research and development programmes for a number of years and we value the opportunity to further develop this relationship in the coming months as the NIHR's Central Commissioning Facility comes on-stream".
