Reflecting on a year of research excellence this Christmas season

As the year comes to an end, it is always timely to reflect on how much has been achieved and how collectively as a research community, we are making a difference to people in Wales.

We, in Health and Care Research Wales, are enormously proud of our researchers, health and social care professionals and our public community who make significant contributions to the research agenda. We would like to thank everyone who took part in research this year. From the 20,000 members of the public who participated in studies to everyone who participated in involvement activities. Our workforce has supported the delivery of 800 research studies at a time when services and budgets are under increased pressure.

Other key highlights include the successes within our funded centres, where we have seen 129 successful grants won, with a value of £44.1million, and 248 new jobs created. We are delighted that we have negotiated access for W researchers to a more extensive range of NIHR schemes, as well as supporting our own Health and Care Research Wales Integrated Funding Scheme. We’ve launched new funding opportunities which are now available through our Faculty personal award schemes to build our next generation of researchers in the NHS, social care sector and in our higher education institutions. More of what has been achieved can be found in the annual report (link)

So, what’s next for us? As we head into 2025, Health and Care Research Wales will continue to focus on delivering our three-year plan Research Matters: Our plan for improving health and care research in Wales 2022-25. We will see increased focus on strengthening our commercial research offer and supporting ministerial priorities such as women’s health and cancer to name a few. We will launch our plans on inclusive research, our second plan on public involvement and engagement, ‘Discover your Role’, and our plan to support nurses, midwives and allied health professions through the work on the PRIORITY project

As always, none of this would be possible without your help - our patient and public representatives, our universities, health boards, local authorities and social care providers, as well as many others. To everyone who helps turn our vision of ‘today’s research, tomorrow’s care’ into a reality, we extend our heartfelt thanks to you this Christmas - diolch yn fawr.

With best wishes for the festive season and the year ahead.

Carys Thomas and Michael Bowdery, Joint Interim Directors, Health and Care Research Wales