CMHW awarded NIHR funding to explore research impact plans

The NIHR Work and Health Research Programme has announced £1.5 million in funding to 13 development award projects to support health in working people, including CMHW’s ‘Research-to-impact’ (REACT) programme. The funding marks the beginning of a substantial investment to boost work and health research within the UK, aiming to find better ways to support working age people to remain in, return to, and leave work healthier and happier. 

Musculoskeletal conditions like back pain or arthritis are amongst the most common causes in the UK of people being off work due to illness or stopping work altogether. Evidence exists which shows how people with these conditions can be better supported to stay in work, however, often this evidence is not effectively translated into policies and programmes which lead to real-world benefits. 

The CMHW: REACT project will explore how recently completed research might lead to important changes in workplace and healthcare practice. 

Professor Gary Macfarlane, Centre Manager, said: “CMHW’s research programme is focused on supporting patients with musculoskeletal conditions, their employers and healthcare professionals to enable them to stay in work as long as they wish to do so.

“Our plan will bring together patients, policy makers, clinicians, charities and employers with experts in translating research into programmes, guidelines and policies, to decide which studies have the greatest potential to have the most impact.”