Research Networks - overarching (UK)

RCN Research Society

The RCN Research Society's aim is to promote research in nursing and to support nurses in whatever capacity they work.

Website: http://www.rcn.org.uk/development/researchanddevelopment/rs

CHAIN (Contact, Help, Advice and Information Network)

CHAIN - Contact, Help, Advice and Information Network - is an online mutual support network for people working in health and social care. It is based around specific areas of interest, and gives people a simple and informal way of contacting each other to exchange ideas and share knowledge.  CHAIN is open to anyone working in the public, voluntary, educational or private sector. Members who work for a private sector organisation must agree not to use CHAIN for commercial purposes.

Joining CHAIN will give you access to the CHAIN Directory, enabling you to find and communicate with other members of the network. Your own details will be added to the Directory, and other members may contact you from time to time. As a member of a mutual support network you should be willing to share your experience as appropriate.

Website: http://chain.ulcc.ac.uk/chain/index.html 

Alliance for Self Care Research

The Alliance for Self Care Research is a consortium of the universities of Aberdeen, Abertay, Dundee, Robert Gordon, St Andrews and Stirling and their local NHS organisations that serve a significant proportion of Scotland's population. The Alliance has two main aims:

  • to undertake rigorous research to provide an evidence base for 'enhancing self-care';
  • to build capacity and capability amongst nurses, midwives and allied health professionals

Website: http://www.ascr.ac.uk/

Centre for Integrated Healthcare Research (CIHR)

The CIHR involves a collaboration between three higher education institutions in Edinburgh, Queen Margaret University, The University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Napier University and three NHS organisations NHS Lothian, Border and Lanarkshire. We also collaborate with a wide range of other institutions in the UK and internationally.   The CIHR has three programmes of research:

  • Early years and parenting
  • Improving the management of enduring conditions
  • Maximising recovery from acute illness and trauma

In addition the CIHR will be focusing on research related to the fields of mental health, public health and intervention.

Website: http://www.cihr.org.uk/

The Health Services Research Network (HSRN)

The HSRN is a membership network for organisations and bodies across the UK with an interest in health services research.  It provides a unique opportunity for communication between health services researchers, managers and policy makers.  There are over 100 organisations in membership, including around 60 groups of health services researchers in universities and other institutes (representing over a 1000 people), and around 40 NHS bodies with an interest in HSR and knowledge transfer.

Website: www.nhsconfed.org/hsrn

NHS Networks

Formed in 2005 to promote the development of networking in the health service, NHS Networks is a free resource dedicated to help people get together to share ideas and improve the health service for all those who work in and use it.  Their mission is to provide a home for networks of all kinds; a way for people to link with others who share their interests, to join existing networks or start new ones; and to enable networks to connect in interesting new ways.

Website: http://www.networks.nhs.uk

The NHS Research and Development Forum

The network for R&D management in health and social care. The NHS R&D Forum is a network for those involved in managing and supporting R&D in health and social care. Our aim is to improve the environment for research in health and social care by facilitating and encouraging sharing of best practice, and working with other organisations. Membership of the Forum is free and open to anyone involved in or interested in managing and planning research and development in the NHS or social care. Joining the Forum ensures that you receive regular email newsletters, keeping you informed of conferences and other activities of the Forum..

Website: http://www.rdforum.nhs.uk/

Service Delivery and Organisation Network (SDON)

The SDO Network supports NHS managers to use research to improve and develop the services they manage. The Network offers a range of services customised to the needs of senior, middle and new NHS managers. Services for its members include events which bring together the latest learning from research and the experiences of front-line NHS managers; action learning sets; a chief executives forum; academic fellowship placements; and support in conducting and sourcing the latest research. Membership is free. The SDO Network is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) SDO programme.

Website: http://www.nhsconfed.org/SDONetwork