The National Institute for Health Research: making an impact in imaging research

Since the inception of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in 2006, the landscape for the delivery of clinical research within the National Health Service (NHS) has been transformed. Clinical radiology has benefitted from funding opportunities for primary imaging research as well as improvements to the supporting research infrastructure to provide imaging for many clinical trials; however, in an increasingly challenging NHS environment, the NIHR and clinical radiology have to evolve an effective working partnership to ensure imaging research is sustainable and will make an impact. A number of initiatives have arisen from discussions between the NIHR, the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR), and stakeholders that will be discussed in this article. It is hoped that these initiatives will be embraced by the imaging community and create a more dynamic sustainable imaging workforce, driving and supporting research and innovation towards future sustainability.