Methodological research
NICE is at the forefront of methodological development in Health Technology Assessment.
We regularly review the methods and processes we use to develop our guidance. We do not currently have a research budget to cover major methodological research projects and so are reliant on liaison with the research community.
Working with the research community
Liaison with the Medical Research Council (MRC)
Our activities include liaison with the Medical Research Council's Methodology Research Programme (MRP). The MRP considers NICE's methodological needs on an ongoing basis.
The MRC methodology programme funded a research project in 2008, through its needs-led research process to inform when NICE should recommend the use of health technologies only in the context of an appropriately designed programme of evidence development.
Furthermore, it commissioned a scoping project the same year, led by University of York, to describe current processes, provide recommendations for identifying NICE's methodological research priorities and to establish an initial set of such priorities. Following the scoping project a number of methodological research priorities were identified and subsequently in 2009, following a researcher-led call, the MRC provided £2,303,650 to fund nine research projects.
Working with us on methodological research
A number of methodological research needs remain outstanding and we are keen to work with the research community to ensure they are addressed.
This page was last updated: 13 July 2011
