Researchers at RCSI have secured two of the three awards announced today under the Health Research Board (HRB) Evidence for Policy (EfP) programme, with combined funding of more than €760,000 to inform key areas of Irish health policy.

Delivered in partnership between the HRB and the Department of Health, the Evidence for Policy programme directly addresses priority research questions identified by policymakers. The initiative aims to generate high-quality, timely and transparent evidence to support decision-making and strengthen Ireland’s health and social care system.

Announcing the awards, Dr Gráinne Gorman, Chief Executive at the Health Research Board (HRB), said “This successful HRB/Department of Health partnership reinforces our commitment to embedding research within policy development and implementation.

“The programme fosters crucial collaboration between the policy and research communities, strengthening the evidence base for policy development on key societal healthcare challenges, enhancing healthcare decision-making and ultimately improving health outcomes and care for people.”

Dr Elizabeth Morrow, Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, has received €388,000 to enhance the responsiveness of Ireland’s home support services as the country prepares to introduce a statutory home support scheme. The study will examine how responsive current services are to older people’s needs and deliver actionable indicators and policy recommendations to ensure they meet the needs of Ireland’s ageing population.

Dr Siobhan McCarthy, Lecturer in the Graduate School of Healthcare Management, has been awarded €376,000 to develop a robust, evidence-based framework for medical workforce planning in response to the challenges Ireland’s health system faces in medical staffing. The framework will deliver actionable strategies and policy recommendations to strengthen workforce planning and ensure a resilient, patient-centred health system.

Professor Fergal O’Brien, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at RCSI, welcomed the announcement: “We are very proud to see RCSI researchers secure two of the three awards in this competitive national programme. These projects demonstrate the strength of our policy-relevant research and our commitment to generating evidence that directly informs health and social care decision-making in Ireland.”