UK university experts to partner on reproductive health research

A group of UK university experts will collaborate on researching policy and patient experience for reproductive health provision, as part of a new Policy Research Unit (PRU).

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has awarded over £100m in funding to 20 new PRUs across England.

An estimated £20m of this funding has been given to PRUs being hosted by University College London, one of which will focus on reproductive health.

Covering all aspects of the reproductive lifecourse, including menopause, contraception, infertility and urogynaecology, the PRU will be a collaboration between the Universities of Birmingham, Oxford and Warwick, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Hywel Dda University Health Board.

“This much welcomed funding, going to a range of important health care issues, has rightly prioritised reproductive health,” said professor Dame Lesley Regan, women’s health ambassador for England.

“This is an important step in our mission to deliver the Women’s Health Strategy and emphasises the vital role that research plays in our understanding of the key issues that will determine how we improve women’s health and wellbeing.”

Dr Louise Jackson, associate professor at the Institute of Applied Health Research at the University of Birmingham, will be providing health economics expertise, reflecting her experience in evaluating interventions across a wide range of reproductive health and women’s health, including integrated health services, referral pathways and remote consultations for sexual and reproductive health.

She will also be co-leading the Models of Care theme, which will involve exploring and evaluating different ways of providing care for reproductive health, including through digital technology.

She commented: “The Institute of Applied Health Research has a reputation for impactful research in reproductive health and women’s health, both within the UK and globally.

“I am looking forward to working as part of the PRU’s multidisciplinary team to ensure government and arm’s length bodies have the best possible information and economic evidence available when making policy decisions about reproductive health.”

Fiona de Londras, professor of global legal studies at Birmingham Law School – who will be providing reproductive rights expertise across the PRU’s research, – added: “I am very pleased to bring this expertise to the PRU, and to ensure the full integration of human rights in the economic, evaluative, clinical, and participatory work that this vital investment in reproductive health will undertake.”