Allied Health Professions

The R&D Office is a directorate of the Northern Ireland Health and Social Services Central Services Agency (CSA) and was established to promote, co-ordinate and support R&D within the field of health and social care. The main R&D Office website is at

The R&D Office structure is outlined in the following link:

A Programme Manager for the Allied Health Professions has been appointed to assist the AHPs to benefit from all R&D Office schemes. The Programme Manager acts to promote opportunities and be an effective link between the Office and the AHPs. The current Programme Manager for Allied Health Professions is Dr Janice Bailie. Dr Bailie can be contacted as follows:

Research & Development Office
12-22 Linenhall Street
BELFAST
BT2 8BS

Tel. 028 9055 3617
Fax. 028 9055 3674
Email: janice.bailie@rdo.n-i.nhs.uk

For information on how to join the NI AHP Research Forum please click on the link below:

The attached link provides further information on this scheme.

The HPSS R&D Strategy was developed to promote high quality R&D relevant to the needs of NI. It also aimed to provide equality of opportunity amongst health professionals and support for HPSS professions and care sectors that do not have a long-standing R&D tradition. The document, Research for Health & Wellbeing – A Strategy for Research & Development to lead Northern Ireland into the 21st Century, provides a strategic framework for delivering high quality, relevant and co-ordinated HPSS R&D. The document is a statement of vision and a view of how HPSS R&D can be taken forward. A copy of the document is available at: www.centralservicesagency.n-i.nhs.uk/display/rdo_rd_office , alternatively a hard copy is available directly from the R&D Office.

The R&D Office produces a newsletter (R&D Today), which can be downloaded from www.centralservicesagency.n-i.nhs.uk/display/rdo_rd_office , alternatively a hard copy can be obtained upon request to the Office.

Research Governance concerns setting standards to improve research quality and safeguard the public. It involves enhancing ethical and scientific quality, promoting good practice, reducing adverse incidents, ensuring lessons are learned and preventing poor performance and misconduct. Further information can be found at

The recognised research group (RRGs) concept is designed to enhance good quality research, while creating a more vibrant research culture, with increased multi-disciplinary working and co-operation. There are currently seven RRGs supported by the HPSS R&D Office as follows: Cancer, Child Health and Welfare, Epidemiology, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Neuroscience, Trauma and Rehabilitation, and Infectious Diseases. It is possible to join an RRG as an affiliated or an associate member. Links to each of the RRGs can be found at:

The R&D Office has established a Clinical Research Support Centre with the aim of promoting and supporting high quality HPSS R&D covering the spectrum from clinical to health and social services research. The centre and all members of staff can be contacted as follows:

The NI Clinical Research Support Centre
Education and Research Centre
Royal Group of Hospitals Trust
Grosvenor Road
Belfast     BT12 6BA

Tel: 028 9063 5794
Email: crsc.info@royalhospitals.n-i.nhs.uk