Policy Innovation and Evaluation Research Unit (PIRU)

Description

The Policy Innovation and Evaluation Research Unit (PIRU) began work in January 2011. It brings together leading health and social care policy and research expertise to improve evidence-informed policy-making and its implementation across the Department of Health and Social Care, National Health Service, local authority social care and the field of public health.

In particular PIRU aims to strengthen policy development at national level by subjecting innovations and other initiatives to speedy, thorough, early stage evaluation.

The Unit is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Programme (reference PR-PRU-1217-20602). PIRU funding has been renewed to run from January 2019 through December 2023.

PIRU aims to:

Build evidence for policy

PIRU's team of researchers from leading research institutions works with policy and decision-makers in the Department of Health and Social Care, its arm's length bodies, the wider NHS, local government and beyond. Together, members produce rigorous research and evaluative evidence with a main focus on informing the early stages of policy innovation.

Strengthen evaluation

PIRU principally focuses on developing evaluation methods and undertaking evaluative studies (for example, of pilots and other forms of structured innovation) initiated at an early stage of national policy development. Members' work spans the entire Department of Health and Social Care portfolio of health services, social care and public health policy.

Support implementation

PIRU has good working relationships with policy and analytical staff in the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, Public Health England and other national agencies. Ideally, members will be involved from the earliest stage of policy development to ensure that the needs of evaluation are taken into account throughout the policy process.

PIRU also contributes to strengthening the Department’s ability to use evidence from previous research.

Offers funding

No, this infrastructure does not provide funding.

Founding year

2011

Contact details

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Categorisation

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University affiliation(s)

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
London

Partner Universities

Imperial College London