Welcome to the MRC Population Health Sciences Research Network (PHSRN)

The PHSRN is a network of Medical Research Council research units and centres which aims to bring together and add value to MRC's existing investments in public health, health services and epidemiology research by:

• galvanising MRC's research effort with a focus on methodological approaches to population health sciences research;
• adding value and strengthening research expertise intramurally by pooling and sharing resources to create a more effective critical mass in population health sciences, especially in underrepresented disciplines;
• providing a coordinated voice on research and policy issues in population health sciences.

The PHSRN currently has thirteen members, whose Directors comprise the network's management Board.

The PHSRN funds research workshops and projects with a focus on methodological knowledge transfer in the following areas

• translating population health sciences research into policy and practice
• changing behaviour
• improving the measurement of exposure, development and function  
• overcoming barriers to population health sciences research
• synthesizing evidence

Further details are on the themes page. To apply for PHSRN funding you must be employed in of one of the member units or centres; however researchers employed in other MRC units and centres may be involved as co-applicants, and collaborations with non MRC-funded researchers are welcome. Further details, application forms and guidance are on the applying page.

Examples of recent and forthcoming PHSRN activities include:

• Public health research - methods and challenges - international conference on the big challenges facing translational research in public health
• revision of the MRC guidelines for the evaluation of complex interventions. The new guidance has now been published, with an accompanying BMJ paper, editorial and correspondence.
• development of new MRC guidance on the evaluation of natural experiments to help producers, funders, publishers and users of public health evidence understand how and when natural experiments can be used to good effect.
• publication of a translational routemap for public health research.

Further information about all PHSRN events is available on the activities page.

These webpages are currently under development. Please send your suggestions to Peter Craig.