Research

National Prevention Research Initiative (NPRI)

The National Prevention Research Initiative (NPRI) was a national initiative made up of government departments, research councils and major medical charities that worked together to encourage and support research into chronic disease prevention. Its core aim was to develop and implement successful, cost-effective interventions that reduce people’s risk of developing major diseases by influencing their health behaviours.

The NPRI partners provided a funding commitment of ~ £34 million for four funding calls (awards made in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2011) which have supported 74 research projects of variable size and duration. The MRC managed the initiative on behalf of its funding partners. 

In 2014, the current funders of the NPRI tasked a Scientific Review Group with reviewing the outputs from individual projects and the initiative as a whole; and to advise on future opportunities in prevention research.

NPRI funding partners

The MRC manages the initiative on behalf of its 16 funding partners:

  • Alzheimer’s Research UK
  • Alzheimer’s Society
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
  • British Heart Foundation
  • Cancer Research UK
  • Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Government Health Directorate
  • Department of Health
  • Diabetes UK
  • Economic and Social Research Council
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
  • Health and Social Care Research Division, Public Health Agency, Northern Ireland
  • Medical Research Council
  • Stroke Association
  • Wellcome Trust
  • Welsh Government
  • World Cancer Research Fund.

The NPRI welcomes approaches from organisations with similar interests in preventing chronic disease and promoting good health behaviour, who would like to join us. Both public and charity sector organisations, large or small, are welcome.

For more information, please contact Dr Gavin Malloch, gavin.malloch@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk.

NPRI report

A report by an independent scientific review group commissioned by the funders of the NPRI.

NPRI report annexes

Awards

Including:

Case studies