The Prevention Research Support Program: supporting innovation in research, translation and capability building

Area of Science:

• Public Health Research
• Health Policy and Practice
• Research Funding and Impact

Background:

• The Prevention Research Support Program (PRSP) is a New South Wales (NSW) Ministry of Health initiative.
• It aims to strengthen prevention and early intervention research crucial for the NSW public health system.
• The program seeks to improve health and reduce inequities within NSW.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe how PRSP funding has supported high-quality, policy-relevant research.
• To evaluate the increase in research impact on policy and practice.
• To assess the program's role in building research capability within NSW Health.

Main Methods:

• Data aggregated from funding applications and annual progress reports of recipients.
• Analysis of trends in research excellence indicators over time.
• Consultations with funding recipients, policy/practice partners, and stakeholders for review.

Main Results:

• Recipients showed increased peer-reviewed publications, grant income, and supervised research students.
• Various strategies were employed to ensure dialogue with health system partners.
• Research impacts were reported at local, state, national, and international levels, alongside capability development.

Conclusions:

• The PRSP is a highly valued, unique funding scheme.
• Continuous funding allows strategic research approaches and innovative implementation.
• The program effectively supports research excellence and its translation into practice.