The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is the nation's largest funder of health and care research. The NIHR: • Funds, supports and delivers high quality research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care. • Engages and involves patients, carers and the public in order to improve the reach, quality and impact of research. • Attracts, trains and supports the best researchers to tackle the complex health and care challenges of the future. • Invests in world-class infrastructure and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services. • Partners with other public funders, charities and industry to maximise the value of research to patients and the economy The NIHR was established in 2006 to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research, and is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. In addition to its national role, the NIHR commissions applied health research to benefit the poorest people in low- and middle-income countries, using Official Development Assistance funding. We operate nationally across England through a national coordinating centre and 15 local branches delivering research in the NHS across all disease areas. The NIHR Clinical Research Network: West Midlands is hosted by The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust. The host is responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of research in the Trusts, primary care organisations and other qualified NHS providers throughout the West Midlands area.