What We Do
Through our forums, we align priorities, reduce duplication and enable infrastructure to strengthen regional impact.
Through our forums, we align priorities, reduce duplication and enable infrastructure to strengthen regional impact.
Directors Forum
Senior leaders set strategic direction and align with NIHR priorities
Shared priorities
Focused themes that address regional and national needs
Operational Infrastructure Forum
Programme managers align activity and identify opportunities for collaboration
Collaboration and delivery
Joint working across infrastructure, sectors and organisations
Regional impact
Powering life-changing research that improves health and contributes to the UK’s economy
We host a quarterly NIHR Directors Forum, bringing together infrastructure directors from across the West Midlands. It provides a space to identify shared challenges, shape priorities and coordinate collective action. Current focus areas include research inclusion, community engagement and involvement, commercial collaboration and research capacity development.
These priorities reflect both regional needs and national direction, aligning with the NHS 10-Year Health Plan and its three shifts, and ensuring our infrastructure is well placed to support future research.
We also bring together operational colleagues through the NIHR Infrastructure Forum, supporting coordination, shared learning and effective delivery. This helps strengthen collaboration, build networks and support high-quality research across the region.
We are continuing to develop more joined-up ways of working, including our One NIHR Birmingham Operational Conference, which brings teams together to share learning, address challenges and shape future priorities.