Population Health Research Facility
The Population Health Research Facility (PHRF) offers expert, tailored support to researchers working within community and NHS settings. We provide practical help with every aspect of a study, from the initial funding application through project set-up and management, to final archiving.
We've been making a significant contribution to randomised controlled trials of complex interventions, community based projects and epidemiological studies within social and public health research, as well as (non-CTIMP) NHS-based research projects for over 30 years. We now support these and other study types across the School of Health and Wellbeing, the University of Glasgow, and beyond (for example: Glasgow Caledonian University, Queen’s University Belfast, University of Surrey, University of Stirling, University of Dundee).
The settings we have worked in include participants’ homes, schools, places of work, prisons, community centres, sport stadia, hospitals, bars and more.
We provide:
- Methodological and Design Advice, provided in collaboration with experts from our Complexity in Health Improvement programme
- Project planning and delivery - projection of non-salary costs, study set up before funding commences, provision of advice on research governance and project risk management, study closedown activities
- Project Management – from project planning to dissemination, stakeholders contact, risk and quality management, protocol and regulation compliance, support with REC and NHS R&D applications, budget oversight and training
- Data Management, database development, both in-house and in collaboration with the Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, in house qualitative and quantitative data entry and when required liaison with the external data entry companies, data transfer. Quality governed by the Unit’s Standard Operating Procedures
- Study Materials Design, Plain English editing, study questionnaires formatting, design of participant information sheets, consent forms, infographics, logos, leaflets and advertisements, and printing operations management
- Fieldwork and Operations Management, oversight of all project fieldwork operations, training and other day to day activities, provided by our experienced Operations Manager. Our flexible workforce of 20 active fieldworkers and nurses are trained in the use of data collection tools, including anthropometrics, clinical measures, biological samples collection, questionnaires completion and accelerometry. Our fieldworkers can support your research in the field by identifying and recruiting participants, completing data collection visits, and ensuring excellent follow-up rates
- Administrative assistance available across different research projects
- Equipment hire, governance, SOPs, internal audit, lone worker training and more.
To talk about how we can help with your research study, please get in touch with Sharon Simpson.
If you're taking part in one of our studies and would like to find out more, or tell us about a change of contact details, please send an email to survadmin@sphsu.mrc.ac.uk or call our FREEPHONE number 0800 389 2129.
Testimonials
‘The PHRF has been invaluable in supporting the excellent recruitment and retention rates in the FFIT RCT and FFIT Follow Up Studies.
Men measured by fieldwork staff in football stadia really appreciated their highly professional, sensitive and enthusiastic approach, which made the measurement process an enjoyable one that many were happy to repeat on multiple occasions.’ Dr Cindy Gray, Senior Lecturer in Health Behaviour Change, University of Glasgow
‘I was delighted with the service PHRF provided on our GoEast study - they pulled together a great team of fieldworkers and pulled out all the stops to achieve an impressive response rate for our hard to reach population.’ Professor Anne Ellaway, Programme Leader, MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
‘Working with the PHRF on the Seniors USP study, provided us with a dedicated single point of contact for research participants, access to experienced and friendly research nurses for data collection, and graphic design input which really enhanced the presentation and look of our questionnaire.’ Dr Philippa Dall, Senior Research Fellow, School of Health & Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University
