The Health Research Board (HRB) is the lead funding agency for health research in Ireland. It oversees a €45 million investment in health research activity each year. The HRB also manages four national health information systems; produces evidence reviews for the Department of Health to inform health policy making; and manages the HRB National Drug Library, a specialist information resource for health practicioners, researchers and policy makers in the drug and alcohol field.

Capacity Building for Evidence Synthesis

As part of the HRB Strategy 2016 – 2020: Research. Evidence. Action.  The HRB aims to promote and support evidence synthesis and knowledge translation activities in order to help policy makers, service planners and providers to make evidence informed decisions. This will be supported through capacity building in evidence synthesis by consolidating, nurturing and building on previous investments.

The HRB together with the Health and Social Care Research and Development Division, Northern Ireland (HSC R&D) have a longstanding track record in supporting systematic reviews of evidence to underpin healthcare decision making through the Cochrane Collaboration.

In 2002, the island of Ireland became the first place in the world to provide free access for all citizens to the Cochrane Library through a joint funding initiative. Since then, a significant number of researchers, practitioners, educators, information scientists and others have participated in annually-delivered Cochrane training courses and workshops. Furthermore, more than 130 individuals have been awarded Cochrane Fellowships to provide them with protected time and intensive training to complete a systematic review and/or updates for incorporation into the Cochrane Library.

Through funding schemes such as the Capacity Building for Evidence Synthesis (CBES) Award the HRB continues to provide funding to build a critical mass of experts in a range of evidence synthesis methodologies.