About us

Lambeth HDRC is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). 

Our role is to help the council and its partners use research and evidence to reduce health inequalities - the unfair and avoidable differences in health status, or access to health resources, which exist between different population groups. 

Our goal is a healthier, fairer Lambeth.

Research should benefit the people it’s about 

To tackle health inequalities, we need to understand who’s being left behind, why it’s happening and how we can change this. Research helps us uncover these patterns and turn insight into action. 

Lambeth HDRC connects council teams with universities, the NHS, community organisations and residents, to make Lambeth an evidence informed borough, where decisions are shaped by data, professional insight and lived experience. Evidence includes community knowledge, not just statistics. 

Lambeth HDRC is setting up the infrastructure and partnerships needed for the council, residents and local organisations to work together to carry out research and use good-quality evidence by:  

• training council staff, Lambeth residents and partners in research skills
• connecting residents, academic researchers and council departments to produce research together
• linking datasets which can be used to design fair, effective council services
• hosting research events and networks to bring together residents, community organisations, academic institutions, and decision-makers
• supporting staff and communities to apply for research funding, research-related career opportunities and support
• sharing learnings with other local authorities and partners to improve local, regional and national practice 

About the NIHR

The NIHR funds, enables and delivers world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health and wellbeing and promotes economic growth.  

The NIHR has awarded £150 million to 30 HDRCs across the UK, to provide the capacity and capability for local authorities to undertake public health research to address the wider determinants of health and health inequalities.  

Lambeth HDRC is one of the first 10 HDRCs that were funded as part of this pilot. In London, there are 3 other HDRCs, hosted by the London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Ealing and Islington.