Who we are

Who we are

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funds the Research Design Service (RDS) to provide design and methodological support to health and social care researchers. The RDS aims to increase the quantity and quality of successful grant applications to NIHR and other national peer-reviewed funding programmes.

The RDS East of England is one of ten regional services across England and covers the counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. The central office for the RDS East of England is based at the University of Essex with partner organisations and research advisers at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Universities of Bedfordshire, East Anglia and Hertfordshire.

Regional offices

EssexBedfordshireCambridgeHertfordshireNorfolk & Suffolk

School of Health and Social Care

University of Essex
Wivenhoe Park
Colchester
CO4 3SQ

Putteridge Bury Campus

University of Bedfordshire
Hitchin Road
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU2 8LE

Cambridgeshire

Room C
Flat 33
Coton House
Addenbrooke’s Hospital
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ

Centre for Health Services and Clinical Research

1F424 Health Research Building
University of Hertfordshire
College Lane
Hatfield
Hertfordshire
AL10 9AB

University of East Anglia

Norwich Medical School
University of East Anglia
Norwich Research Park
Norwich
NR4 7TJ

Our team of specialist advisers offers free, confidential advice on all aspects of an application including:

  • designing a research study
  • research methods (qualitative and quantitative)
  • identifying suitable sources of funding
  • involving potential academic, clinical and lay collaborators
  • involving patients and public in research design

To request advice please complete our online form or alternatively, please email: rdsc@essex.ac.uk.