About PHG Foundation

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PHG Foundation is an independent not-for-profit public health organisation focusing on the translation of science and biomedical innovation to improve health; especially genome-based science and technologies and the actions needed to change healthcare policies and services to deliver the benefits of research to populations worldwide.

Our activities

• Application-oriented research and analysis and synthesis of knowledge, evidence and ideas about modern biomedical science and its implications for society
• Knowledge brokering between 'research' and 'practice' communities
• Helping health care providers and commissioners to evaluate biomedical research and redesign services to meet the needs of the populations they serve
• Advocacy and engagement with governments, policy makers and stakeholders to improve decision making and the realisation of the benefits of biomedical research

Why is this activity needed?

Biomedical research continues to thrive and new emphasis is being placed on research programmes that develop practical applications for our growing knowledge – so-called ‘bench-to-bedside’, or ‘translational’ research is seen by funders as a key priority.  But innovation in research doesn’t automatically create change in practice. ‘Translational research’ is not the same as ‘translation’.

Beyond the research environment, translation requires change management initiatives to enable  health care systems to  deliver new interventions to populations with different needs and characteristics. Capacity and skills are needed for evidence-based evaluation of the benefits and limitations of individual technologies and their utility for particular populations. Integrated knowledge and evidence are needed to support discriminating decision-making for public policy, funding and service provision.  And, as translation also requires the take-up of new technologies by society, the public debate around the (perceived and real) benefits and dilemmas presented by genomic medicine needs to be informed by evidence and impartial observations rather than 'hype' and special interests.

PHG Foundation exists because we believe that, whilst biomedical and translational research is vibrant and well funded, the change management activity required to make the final transition between research and practice is not. PHG Foundation aims to bridge this gap.