About Us
The NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre (NHSC) was established as an independent research team at the University of Birmingham in 1998, and incorporated as a research programme within the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in 2006.
Aims
The NHSC aims to supply timely information to key policy- and decision-makers within the NHS about emerging health technologies that may have a significant impact on patients or the provision of health services in the near future.
Remit
The NHSC has a remit to identify key emerging pharmaceuticals, therapeutic vaccines, medical devices and equipment, diagnostic and predictive tests and procedures, rehabilitation aids and therapy, and public health activities. The NHSC does not have a remit to identify prophylactic vaccines (e.g. childhood vaccinations), new screening programmes, or new food products with claimed health benefits.