Research at the Institute
Research at the Institute will focus on the following themes:
- Improving services: measuring outcomes and evaluating services
This research will develop more humane, dignified and cost-effective measures and models of care. It will set standards of care for all patients with cancer and other progressive illnesses, and for their families and carers, through the development and evaluation of improved services. This research will determine the most effective and cost-effective services, feeding into government policy and the funding of hospice, cancer, supportive and palliative care services.
- Improving assessment and treatment: focused clinical research
We will investigate more effective ways to prevent and treat difficult-to-control and poorly understood symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue, depression and pain, and undertake clinical trials to evaluate new treatments. Collaborative programmes will be established for specific conditions or symptoms where therapies and palliative care have so far been little developed.
- Improving palliative care for the future
We will launch a new strand of research examining the palliative care needs of currently neglected groups, including older people, black and minority ethnic communities, people in socially excluded groups and in economically deprived contexts. We will establish links with ethicists and social scientists to examine spiritual and ethical issues.