Science policy projects

We are actively involved in a range of methodological research and other projects.

Our projects and partnerships help us to keep improving how NICE works. They also help us anticipate and adapt to policy developments, including changes in health and social care delivery.

Contact our research team

Review of NICE recommendations for outpatient follow-up after elective care

The health and care system continues to operate under exceptional pressures, with more patients than ever waiting for elective treatment. Using alternatives to traditional face-to-face outpatient follow-up may be one way to reduce pressure on the system. To check that NICE recommendations are not contributing to system pressures, in late 2023 we conducted a comprehensive review of our recommendations on outpatient follow-up after elective care.

We found that there are approximately 500 recommendations in 140 elective care guidelines on outpatient follow-up. Approximately 70% of these recommendations explicitly state that a follow-up appointment is required, 70% also say that follow-up ‘should’ occur, which indicates the recommendation is based on clear evidence of cost-effectiveness and patient benefit. 4% of follow-up recommendations suggest alternatives to face-to-face follow-up (such as virtual or patient initiated).

The assessment concluded that NICE has followed robust processes to formulate recommendations on follow-up. NICE will continue to base follow-up recommendations on evidence of patient benefit and value for money; document the rationale for recommending follow-up; and outline the evidence-base for changes to follow-up timing or delivery method, with due consideration of equity and access to care.

Read the full report (Word).

Environmental sustainability

NICE has a strategic objective to examine the potential to include environmental impact data in our guidance to reduce the carbon footprint of health and care. We have been working with academic partners to help us scope a framework for considering environmental sustainability information. We are also working closely with system partners to ensure our environmental sustainability work complements other similar work undertaken across the healthcare landscape.

Evaluation and purchasing models for antimicrobials

In collaboration with NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I) and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), we’re working on a project to develop and test models that pay companies for antimicrobials based primarily on assessment of their value to the NHS as opposed to the volumes used.

View the evaluation and purchasing models for antimicrobials project.

EQ-5D-5L valuation set for England

We’re advising on a valuation study to generate a new EQ-5D-5L value set for the UK. The study is being undertaken by a research team comprising investigators from across the UK, and is being overseen by a steering group which includes representatives from EuroQol, NICE, the Department of Health and Social Care, and NHS England.  

EQ-HWB

EQ-HWB (EQ Health and Wellbeing instrument) is a new standardised measure of of health and wellbeing that was created following the Extending the QALY research project that NICE contributed to.

The EQ-HWB has not been developed as a replacement for the EQ-5D, but as a different instrument that captures a broader range of impacts on people, their families and carers. Research is underway to validate the EQ-HWB and compare it with existing instruments. NICE supports this important research, which will help us to decide whether and how to use EQ-HWB to inform NICE evaluations in the future.

MHRA-NICE Effective Regulation and Evaluation of Digital Mental Health Technologies

We are collaborating with the MHRA on a Wellcome-funded project to explore issues around regulation and evaluation of digital mental health technologies, ranging from diagnostic and monitoring tools, self-help CBT apps and websites, and virtual reality and AI based therapies.

There has been a large increase in the number of digital mental health tools on the market in recent years. However, these products present challenges for regulation and health technology assessment, including whether technologies are medical devices, how they should be classified, and higher levels of uncertainty around effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.

Across five work packages, the project will explore the digital mental health landscape and consider issues around qualification and classification, clinical evaluation, and post-market surveillance and lifecycle assessment. At each stage, we will engage with and learn from people with lived experience and other subject experts, as well as working with international partners to help drive shared learning and international consensus.

NICE Listens

NICE Listens is our new programme of deliberative public engagement. It's been developed to give us an understanding of public opinion on moral, ethical and social value issues.

Using best practice methods, we work with external contractors who specialise in public engagement.

A new sample of members of the public is invited to take part in each project. They are given time to learn and become familiar with the topic area, before discussing it in detail and making recommendations. These recommendations are then be used by our executive team and board to inform various aspects of our work.

Find out more about NICE Listens.

Societal perspective

NICE methods guidance states that the default perspective for economic evaluations should be that of the NHS and personal social services, but a broader set of effects can be included in exceptional circumstances when they are deemed especially relevant and when requested by the Department of Health and Social Care in the remit for the evaluation.

The aim of this project is to explore the need for and challenges of adopting a societal perspective in NICE’s assessments.