Demand Signalling is the process of identifying, prioritising, and articulating the most important research questions and innovation challenges that need addressing to deliver against the ambitions set out in the NHS Long Term Plan.

Work on research demand signalling paused during the early stage of the pandemic but has been restarted with initial focus on Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism, and Stroke. Throughout this process, we engaged with a wide range of stakeholders including national policy teams, clinicians, charities, patients and carers and academics, and together we identified specific areas of health needs where research is needed. This work will result in the publication of reports which we will use to signal the NHS’s research needs out to funders and researchers. The first set of reports are:

• Research demand signalling: National Stroke Programme – published 3 March 2022
• Research demand signalling: National Mental Health Programme – published 20 September 2022
• Research demand signalling: National Learning Disability and Autism Programme– published 20 September 2022