• University of Leeds
  • NHS National Institute for Health Research logo

What is Health Research?

Explore the world of health research and the role volunteers play in transforming treatments and improving health care.

7,166 enrolled on this course

nurse talking to a patient during health research

What is Health Research?

7,166 enrolled on this course

  • 3 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Open level

Find out more about how to join this course

Learn about health research and explore opportunities to get involved.

Have you ever wondered how doctors and nurses know what treatment or care to give?

It’s only through health research that healthcare professionals find new and better ways of preventing, diagnosing and treating disease. Today’s research is tomorrow’s treatment.

On this course, you will learn how health research happens, why it matters and what to expect if you take part. You will also hear stories from people who have taken part in research; why they volunteered and the difference it made.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 6 seconds Health research is about all of us. It asks the most important health questions that you or someone you know might face. And seeks to answer them so that new treatments and care can be created. And it wouldn’t be possible without people like you taking part in research or even helping to create research. This course takes you into the world of health research where you will gain an understanding of how it all works and meet the people who are involved so that you can decide whether you want to get involved. You will learn what to expect if you do take part. I meet people who will tell you why they did it.

Skip to 0 minutes and 44 seconds You’ll learn how steps are made to keep you and your data safe and how you be kept well informed. Unable to ask all those questions that are important to you. You’ll learn how health research helps to save lives and how to find out about research that’s happening near you. You join this course and find out how health research can be an option for you.

What topics will you cover?

What is the value of Health Research?

  • What is research?
  • Different types of research
  • Why do people get involved in health research?

How can you make an informed decision about taking part?

  • What can you expect?
  • How are people kept safe and informed during health research?

Being part of research

  • Why health research is exciting
  • How can you contribute?

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Reflect on patient case studies to describe what is involved in health research
  • Apply learning to make informed decisions on how and why you could participate in health research
  • Identify the questions to ask before taking part in health research
  • Identify who to contact to get more information about health research

Who is the course for?

If you’re interested in taking part in health research or discovering how to get involved in supporting health research, this course will help to answer your questions before you make the decision.

Who will you learn with?

I'm 63 and a member of VOICE at Newcastle Uni. I've been involved with various projects (Clinical Ageing, Gait Lab, Brain and Movement, Academic Psychiatry) I'm on Trial Steering Committees UK wide

Former carer for my late mother with Dementia for 15 years until 2009. Volunteer as NIHR/JDR Champion & Alzheimer's Society Local Rep/Research Network also GMC PPI. Member Dementia Researcher.

Head of Learning Development & Design for the Clinical Research Network (part of the National Institute of Health Research - NIHR) based in the UK.

I work for the NIHR Clinical Research Network in the Workforce, Learning and Organisational Development team. I create content for online learning (including this MOOC) and support social learning.

Leadership Capability Manager at the Clinical Research Network, part of the NIHR. I lead on learning and developing for people involved in Health Research with a special interest in leadership.

Who developed the course?

University of Leeds

As one of the UK’s largest research-based universities, the University of Leeds is a member of the prestigious Russell Group and a centre of excellence for teaching.

National Institute for Health Research

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is funded through the Department of Health and Social Care to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$89/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 9 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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