The PHSRN is a network of Medical Research Council research units and centres which aims to bring together and add value to MRC's existing investments in public health, health services and epidemiology research by:
- galvanising MRC's research effort with a focus on methodological approaches to population health sciences research;
- adding value and strengthening research expertise intramurally by pooling and sharing resources to create a more effective critical mass in population health sciences;
- providing a coordinated voice on research and policy issues in population health sciences.
The PHSRN currently has thirteen members, whose Directors comprise the network's management Board. In 2011, the 5 UKCRC Centres of Excellence in Public Health Research and the Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy were invited to join the network and all centres are represented on the Board.
The PHSRN funds research workshops and projects with a focus on methodological knowledge transfer in the following areas:
- translating population health sciences research into policy and practice
- changing behaviour
- improving the measurement of exposure, development and function
- overcoming barriers to population health sciences research
- synthesizing evidence