Table 1. Description of the Health Research Classification System.

Research Activity Code (Description) and Subcategory
1. Underpinning research: ( Research that underpins investigations into the cause, development, detection, treatment and management of diseases, conditions and ill health. )
1.1 Normal biological development and functioning (i.e. genes, molecular and biological pathways)
1.2 Psychological and socioeconomic processes (i.e. health and well-being)
1.3 Chemical and physical sciences (i.e. molecular modeling, chemical structures, bioengineering)
1.4 Methodologies and measurements (i.e. statistical methods, mapping methodologies, biological/socioeconomic research methods)
1.5 Resources and infrastructure (i.e. development/distribution of resources, cell lines, DNA banks, infrastructure to support research networks and centers)
2. Aetiology: ( Identification of determinants that are involved in the cause, risk or development of diseases, conditions and ill health. )
2.1 Biological and endogenous factors (i.e. risk factors liked to ethnicity, age, gender, gene products)
2.2 Factors relating to physical environment (i.e. physical agents, environmental surroundings, radiation and pollution)
2.3 Psychological, social, and economic factors (i.e. individual or group behaviors and lifestyle)
2.4 Surveillance and distribution
2.5 Research design and methodologies-under aetiology category (i.e. development and evaluation of novel research designs, new epidemiological research measurements)
2.6 Resources and infrastructure (under aetiology category)
3. Prevention of disease and conditions, and promotion of well-being: ( Research aimed at the primary prevention of disease, conditions or ill health, or promotion of well-being. )
3.1 Primary prevention interventions to modify behaviors or promote well-being (i.e. risk behaviors associated with diet, tobacco use, alcohol, substance misuse)
3.2 Interventions to alter physical and biological environmental risks (i.e. radiation, second hand smoke, physical and chemical agents)
3.3 Nutrition and chemoprevention
3.4 Vaccines
3.5 Resources and infrastructure (prevention)
4. Detection, screening and diagnosis: ( Discovery, development and evaluation of diagnostic, prognostic and predictive markers and technologies. )
4.1 Discovery and preclinical testing of markers and technologies
4.2 Evaluation of markers and technologies
4.3 Influences and impact of screening and factors affecting uptake (i.e. attitudes and beliefs such as culture and religious practices, issues relating to gender/age/ethnicity, genetic counseling)
4.4 Population screening programmes (i.e. feasibility studies, evaluation of effectiveness, benefits and economic evaluation)
4.5 Resources and infrastructure (detection)
5. Development of treatments and therapeutic interventions: ( Discovery and development of therapeutic interventions and testing in model systems and preclinical settings. )
5.1 Identification and development of pharmaceuticals (i.e. drug screening, mechanism of action, pharmacogenetics)
5.2 Discovery and development of cellular, tissue and gene therapies (i.e. gene therapy, stem cell therapy, development of delivery systems)
5.3 Discovery and development of medical devices
5.4 Development of surgical interventions
5.5 Radiotherapy
5.6 Resources and infrastructure (development of treatments)
6. Evaluation of treatments and therapeutic interventions: ( Testing and evaluation of therapeutic interventions in clinical, community or applied settings. )
6.1 Pharmaceuticals (i.e. phase I, II, III and IV trials)
6.2 Clinical application and evaluation of cellular, tissue and gene therapies
6.3 Clinical and applied application and evaluation of surgical interventions
6.4 Radiotherapy
6.5 Resources and infrastructure (evaluation of treatments)
7. Management of diseases and conditions: ( Research into individual care needs and management of disease, and conditions or ill health. )
7.1 Studies of patients and service user care needs
7.2 Studies involving all issues related to palliative care and end of life care
7.3 Management of diseases, ill health and conditions by health and social care professionals
7.4 Resources and infrastructure (disease management)
8. Health and social care services research: ( Research into the provision and delivery of health and social care services, health policy and studies of research design, measurements and methodologies. )
8.1 Examining the organization and provision of health and social care services and evaluating factors affecting the quality of care
8.2 Economic evaluation of health and social care interventions and delivery
8.3 Policy, ethics and research governance
8.4 Development of research designs and novel methodologies for health care including treatment, management and health services research
8.5 Resources and infrastructure (health services)