Health research and development in Wales is funded in two principal ways. NHS health research is managed by the Welsh Assembly Government under the umbrella of NHS Wales. The unit of NHS Wales dealing with devolved health research is the Wales Office of Research and Development for Health and Social Care (WORD).

The Assembly Government, under the One Wales programme, has established a National Institute of Social Care and Health Research.

At a UK level, health research is coordinated through the Office for Strategic Co-ordination of Health Research (OSCHR) though the Medical Research Council (MRC).

Workforce Planning

Following consultation, it was proposed to establish an Agency to bring together the Centre for Health Leadership and the Innovations in Care Team.  The National Leadership and Innovation Agency (NLIAH) was established in 2005 and supports NHS organisations at all levels to develop the capacity and capability to deliver the change agenda, helping to embed effective leadership, innovation, service improvement and workforce development across the NHS in Wales.

Clinincal Education

Clinical education is a devolved function in Wales and clinical training places are commissioned through NHS Wales.