Driven by its recognition of the huge potential of improvement research to shed light on how sustainable improvements can be made to patient care, the Health Foundation has been supporting the development of this field of study since 2009.
The independent charity, committed to bringing about better health and health care for people in the UK, started its work to help grow and develop improvement research at a time when this creative, interdisciplinary, responsive and applied field of study was under-developed and fragmented.
The Health Foundation takes a strategic decision to build and promote knowledge on how to improve care
The Health Foundation has been supporting the development of improvement research as a field of study since 2009, with belief in its capacity to uncover how sustainable improvements can be made to patient care.
Read moreThe Health Foundation hosts the Vin McLoughlin Colloquium on the Epistemology of Improving Quality
In April 2010 the Health Foundation hosted a five-day event with 30 leading scholars from a diverse range of clinical and academic disciplines to explore leading ideas and knowledge of healthcare improvement.
Read moreThe Health Foundation sets up the Improvement Science Development Group
The Improvement Science Development Group brings together experts in improvement science from all over the world. They come together twice a year to share their knowledge and develop the underpinning theories and methods for this new field.
The Health Foundation establishes postdoctoral Improvement Science Fellowships
Now superseded by THIS Institute's fellowship programme, the Health Foundation's pioneering Improvement Science Fellowships aimed to develop and nurture the future leaders of improvement science.
Read moreThe Health Foundation awards PhD studentships to centres of excellence
To support the long-term development of the improvement science field by UK research organisations, the Health Foundation awarded PhD funding to nine universitites in 2013 and a further four research organisations in 2015.
Read moreThe Health Foundation funds professorial chairs – Alan Cribb and Charles Vincent
The Health Foundation appointed Alan Cribb and Charles Vincent as professorial fellows to strengthen academic research in patient safety and person-centred care.
Read moreThe Health Foundation decides to create an improvement research institute
The Health Foundation announced it would create an improvement research institute to expand its fellowships and networks into an outstanding international centre of excellence.
Read moreNine-month long selection process begins
Professor Mary Dixon-Woods and Dr Rebecca Simmons submitted proposal under the University of Cambridge that set out ambitious plans with partners in the health service, university and charity sectors across the UK.
Read moreThe University of Cambridge and its partners were chosen
The University of Cambridge was chosen to be the home of the new improvement research institute and started building the foundations of THIS Institute.
Read moreTHIS Institute launches
The new research institute launches under the banner of THIS Institute (The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute).
Read moreTHIS Institute announces winners of its first fellowships
In 2018, THIS Institute awarded 12 fellowships at three levels tailored to researchers’ specific career stage: PhD, Post-doctoral and Senior.
Read moreProfessor Mary Dixon-Woods delivers the Harveian Oration
On 18 October 2018, THIS Institute director Professor Mary Dixon-Woods delivered the Harveian Oration at a gathering of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) in London. In her presentation, Professor Dixon-Woods described challenges in quality and safety in healthcare, and proposed a way forward for improvement founded on evidence.
Read more'How to improve healthcare improvement: an essay' is published in BMJ
As improvement practice and research begin to come of age, Professor Mary Dixon-Woods, Director of THIS Institute, considers the key areas that need attention if we are to reap their benefits.
Read moreTHIS Institute welcomes everyone to join our mission: together, we can get better at getting better.
