Health Research Priorities
The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) has four research priorities in areas of importance for the health of the Scottish people:
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular disease and stroke
- Mental health
- Public health
CSO encourages research in these areas, and allocates funding to related specific initiatives. CSO is establishing research Portfolios in these areas that will be managed within CSO. These are intended to fill gaps in current knowledge, focus on under-developed areas or utilise individuals/centres with particular expertise.
Non-priority research
It is recognised that there is also significant scope for research to lead to health improvement outwith these priorities, and a large amount of CSO funding is allocated to areas not covered above. Indeed, some of the most innovative research ideas are found in non-priority areas. The research we support ranges across a very wide spectrum of topics and activities, and such diversity is one of our major strengths