About the institute Radboud Institute for Health Sciences

Radboud Institute for Health Sciences Science for care, care for science

The Radboud Institute for Health Sciences (RIHS) aims to improve clinical practice and public health by:

• providing evidence about the efficacy and efficiency of existing and new tests, treatments and policies as well as innovative modes of health care delivery
• training young researchers in the methodology to obtain such evidence
• developing new methodologies for improving research programs in this field

Research domains and themes

Generally speaking, the biomedical sciences can be broadly stratified into two areas:

1. Deterministic research into biological mechanisms; scope of the Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS)
2. Probabilistic research that provides frequency-type data (evidence) about such mechanisms (our scope).

Where the RIMLS typically uses objects such as cells or mice for its research, the probabilistic research at the RIHS typically deals with groups of people, both real people as well as simulated people in model situations. The groups of people are patients (in clinical situations) or part of the general population. Through these groups of people, evidence is obtained about the relation between a determinant and an outcome.
 
In science, there is a clear link between probabilistic and mechanistic research. After all, mechanistic knowledge should always be supported by probabilistic data before policy can be made. Research can be based on theories or principles, policies should not.
On the other hand, probabilistic research should ideally be based on mechanistic knowledge and frequently yields new leads for further mechanistic research. At the Radboudumc, both research domains are connected to each other through a focus of both Research Institutes on disease-oriented research themes.

Societal impact

The starting point for RIHS research is a concrete (bio)medical problem in clinical practice or public health for which a solution is sought. The Radboudumc aims to have a significant impact on healthcare. In line with this mission, our institute tries to bridge the gap between science and society, by, for example, involvement in the development and evaluation of guidelines and protocols. Societal impact is at the core of the Institute's ambition.

Education

The training of young researchers within the Institute is organized in a KNAW accredited Graduate School. The Institute participates in the Radboudumc Biomedical Sciences MSc program. Further training is provided in a 4-year PhD program. In addition to these programs, RIHS actively participates in the Radboud Postdoc platform and is committed to promoting career track models, such as the Hypatia Tenure Track.

Technological expertise

RIHS hosts some of the Radboudumc Technology Centers, e.g., the Radboud Biobank, Clinical studies, Biostatistics and Data stewardship. These centers offer research facilities for both internal and external researchers.