The Research Capacity Building Collaboration (RCBC) Wales is a partnership between six HEIs in Wales to build research capacity in nursing, midwifery and the Allied Health professions. In 2005 RCBC Wales received its first round of funding from the Wales Office of Research and Development (WORD) for Health and Social Care, The Health Foundation (an independent UK charity) and the University of Glamorgan to fund 5 Postdoctoral projects and 7 PhD projects. In 2008 RCBC received a second round of funding from WORD and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEfCW). The second round of funding will support up to 14 PhD students, 1 Postdoctoral student, and a Senior Health Career Research Fellowship. There is also funding for a number of First into Research projects and MRes courses.

RCBC represents an opportunity for new and experienced researchers in nursing, midwifery and the allied health professions to obtain funding for various research projects. The research fellowship schemes also strengthen the R&D infrastructure by increasing the quality and quantity of research in health and social care in Wales.

All funded research projects focus on optimising health through:

• public participation in health care
• policy development, service delivery and evaluation of health care services
• prevention and management of chronic conditions
• promotion and maintenance of healthy living

The scheme is administered by the Faculty of Health, Sport and Science at the University of Glamorgan and funded by WORD, HEFCW and The Health Foundation. Grants are available to researchers in any of the participating nursing, midwifery and AHP institutions in Wales.