Research Unit for Research Utilisation

The Research Unit for Research Utilisation (RURU) was established in 2001 through initial funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as part of its investment in evidence-based policy and practice.

RURU's role is to conduct research on research use and provide a research resource for all those interested in using research to improve public policy and services. In addition to its research activities, RURU also provides training in areas relating to the use of research in policy and practice.

From its roots at the University of St Andrews, RURU is now a research partnership between members at the universities of Edinburgh and St Andrews. Project-specific funding to date has come from the research councils and various clients in the public sector. These include the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA), the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Executive, and the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE).