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In 2002 the Department of Health launched the Learning Disabilities Research Initiative with the primary aim of informing the implementation and further development of its recently published learning disability strategy, Valuing People (Department of Health 2001). The research initiative was directly concerned with examining how the central principles in Valuing People are incorporated into services and support systems (Grant and Ramcharan 2002).

Closing the knowledge-action-policy loop was considered a priority by those involved in the initiative. It was seen as a vehicle for creating closer working partnerships between everyone interested in research designed to enhance the rights, independence, choice and inclusion of people with learning disabilities. We very much hope that the findings from this report will help refine policy and practice to further close this gap and lead to more effective implementation of Valuing People health targets.