The Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) programme was launched in April 2008. It was created as part of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) coordinated strategy for clinical trials. The EME programme is funded by the MRC and managed by the NIHR as the lead organisation for clinical trials and evaluation.

The EME programme is broadly aimed at supporting 'science driven' studies with an expectation of substantial health gain. The clinical studies are likely to be mostly randomised controlled trials but other forms of evaluation appropriate for the intervention under study will also be supported.

The EME programme aims to support excellent clinical science with an ultimate view to improving health or patient care. Its remit includes clinical trials and evaluative studies - in patients - which:

• evaluate clinical efficacy of interventions (where proof of concept in humans has already been achieved);
• add significantly to our understanding of biological or behavioural mechanisms and processes;
• explore new scientific or clinical principles;
• include the development or testing of new methodologies.