Background

What are the benefits of the new system?

About CSP

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Coordinated System for gaining NHS Permission (CSP) is a new system that will standardise and streamline the process for gaining NHS permission for clinical research studies in England. NIHR CSP will ensure that the relevant quality assurance and statutory requirements are met, reducing approval times and cutting bureaucracy.

NIHR CSP has been developed as a result of the Government NHS R&D strategy “Best Research for Best Health”. It is coordinated through the NIHR CSP Unit and locally through the 25 Comprehensive Local Research Networks (CLRNs). Currently, CSP is only available to studies that are eligible for the NIHR Clinical Research Network Portfolio.

What is the Portfolio?

The NIHR Clinical Research Network Portfolio is a national information system which provides a picture of the clinical research taking place across the country. In England, studies included in the NIHR Clinical Research Network Portfolio have access to NHS Clinical Infrastructure service support for study promotion, set up, recruitment and follow up. This infrastructure support is delivered through the NIHR Comprehensive Clinical Research Network, and where appropriate, the Topic Specific and Primary Care Clinical Research Networks.

Non-commercial studies
Studies funded by NIHR partner organisations are automatically eligible to be included in the NIHR Clinical Research Network Portfolio. NIHR partners are organisations that award funding for research that is of clear value to the NHS, in open national competition across England, with high quality peer review, and with strategic direction for the research they fund. Other well-designed studies funded by non-NIHR partner organisations, including investigator initiated studies, may be eligible for inclusion in the Portfolio via an NIHR adoption process. Further details about the Clinical Research Network Portfolio eligibility are available on this website.

Commercial studies
Commercial studies are assessed through an adoption process coordinated by the appropriate CLRN and the NIHR CRN CC Industry team. Further details about eligibility and the industry adoption process are available on this website.