Developing clinical research infrastructure across the UK

The UK Clinical Research Network is comprised of the four research networks across the UK funded by the UK Health Departments. The Networks Support and deliver high quality clinical research studies. Establishing a UK Clinical Research Network is one of the key strategic aims of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC)

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) is managed by the NIHR Clinical Research Network Coordinating Centre (NIHR CRN CC) and is one of the four networks that comprise the UK Clinical Research Network.  The NIHR CRN Coordinating Centre is working with key partners in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to aid the transformation of the clinical research environment across the whole of the UK.

The organogram available to download below provides a visual representation of the relationships between the networks across the UK.

Scotland
In 2005, the Scottish Minister for Health and Community Care announced the investment of £4.6m in 2006 rising to £8.2m in 2007 to support activities including the establishment of clinical research networks. The development is led by the Chief Scientist Office which has encouraged the NHS Scotland and clinical academic research community to plan the expansion of its clinical research activity in a collaborative way. The following Networks have been established (in addition to existing Networks in cancer and primary care):

• Dementia Clinical Research Network, Scotland - led by Dr Peter Connelly and Professor John Starr 
• Scottish Diabetes Research Network - led by Dr John Petrie
• Scottish Medicines for Children Research Network - led by Professor Peter Helms
• Scottish Stroke Research Network - led by Professor Peter Langhorne
• Scottish Mental Health Research Network - led by Professor Michael Sharpe
• Scottish Primary Care Research Network - led by Professor Frank Sullivan

The Scottish Primary Care Research Network (SPCRN) was formerly known as the Scottish Practices and Professionals interested in Research (SPPiRE) and was set up in 2002. The SPCRN's key aim is to facilitate national research activity in primary care, undertaking projects with other Scottish Networks and colleagues in England.

Wales
CRC Cymru comprises Research Networks, research infrastructures and technical support groups, clinical trials units and a coordinating centre.

The thematic research networks are:

• Children and Young People's Research Network
• Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases (NEURODEM)
• Diabetes Research Network
• Thematic Research Network for emergency and UnScheduled Treatment (TRUST)
• Wales Epilepsy Research Network (WERN)
• Learning Disabilities and Autism (LDAN)
• Mental Health Research Network Cymru (MHRN-C)
• Public Health Improvement Research Network (PHIRN)
• Older People and Aging Network (OPAN)

The infrastructure support services cover areas such as equality and diversity in health and social care, health economics, health information, R&D management and language awareness.

A Patient, Service User and Carer Involvement in Research Network (Cynnwys Pobl: Involving People) has been established to provide input into the strategy, development and implementation of health and social care research in Wales.

The CRC Cymru Coordinating Centre is responsible for overseeing operational aspects of the collaboration and for establishing the research professional network, patient and carer network and training programme.

Northern Ireland
The vision of the R&D Office of Northern Ireland is to have a managed network for clinical research, the Northern Ireland Clinical Research Network, which will offer all health and social care bodies and clinicians the opportunity to be involved.

The Northern Ireland Clinical Research Network (NICRN) continues to put in place a generic infrastructure to support a series of themed clinician Networks that comprise the NICRN. The following themed clinician Networks have secured agreement to join the NICRN:

• NICRN (Children)
• NICRN (Dementia)
• NICRN (Diabetes)
• NICRN (Stroke)
• NICRN (Vision)
• NICRN (Respiratory Care)
• NICRN (Critical Care)
• NICRN (Primary Care)

An application has been received from NICRN (Cardiovascular) and applications are expected from clinicians in the area of mental health and from cancer.

Further details are available on the R&D Office website

Further details on the UK Networks are available on the relevant topic pages.

Last updated: 23 January 2009