Supporting life-sciences industry

The National Agenda

The UK has a long and strong background of clinical research, enabled by a large patient population and a wealth of available expertise. Department of Health sought to showcase NHS as a world-class research platform and established the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network and the Portfolio of studies. Commercially sponsored studies; ‘Industry Studies’ are an important and highly prized element of the NIHR Portfolio. Industry

Studies are directly funded by the commercial sponsor. As such they can be an income generator for NHS Organisations. The Treasury and Department of Health have ring-fenced significant funding to establish infrastructure, staffing, and resources for the delivery of well designed clinical research in the UK. The Research Networks (TCRNs, PCRN, and CCRN) manage the flow and activity of new portfolio adopted studies into the NHS, engaging with Trusts and Investigators, and providing resources in the Trusts to facilitate successful delivery of studies to target

Our region is well supported by all of the networks. We’ve made a considerable investment into infrastructure, staff and resources; all of which is available for Portfolio Industry Studies.

The imperative is to deliver to these agreed Time and Recruitment Targets.

Investigators participating in Industry Sponsored Studies can access the various supports provided by the CLRN, including:

• CLRN funded infrastructure

• Support of CLRN Industry Manager

• Streamlined rapid setup and RM&G

• CLRN and NIHR Training courses

• Cross-Network working, advertising and signposting

There are two ways to engage with NIHR CRN Portfolio Industry studies through the CLRN:

1. Pre-Selected Sites
Many investigators have already established relationships with commercial companies from participating

in previous research studies. We don’t want to discourage these relationships, rather would encourage them to flourish in a network supported environment. We would encourage any investigator, approached directly by a company to consider their new study, to promote and encourage portfolio adoption to the sponsor.

NTW-CLRN supports these sites and provides necessary resources required, with these sites working as a CLRN supported site. CLRN support for these studies satisfies one aspect of the Portfolio adoption process for each study.

2. Expression of Interest
Industry sponsors often contact the Network to identify potential new research sites for studies.

This process is managed locally by CLRN industry Manager facilitating the identification of potential new local research sites through Expressions of Interest Invitations circulated to Investigators.

Registering an Expression of Interest is NOT a commitment from the investigator to participate in the study. Rather, it is the first step onto the sponsor’s radar alerting them to your wish to know more about the study and open discussions. Conversely, registering an Expression of Interest does not guarantee your site would be selected.

Read about Feasiblity Assesments

If you’d like to know more about participating in industry studies as an investigator, register your interest here.