The life sciences industry need their research studies to be set up and delivered to target and within agreed timelines. The National Institute for Health Research Comprehensive Clinical Research Network (NIHR CCRN) has been developed to provide a world class research infrastructure embedded in the NHS to support participation in high-quality clinical research studies across the UK. Increasingly streamlined ethics and governance approval through the National Research Ethics Service, the national Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) and the new service offerings for Industry delivered through the Industry Application Gateway (IAG) facilitates and supports the rapid set-up of clinical studies within the NIHR Clinical Research Network.
The Age and Ageing Specialty Group recognises the imperative for better treatments, more effective therapies, and development of novel approaches to care for a growing older population. Using its ability to harness the skill and expertise of researchers across the UK, it is able to help overcome the often unique set of recruitment challenges associated with older people research and therefore support the delivery of high-quality research on target and within time.
We provide:
Leadership
UK-wide network of leading academic clinicians experienced in the efficient delivery of high-quality studies.
Access to patients
Age and Ageing studies recruited over 11,000 participants in total in 2012, and the skills and expertise used to recruit and deliver those studies are transferrable to commercial research.
- Access to very large numbers of older adults across the UK in the community, secondary care, and care home sector.
- Access to "hard to study" populations e.g. those in care homes and older adults with reduced capacity. Extensive support and advice on evidence-based recruitment strategies.
High-quality study delivery
Regional teams of Age and Ageing research staff specially trained in the recruitment of older adults support all our studies, and their efforts ensure portfolio studies are consistently delivered to time and target.
Collaboration
Strong links with key stakeholders in ageing research such as Age UK and the British Geriatrics Society (BGS).
Support
World class research infrastructure embedded in the health service supporting trials of the highest quality by a skilled, dedicated, and highly motivated group of researchers.
Track record
Years of experience of supporting the delivery of studies in core areas of ageing research including complex and novel interventions, multi-centre trials, and studies involving hard to reach patient groups.
