CRN workforce and structure
- 15 Local Clinical Research Networks
- National Coordinating Centre
- Network funded staff in NHS hospital trusts, Universities and other health and social care settings
- 30 clinical specialties managed via six specialty cluster leads with oversight from the CRN Executive Team
How the CRN works
The CRN supports studies by:
- Funding research support posts in the NHS and providing training, so that researchers have access to experienced front-line staff, who can carry out the additional practical activities required
- Providing funding to meet the costs of using facilities, such as scanners and X-rays that are needed
- Helping identify and recruit patients, so that researchers can be confident of completing the study on time, and on target
CRN: high level objectives
- Increase the number of participants recruited into NIHR CRN Portfolio studies
- Increase the proportion of studies in the NIHR CRN Portfolio delivering to recruitment time and target
- Increase the number of commercial contract studies delivered through the NIHR CRN
- Reduce the time taken for eligible studies to achieve set up in the NHS
- Reduce the time taken to recruit first participant into NIHR CRN Portfolio studies
- Increase NHS participation in NIHR CRN Portfolio studies
- Increase the number of participants recruited into Dementias and neurodegeneration (DeNDRoN) studies on the NIHR CRN Portfolio
Breakthrough research
Argus II study (Bionic eye) – Second Sight sponsored study
- In July 2015, a partially sighted 80 year old man had his central vision restored after he received a bionic eye following being recruited to a Network study
- World’s first patient with advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to receive the implant
LUMINOUS – a Novartis sponsored study (2011-2015)
- Long-term safety and effectiveness of Ranibzumab for all licenced indications
Recruitment target of 30,000 globally - UK was top recruiter globally – contributing over 11,000 patients across indications
- 49 UK sites active with subjects
- Top two recruiting sites for neovascular AMD globally were from the UK
Delivering research
The NIHR CRN supports the delivery of non-commercial and commercial research
Non-commercial research
The NIHR CRN provides guidance on the practical aspects of delivering study in the NHS environment, including;
- Support for study planning
- Support for study set-up and delivery
Commercial research
The NIHR CRN oversees the set-up and delivery of various types of commercial research across the UK, such as;
- Feasibility
- Set-up
- Performance management