UK-wide working
UKCRN is also working with
key partners in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on a
coordinated approach to transform the clinical research environment
across the whole of the UK.
Scotland
The Scottish Executive Chief Scientist Office
(CSO) is leading the establishment of clinical research networks in
Scotland to complement the Primary Care and Cancer Networks which
already existed. The CSO has encouraged NHS Scotland and the
clinical academic research community to plan the expansion of its
clinical research activity in a collaborative way. The Scottish
Research Networks are:
- Scottish
Cancer Research Network: The SCRN has been fully
established since December 2003 and has already succeeded in
achieving the target to at least double patient recruitment
- Scottish Diabetes Research Network
(SDRN): This network was commissioned in 2006 by the
CSO to improve the quality and increase the quality of diabetes
research in Scotland as part of the UKCRC.
- Scottish Medicines for Children Research
Network (SMCN): The Scottish Medicines for Children
Research Network was also launched in December 2006. It aims to
improve the evidence base, facilitating appropriate clinical
research and contributing to expanding the number of licensed
products and appropriate formulations for children.
- Scottish Stroke Research Network
(SSRN): The SSRN has a Coordinating centre in Glasgow and
operates on a Scottish plan, but has close links with the
Stroke Research Network in
England.
- Scottish Mental Health Research
Network: Establishment of the SMHRN began in April
2007 and is ongoing. The key aim of the network is to facilitate
the conduct of multi-centre randomized controlled trials in mental
health in Scotland and across the UK by collaborating with the
networks in England and Wales.
- Scottish Primary Care Research
Network (SPCRN): This network 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
The Wales Office of Research and Development
in Health and Social Care (WORD) has developed the Clinical
Research Collaboration Cymru (CRC Cymru) to provide an
internationally competitive research infrastructure for health and
social care in Wales.
The aims of CRC Cymru are to increase research
activity in Wales, particularly large scale, multi-centre trials,
and to improve the capability of the research community to generate
income from both commercial and non-commercial sources.
CRC Cymru comprises ten thematic research
networks, six research infrastructure and technical support groups,
three trials units and a coordinating centre.
The Thematic Research Networks are:
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, the R&D Office of the
Northern Ireland Health and Social Services Central Services Agency
has established the Northern Ireland Clinical Research
Network (NICRN), which is integrated fully with the UKCRN.
The aim of the NICRN is to provide a local
research network to enhance the capacity of the Department of
Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS) R&D community to
engage with the larger UK research networks. It also helps to
generate high quality local clinical research.
NICRN consists of a central
coordinating/support centre, the Clinical Research Support Centre
(CSRC), and a number of local topic-specific networks. The CSRC
links directly with the overall UKCRN Co-ordinating Centre and the
six Topic Specific Research Network Co-ordinating Centres.
The NICRN builds on existing strengths and
capacity. Recognised research groups (RRGs) are already established
in:
- Cancer
- Child health and welfare
- Endocrinology
- Diabetes
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurosciences
- Trauma and Rehabilitation
These already align with the six priority
disease areas for the UKCRN and form the basis for network
development in the different topic areas.
Each local topic-specific network is
tailored according to the prevailing clinical environment and
opportunities for partnership development. The networks provide the
opportunity to extend clinical research across Northern Ireland.
The intention is to have trial coordinators and research nurses in
each of the five new HSC trusts. The local topic specific networks
hold primary responsibility for prioritising the clinical research
studies they undertake, designing those studies, recruiting
participants and managing individual studies.