UK Clinical Research Network

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UK Clinical Research Network

• Maxine Stead PhD
• Acting UKCRN Director of Operations
• RD Forum Meeting, 25 January 2006, Leeds

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Background

• DoH announcement March 2004 extra 100m p.a. by
  2008 for research (in England) building on
  successful model for cancer research
• Targeted research funding
• Medicines for Children
• Diabetes
• Alzheimer's disease (now Dementias and
  Neurodegenerative Disease)
• Stroke
• Cancer
• Mental Health
• Clinical Research Network model(UKCRN)
• UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC)

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What is the UKCRC?

• Partnership between government, the NHS, the
  voluntary sector, the private sector and the
  public
• Aim is to transform the clinical research
  environment in the UK by
• Taking strategic oversight of clinical research
• Identifying gaps in clinical research capability
  and opportunities for action and developing
  coordinated approaches to addressing
  gaps/responding to opportunities
• Monitoring progress in implementing plans and
  achieving objectives
• Providing leadership to develop the profile of
  clinical research and enhance the research
  culture of the NHS

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What is the UKCRN?

• UKCRN will consist of a managed set of Clinical
  Research Networks to facilitate the conduct of
  randomised trials of interventions (including
  prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care) and
  other well designed studies
• Research projects funded by both commercial and
  non-commercial organisations will be incorporated
• Future intention to extend UKCRN to cover full
  spectrum of disease and clinical need
• Aim to provide a world-class health service
  infrastructure to support clinical research and
  to make clinical research part of routine care

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Organisational Structure of UKCRC/N
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Role of UKCRN Coordinating Centre

• Co-Directors Peter Selby and Janet Darbyshire
• National coordination of UKCRN activities
• Performance management of Topic-Specific
  Coordinating Centres
• Financial management of UKCRN
• Development and provision of national systems and
  approaches to trial development and management
• Conduit for addressing barriers to trials at a
  national level

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Organisational Structure of UKCRC/N
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Topic Specific Network Directors
UKCRN National CC Co- Directors Prof Janet
Darbyshire Prof Peter Selby
Mental Health DirectorProf Til Wykes
Cancer Director (acting) Prof Rick Kaplan
Stroke DirectorProf Gary Ford
Medicines for Children DirectorProf Ros Smyth
Diabetes DirectorProf Des Johnston
DenDRoN DirectorProf Martin Rossor
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Role of Topic-Specific Coordinating Centres

• Portfolio development
• Management of Research Networks
• Performance management of Research Networks
• Provision of topic-specific training
• Coordination of consumer involvement
• Links with relevant trials units
• Main point of contact with UKCRN Coordinating
  Centre

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Roll out of UKCRN Networks

• Cancer (NCRN) 34 Research Networks in England
  (41 across UK), established 2001
• Mental Health (MHRN) 8 Research Networks,
  established 2003
• Medicines for Children (MCRN) - Research Networks
  identified through open competition, to start
  April 2006
• Stroke (SRN) - Research Networks to be identified
  31 Jan, to start May 2006
• Dementias and Neurodegenerative Disease (DeNDRoN)
  - Research Networks to be identified 1 Feb, to
  start May 2006
• Diabetes (DRN) - Research Networks to be
  identified 2 Feb, to start May 2006

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Benefits of the UKCRN

• Improved national coordination of clinical
  research
• Provision of national systems and advice
  structures
• ? reduction in duplication of effort
• National coordinated approach to trial
  development and trial portfolios
• Increased profile of research
• Improved trials ? benefits for patients

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Email m.stead_at_ukcrn.org.ukWeb site
www.ukcrn.org.ukTelephone 0113 392 4046