Norfolk

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Norfolk Waveney Cancer Research Network

• Clinical Lead for the Cancer Research Network
• Dr Adrian Harnett
• Norfolk Suffolk Comprehensive Local Research
  Network Launch Event
• Friday, 5th September 2008

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What can the CLRN learn from other UKCRN Local
networks in Norfolk Suffolk?
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National Cancer Research Network (NCRN)

• Comprises 33 Cancer Research Networks in England,
  originally mapping onto Cancer Service Networks
• Provide funding for infrastructure to support
  high quality research studies
• Performance management role to ensure funding
  used appropriately

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National Cancer Research Network (NCRN)

• NCRN was launched in April 2001 with the
  intention to
• Improve patient care
• Improve co-ordination and speed of research
• Maintain and enhance the quality of research
• Improve integration and participation in research
• Accrual
• Baseline 2001-2 3.75 of incident cases
• Target set 7.5 of incident cases
• Target met 2003-4 10.9 of incident cases

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Norfolk Waveney CRNOrganisation and
characteristics
Norfolk Waveney Population 700,000 Norfolk
(except West Norfolk) North Suffolk
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Our aims

• To embed participation in research into standard
  management of patients with cancer
• Developing local portfolio of studies through
  cancer Site Specific Groups (SSGs)
• Ensuring balanced portfolio of research studies
• Active management of accrual research studies
• Support to multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) to
  recruit and manage patients on clinical research
  studies
• Expertise in developing effective patient
  recruitment strategies
• (screening logs)

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Norfolk Waveney Cancer Research Network (NWCRN)

• 1. Where we started from
• Established April 2002 as part of National Cancer
  Research Network (NCRN)
• Numbers of staff - 1
• Covers Norfolk Norwich University Hospitals NHS
  Foundation Trust and James Paget University
  Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Baseline recruitment to high quality cancer
  research studies was 2.3 of incidence (31 / 34
  nationally)
• National targets for recruitment of patients to
  NCRN studies increased
• Maintain 10.0 overall
• Reach 7.5 into randomised studies

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Norfolk Waveney Cancer Research Network (NWCRN)

• Clinical Lead for Research Dr Adrian Harnett
• Research Network Manager Dr Jane Beety
• Clinical Trials Practitioners Kit Holland
  (brain colorectal)
• Cheryl Websdale (haematology
  lymphoma)
• Suzanne Penny (breast urology)
• Karen Heasley (lung gynae head
  neck)
• Sharon Walton (upper GI sarcoma
  urology)
• Clinical research Nurse Melissa
  Cambell-Kelly
• Lead Radiographer Sarah Hills
• Data Quality Specialist Katrien Oosterom
• Administrative Assistants Lucy Nobes, Helen
  Darby

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NWCRN accrual
2. Where we are
11.5
11.0
10.7
9.6
8.2
2.3
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2. Where we are

• Research culture part of standard care
• Widened the participation of SSGs in research
  studies
• Increased the number of clinicians recruiting
  patients to national studies
• Ensuring balanced portfolio of research studies
• Quadrupled numbers of cancer patients entering
  national studies since 2001
• National reputation and recognition for NNUH,
  JPUH and NWCRN for cancer research activities

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The challenges

• Staff appointed, inducted and trained
• Education of Clinical Teams (research embedded in
  standard of care rather than optional extra)
• Engagement with them
• Balanced portfolio, spread of studies
• Realistic recruitment
• Opening studies / completing applications (time
  consuming and costly - clinicians need a lot of
  help!)
• Agree level of support
• Funding

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3. Where we are going

• Maintaining 10 overall accrual to NCRN studies
• Increasing RCT accrual to 6.5 (NCRN studies)
• Chemotherapy issues JPUH and capacity NNUH
• Radiotherapy capacity NNUH
• Pharmacy capacity NNUH
• Radiology capacity NNUH and JPUH
• Expansion of senior medical staff
• Maintaining highest quality data whilst
  increasing accrual
• Follow-up appointments for research studies

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NWCRN future plans and challenges

• Increase number of cancer patients recruited to
  national RCTs
• Expand cancer research portfolio and prioritise
  studies
• Links with NCRN Industry studies
• Increasing use of CRTU to support NWCRN studies
• SSG Research Clinical Trials plans
• Greater attention to rarer tumours

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So what can the CLRN learn?

• What patients should go into clinical trials?
• What patients should not go into clinical trials?
• What is the most important factor for success of
  the CLRN?