UK-wide coordination and oversight
The CRDC UK Network provides coordination across all four nations’ CRDCs, aligning the approach to commercial research delivery.
A coordinated network of Centres
The Network provides:
Key communication routes across the four nations and 35 CRDCs
Collaboration, sharing best practice and peer support across CRDCs
A coherent and collective voice for CRDCs in national or global conversations
A federated approach to agree and apply key processes and priorities
Supporting industry engagement with CRDCs
The Network supports industry engagement across the UK, working closely with the NIHR Industry Hub in England, NHS Research Scotland (NRS), Health and Care Research Wales (HCRW), and Health and Social Care Research & Development (HSC R&D) Division in Northern Ireland.
The Network supports industry engagement by:
- Managing enquiries and early feasibility assessment
- Coordinating UK wide or targeted CRDCs’ feasibility and expressions of interest
- Enabling access to CRDCs Key Opinion Leaders for protocol development, study feasibility or global to UK study adaptation
- Embedding industry feedback into CRDC service development
System collaboration
The Network works across infrastructure, leaders and teams, including:
- 35 CRDCs across the UK
- Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England research organisations
- Association for British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI)
- Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
- NHS research organisations, e.g. Research Delivery Forum
- UK research networks e.g. Clinical Research Facilities (UKCRF), Experimental Cancer Research Centres (ECMC), HealthTech Research Centres (HTC), Research Delivery Network (RDN)
This enables a coordinated and collaborative approach to commercial trial placement and management across the UK.
Providing confidence in the system
Through transparency and oversight, the Network ensures:
- Sponsor agreed gold standards, and standardised approaches across Centres
- Visibility of delivery capability and performance
- Opportunities for supported and mentored capacity building
- Best practice, case examples and novel approaches to delivery shared across the UK
Discuss a study with the CRDC UK Network
Our team can support next steps and provide tailored guidance.