NIHR CRDC-PC: Cheshire and Merseyside

The NIHR CRDC-PC Cheshire & Merseyside provides sponsors with a single-entry point into a high-performing network of primary care research sites, designed to reduce complexity and accelerate study delivery.

Our model combines experienced, high-recruiting “superhub” practices with a wider spoke network, enabling rapid recruitment, efficient multi-site activation and broad patient reach under a single contract. We are already working with industry partners to operationalise this approach, including governed IMP transfer between sites, demonstrating a working model for flexible multi-site delivery within simplified contracting arrangements. This structure enables sponsors to reduce start-up complexity, accelerate study initiation across multiple sites, and expand recruitment more efficiently across a large and diverse population.

Our infrastructure supports delivery of complex commercial studies within primary care. Each superhub is equipped with dedicated research facilities, on-site pharmacy, and specialist equipment, supported by experienced research teams. Integrated access to NIHR infrastructure, including the Liverpool Clinical Research Facility and Secondary Care CRDC, enables seamless delivery where secondary care input is required without fragmenting study execution.

Spanning nine local authority areas, the network provides access to a population of approximately 2.5 million, characterised by significant socio-economic diversity and a high proportion of under-served communities. This supports both efficient recruitment and the delivery of more representative real-world evidence. Our focus areas include cardiorenometabolic disease, respiratory illness, and dementia - high-prevalence conditions in primary care where scalable recruitment and rapid study delivery are critical.