NIHR CRDC: Wessex

NIHR CRDC: Wessex is a well-established, experienced centre delivering commercial research across multiple sites in central southern England, including Weymouth, Bournemouth, Southampton and Portsmouth. Our centralised project management team ensures seamless communication between sponsors and sites, reducing sponsor burden, enabling rapid trial initiation and proactive issue resolution.

All governance is centrally managed through one contract, and our agile team works across the region, with the ability to centrally manage IMP transfers between sites. We have an excellent track record in delivering international studies and meeting industry and government targets. Our recruitment and retention rates prove people want to take part in research with us time and again, and our bespoke public-facing communications ensure our patients and participants are kept well engaged and informed. 

Sponsors can access up to four active hospital and community sites, complemented by two mobile research units which help us reach into the most underserved communities. All our studies are supported by experienced research teams with a strong record in delivering commercial trials at scale and pace. We have a strong track record in delivering internationally important vaccine and cardiology trials, and have recently diversified into obesity studies and alcohol dependency studies. Working closely with NIHR CRDC-PC: Dorset, we are also able to delivery primary care and community-based studies. 

Each of our sites offers sponsors unique access to a different community and demographic, or can be harnessed together to leverage maximal breadth and reach. Our hub in Bournemouth recruits from one of the most elderly populations in the UK, especially the over 80s. Our Portsmouth site is based in the heart of a thriving, coastal city. Our Southampton hub is based in health centre is a diverse part of the city's suburbs. Weymouth recruits directly from an area of coastal and rural health inequalities. Salisbury serves a rural and ageing poulation across Wiltshire, including a significant armed forces community. Basingstoke has a predominantly working age population.