Local Clinical Research Networks
- North Thames
  - Our services

Support for the life sciences industry

In North Thames we consistently deliver high quality commercial contract research. Around 40% of our research portfolio is sponsored by the life sciences industry.

To support commercial contract research, we offer a Study Support Service specifically tailored to our network. This service exists to facilitate the smooth and timely progression of studies, from initial early engagement and identification of sites, through to successful delivery.

The national Study Support Service comprises of six components. Here, we have described how we tailor each of these components for our network.

Early contact and engagement
Early feedback
Site identification
Optimising delivery
Effective study set-up
Performance monitoring

Early contact and engagement
We can offer advice and guidance on:

Inclusion of a study on the NIHR portfolio and the support we provide
Registration and use of Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) and Central Portfolio Management System (CPMS)
The submission process for REC, HRA and NIHR
Development and validation of the study-specific Industry Costing Template
Our harmonised approach to study setup

To find out about any of the above, contact the industry team on industry.crnnorththames@nihr.ac.uk

Early feedback
In addition to the central service we are able to offer local advice to industry life science partners. This advice includes the feasibility of successful study delivery based on local services, population and care pathways.

Site identification
Through local knowledge of our sites, services and population we can facilitate the identification of potential research sites.

Optimising delivery
Using our knowledge of local sites, services and populations combined with relevant performance data we can provide additional information to enhance and complement a sponsor’s own feasibility assessment. We strongly encourage CRN attendance at a site qualification and feasibility meeting to allow us to gather, first hand, study and local intelligence to ultimately streamline the setup process, remove duplication and have the opportunity to identify challenges early and proactively address them. This also provides us with an opportunity to discuss recruitment and contingency plans and to explore alternative and novel recruitment strategies.

Invitations for site qualification/ site selection and feasibility meetings can be made directly to the CRN divisional teams or via the industry team industry.crnnorththames@nihr.ac.uk

Effective study set up
We operate and manage a central, harmonised process for the review and set up of studies across our network. This includes:

Pharmacy: A single pharmacy technical review which is applicable to all study sites in North Thames.
Medical Exposure: A single harmonised technical review of study and local imaging requirements which is applicable to all study sites in our network.
Contract review. A centralised process for the review and approval of study budgets and contractual arrangements is carried out by our costing and contract team. (This process does not operate for Trust’s in Essex or Hertfordshire)
Study site set up: Our divisional teams coordinate and provide support to research sites setting up a study by assessing the local requirements and ensuring capacity and capability within the local infrastructure to provide the support required to deliver high quality research data and maximise the research opportunities for our patients.

Performance monitoring
Monthly reports are produced and shared across our network with divisional teams, clinical speciality leads and Trust R&D offices to closely monitor study performance against plan and proactively address potential challenges.

We engage with colleagues at a local and national level to address difficulties, learn from good practice and explore alternative and novel strategies to participant identification and recruitment.