Local Clinical Research Networks
- North Thames

Useful links

Training opportunitiesFind out about the training opportunities on offer for CRN North Thames funded staff.

Useful documents

PRA Role Specification 2019 (0.15 MB)

Dementia Coordinator (0.20 MB)

See our useful documents to read more about becoming a Patient Research Ambassador with CRN North Thames

Helena's Story

Watch Helena's moving story on our Patient Experiences page.

Patients and the public

Involving patients, members of the public and carers in clinical research is crucial. It ensures the right questions are being asked in trials and helps to spread the word about the importance of clinical research.

How to get involved

Become a Patient Research Ambassador (PRA) - help spread the word about research within your community by being a PRA for our network.

Be Part of Research makes it easy for the public to learn about UK health and social care research. Anyone, whether they have a condition or not, can search for ethically-approved studies, and ask to take part. Every volunteer makes a difference. Visit www.bepartofresearch.uk to find a study.

Support dementia research – you can take part in dementia research whether you have dementia or not. Visit Join Dementia Research to register your interest and find a suitable study local to you.

Share your experience of being part of a research trial - our annual Patient Research Experience Survey (PRES) helps us improve how we deliver research studies. You can find out about the results of our 2018/19 survey and read about how to take part in the survey for 2019/20, which opened in September this year.

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What’s in it for you?

There are many benefits to getting involved and supporting clinical research. These include:

An opportunity to influence the way in which patients and the public participate in research
Use existing knowledge and experience for the benefit of others
The chance to develop new skills
The chance to learn more about research
An opportunity to meet other like-minded people with an interest in research and to make new friends.

Contact

If you would like to find out more about opportunities in the North Thames network please email our Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Manager, Christine Menzies, at christine.menzies@nihr.ac.uk.

Our Stories

We are passionate about bringing research to life by sharing the stories of people who have taken part in research in the North Thames network. Below you can find stories from research participants who have shared their experiences, or you can watch video interviews with people who got involved, on our Patient Experiences page.

Fred's Story

Fred has a rare autoimmune disease. Read about how taking part in research has given Fred hope.

John's Story

John was diagnosed with small bowel cancer and kidney disease. Read how participating in a clinical trial for managing kidney function has helped John continue living life to the full.

Mohsan's Story

Following a serious infection Mohsan Akhtar was left with life changing injuries. Find out how research helped Mohsan find a new lease of life.