The UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) Partners’ goal is to
establish the UK as a world leader in clinical research.
The UKCRC (established in 2004) provides a forum that enables all Partners
to work together to transform the clinical research environment in the UK.
The forum promotes a strategic approach to the identification of opportunities
and obstacles to clinical research and their resolution. In so doing the
UKCRC aims to benefit the public and patients by improving national health
and increasing national wealth.
Background information, including details of the UKCRC workstreams, can be found on the UKCRC website (www.ukcrc.org). A useful document on the website is the UK-wide working document which highlights different processes in the 4 UK nations around issues such as NHS Permissions, support available etc.
UK Clinical Research Network (UKCRN)
Clinical research networks have been established in each of the four UK nations to provide the infrastructure to support high quality clinical research studies. Together these national networks form the UK Clinical Research Network (UKCRN), strategic oversight for which is provided by the UKCRC. The NIHR Clinical Research Network Coordinating Centre delivers and manages clinical research networks in England and facilitates a range of activities across the UK.
Details of the Scottish Clinical Research Networks are available.
In addition to the specific Clinical Research Networks 24 Specialty Groups have been established to harness the enthusiasm of clinical researchers for their specialty and to create networking opportunities focussed on specific topic areas. National Specialty Groups take an oversight of their portfolios and play a key role in ensuring the delivery of studies (recruitment to time and target).
UK Health Research Analysis
In 2006 the UKCRC published the first ever analysis detailing the distribution of spending on all types of health research across all types of disease and areas of the UK. The analysis report can be downloaded from the UKCRC website. A sub-analysis of CSO funding is also available. UKCRC partners are currently finalising an updated analysis based on research in 2009-10 which is expected to be published in 2012.