Key Takeaways
- The NIHR Research Delivery Network has been launched to optimize health and care research delivery across England, replacing the NIHR Clinical Research Network and advancing the UK’s leadership in high-quality research.
- The RDN is already implementing key government priority projects, including improved study tracking, enhanced data quality, and the development of a national site identification service to support more informed research planning.
- By expanding research delivery into primary, community, and residential care settings, the RDN aims to make health and care research more inclusive and responsive to the needs of diverse populations.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Delivery Network (RDN) has been launched as a transformative development aimed at optimizing health and care research delivery across England. Replacing the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN), the RDN is designed to meet the evolving needs of the research system and make the UK a global leader in conducting high-quality health research.
Despite the ongoing transition from CRN to RDN, the new network is already implementing key government priority projects. One such initiative is the rollout of Terms and Conditions for accessing NIHR support, improving study progress tracking and enhancing data quality for better study planning. The Research Delivery Network is also developing a national site identification service to connect sponsors with the best locations for studies, ensuring informed decision-making.
Research Delivery Network Expands Research Capabilities and Enhances Inclusivity in Health and Care Delivery
The RDN continues to play a pivotal role in operating the National Contract Value Review, which has already reduced study setup times. It also facilitates the UK’s interactive Costing Tool and will soon expand its focus to early phase and Advanced Therapies Medical Products research, with a new phase launching in October.
The RDN is committed to broadening the scope of health and care research by moving beyond traditional secondary care settings. By prioritizing research delivery in primary care, community care, and residential settings, the Research Delivery Network aims to make research participation more inclusive and responsive to population needs.
The RDN’s unified approach, integrating talent and resources nationally, is seen as key to driving the success of government priority projects. Close collaboration with health and care partners and continuous consultation with stakeholders will ensure that the network adapts to the changing research landscape and maximizes its impact.
Research Delivery Network Builds on CRN’s Success to Drive Research Advancements in the Post-Pandemic Era
Building on the achievements of the CRN, which involved over 10 million people in research and supported 20,000 studies, the Research Delivery Network aims to further advance the UK’s research capabilities. The CRN played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic, recruiting participants at an unprecedented pace, and the Research Delivery Network aims to continue this momentum in the post-pandemic landscape.
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care and NIHR CEO, emphasized the importance of the new network: “With this new organisation in place, I look forward to seeing more high-quality health and care research studies successfully delivered, resulting in improvements in health for all communities.”
Professor Andrew Ustianowski, Interim Executive Director of the RDN, highlighted the ongoing transformation: “Working as one unified Research Delivery Network will be the cornerstone of our success. By pooling resources and working smarter, we will unlock the full potential of UK research delivery.” The launch of the RDN signals a significant advancement in the UK’s research delivery capabilities, promising more efficient, inclusive, and impactful health and care research for the benefit of all.
Resource: National Institute for Health and Care Research, October 01, 2024
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