Respiratory Translational Research Collaboration

R-TRC Support for COVID-19 Studies

The R-TRC welcomes requests and proposals for early phase studies for adoption by the R-TRC. The R-TRC will support the design and development of adopted/selected studies for subsequent submission to the national prioritisation portal.

Please contact the NOCRI team at signposting@nihr.ac.uk for further information and advice about the process for R-TRC study adoption and connections to relevant expertise.

For more information on an early phase COVID_19 study which received R-TRC support, read this case study. This study has now released positive preliminary results.

The NIHR Respiratory Translational Research (Respiratory TRC) brings together internationally recognised investigators in the UK's leading centres of excellence to carry out experimental and early phase research with industry, charities and other funders.

Work with the NIHR Respiratory Translational Research Collaboration

This NIHR Respiratory Translational Research Collaboration carries out outstanding translational research in respiratory disease. Together with industry partners, the Respiratory TRC focuses on experimental clinical research to identify mechanisms of pathophysiology of disease, or to demonstrate proof of concept or evidence of the validity of new discoveries or treatments.

Who is this for?

The NIHR Respiratory TRC undertake commercial and non-commercial studies with partners such as industry, research charities and other funders. The Respiratory TRC engages with all sectors of the life sciences industry, including Clinical Research Organisations (CROs).

To be suitable for Respiratory TRC support, a project is expected to:

involve one or more industry partners
focus on a disease area recognised as a Respiratory TRC area of expertise
bring significant academic value and the opportunity for scientific leadership from the Respiratory TRC
be at an early stage to enable input and feedback on study design and adopt a collaborative approach to study design
utilise experimental medicine approaches such as novel exploratory endpoints, biomarkers and stratification strategies
have a trial management team or delegated CRO or academic clinical trial unit in place to ensure effective study delivery.

The Respiratory TRC experts will help you to shape your protocol, providing advice on study design. If you already have a fully-developed protocol and are only looking for recruitment sites the NIHR Study Support Service will be able to help you.

The Respiratory TRC can offer scientific advice when there is a clear intent to deliver the study through the Respiratory TRC, they are not designed to act as stand-alone advisory boards.

Benefits of working with the TRC

The Respiratory TRC provide easy access to a network of academic centres and experts embedded in UK universities and NHS hospitals who are available to work collaboratively on experimental early phase clinical studies.

The Respiratory TRC centres operate to common business processes. This makes it quicker and easier for industry and other partners to work with the expert investigators within the NHS and Universities.

The Respiratory TRC provide operational support, including a standard pre-approved non-disclosure agreement, contractual templates and a close working relationship with the NIHR Clinical Research Network for identification of sites.

Areas of expertise

The Respiratory TRC specialties include:

asthma
chronic obstructive pulmonary fibrosis (COPD)
interstitial lung diseases, in particular idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and sarcoidosis
acute lung injury including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
cystic fibrosis and other rare respiratory diseases.

The Respiratory TRC regularly reviews areas of unmet need to determine emerging topics of focus for the group.