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Clinical Research Network

The NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) supports the delivery of high quality research across the NHS, community and social care and public health organisations. It does this by meeting the costs of additional staff, facilities, equipment and support services. This means that research is not subsidised with funding that has been provided for health and care treatments and services. It also provides a range of services that researchers can access to help plan and deliver their research studies.

Study Support Service

Our ‘Plan, Place, Perform’ services, delivered by the Study Support Service, can help you throughout your research journey by:

  • providing  expert advice and guidance on planning your research
  • finding suitable sites and participants for your study
  • streamlining your study set-up

Find out more about our Study Support Service and other information about setting up and running research studies.

If you are looking for support to deliver commercial clinical research, please visit our Industry section.
 

CRN portfolio adoption

If your study meets the eligibility criteria for NIHR CRN portfolio, we will work with you and other partners to deliver to time and target. The ideal time to initiate this support is around the time your study has been shortlisted by a funder. Contacting us at this point will help ensure that you get the full range of relevant support for you and your study.

Find out more about CRN portfolio adoption and how to apply.

Local Clinical Research Network (LCRNs)

Our LCRNs help to coordinate and support the delivery of high quality research, so that more research can take place and more people can take part in research . They provide clinical research infrastructure across England, through 15 geographical areas and support study set-up and delivery locally. Our local networks also help to increase opportunities for participants to take part in clinical research, and work with patients and the public to make sure research is carried out in partnership with them. 

Find out more about the services and support your local LCRN provides.

Specialty services

We also provide expertise through a range of specialty therapy areas. Our specialty groups offer both clinical and academic expertise, as well as practical support to ensure studies are successful.

Find out more about the specialty areas we support.

Recruiting participants for your study

Our national network helps over a million people take part in research across the UK every year. However, we know that finding suitable participants for your study is not always easy. 

Our Be Part of Research service helps the public across the UK find and take part in health and social care research taking place in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It also now provides researchers free and easy access to research-engaged volunteers from across the UK, enabling study teams to recruit more quickly and effectively. The service can help to identify volunteers for your study through a wide range of data including age, ethnic group, gender, location and condition.

For more information on this service, visit the Be Part of Research website.