Support with study delivery and performance
Through the Research Delivery Network (RDN), we support research sponsors and delegates with research study delivery and performance. Please email us to request this service:
For studies that are included on the NIHR RDN Portfolio we offer support to:
- streamline your study set-up through our national network and links with sites
- ensure sites open as quickly and efficiently as possible
- provide support and advice to sponsors/delegates to help you reach study recruitment targets
Get help and advice
We offer a broad range of support through our Study Support Service and national infrastructure across the RDN. Some examples include:
- Supporting study-wide planning activities - eg we can help you identify extra research sites including Patient Identification Centres (PICs)
- Research delivery advice - eg we can advise you on recruitment strategies and suggest recruitment settings you may not have considered in the original protocol. These include regional care pathways, NHS support services, investigators, capabilities and exploring digital recruitment methods
- Discuss site or whole study issues affecting study delivery
- Advice on engaging with local communities, primary care and wider care settings such as schools, prisons, care homes etc
- Clinical advice - eg assessment of study deliverability in the UK, recommendations of recruitment methods and pathways, study design considerations
- Support to overcome barriers, delivery challenges or other types of requests
How long will it take to get the support I need?
This depends on the complexity of the request. We can resolve some queries and issues the same day, whereas some requests may require more in-depth involvement and take longer to find a resolution.
Find studies we support - Open Data Platform
Then NIHR's Open Data Platform may be of benefit to you. The NIHR Open Data Platform (ODP) is the platform through which you can access the details of all the studies the NIHR supports including the number of participants recruited to each study. The data is captured via the NIHR Central Portfolio Management System and fed into ODP to enable easy viewing and analysis.
Understanding recruitment activity across the country can support researchers in optimising the design of their studies by providing key insights such as national and local recruitment trends, recruitment hotspots, and highlighting potential new research locations previously unconsidered.
To access ODP you will need to register. We have developed a series of short 'how to' training videos and frequently asked questions to get you started, including how to register. The videos are continuously updated in line with the development of ODP.
If you have any questions about ODP, please contact the NIHR Business Intelligence team on odp@nihr.ac.uk.
How can I access the support for study delivery and performance?
When your study is included on the NIHR RDN Portfolio, we will send you information on how to access our support.
You can also:
Email the Study Support Helpdesk:
Contact one of our regional networks:
- East Midlands: em.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk
- East of England: eoe.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk
- North East and North Cumbria: nenc.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk
- North London: nl.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk
- North West: nw.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk
- South Central: sc.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk
- South East: se.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk
- South London: sl.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk
- South West Central: swc.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk
- South West Peninsula: swp.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk
- West Midlands: wm.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk
- Yorkshire and Humber: yh.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk