The NHS R

1

• The NHS RD Strategy
• and
• Research Networks
• National Spinal Injuries Research Collaborative
• 26 March 2003

2
Take home message

• Patients do better if they participate in high
  quality research studies
• Researchers do better if they participate in
  collaborative research studies
• Organisations do better if they participate in
  research networks

3
NHS RD Strategy

• Aim
• to improve the health and wellbeing of people in
  England through research

4
NHS RD Strategy

• Two main strands
• determine policy for research in the NHS
• fund research activities to support policy and
  practice

5
NHS RD Strategy

• Policy for research in the NHS
• strategic direction
• funding systems
• research governance
• research ethics
• intellectual property
• partnership working
• ...all of these support the development of
  Research Networks...

6
NHS RD Strategy

• Fund research activities to support policy and
  practice
• NHS Support for Science
• NHS Priorities and Needs

7
NHS RD Strategy

• Fund research activities to support policy and
  practice
• NHS Support for Science
• NHS costs of our funding partners research

8
NHS RD Strategy

• Fund research activities to support policy and
  practice
• NHS Support for Science
• NHS costs of our funding partners research
• NHS Priorities and Needs
• RD to address Government priorities
• RD to address NHS needs

9
NHS Priorities and Needs RD

• Two separate components
• centrally-managed programmes
• programmes managed by collaborative NHS/academic
  research groupings

10
NHS Priorities and Needs RD

• Two separate components
• centrally-managed programmes
• programmes managed by collaborative NHS/academic
  research groupings
• ...both of these can, should, and doinclude
  Research Networks...

11
Research Networks

• Three main types
• broad, inclusive, pan-national networks
• e.g. National Cancer Research Network (NCRN)
• specialist, selective, national networks
• e.g. National Translational Cancer Research
  Network (NTRAC)
• local and capacity-building networks
• e.g. Primary Care Research Networks

12
National Cancer Research Network

• Aim
• integrate research and cancer care
• improve the quality, speed, and co-ordination of
  cancer research
• increase the number of providers, professionals,
  and patients participating in cancer research

13
National Cancer Research Network

• Target
• To double the number of cancer patients entering
  trials within three years

14
National Cancer Research Network

• Structure
• managed research network mapping onto all 34
  cancer service networks across England

15
National Cancer Research Network

• Activities include
• Identifying research questions (and prioritising
  them)
• Designing research projects (and prioritising
  them)
• Co-ordinating participation in research projects
• Recruiting patients to participate in identified
  research projects
• Managing the progress of patients through the
  research process
• Collecting, collating and submitting research
  data
• Quality assurance and quality control
• Education and training

16
National Cancer Research Network

• Benefits for patients
• patients do better if they participate in high
  quality research studies
• Benefits for researchers
• researchers do better if they participate in
  collaborative research studies
• Benefits for organisations
• organisations do better if they participate in
  research networks

17
National Cancer Research Network

• Benefits
• better health and wellbeing of people in England

18

• The NHS RD Strategy
• and
• Research Networks
• National Spinal Injuries Research Collaborative
• 26 March 2003

19
Take home message II

• New style of working by funding bodies is
• fast
• focussed
• partnership
• Successful research organisations will be
• aware
• responsive
• collaborative

20

• An NHS RD Programme should comprise a cohesive
  set of activities which all contribute to
  addressing an issue of importance to the NHS. A
  collaborative NHS/academic research grouping may
  lead, or contribute to, a number of Programmes.
• An NHS RD Programme should cover all the
  following criteria. It should
• Involve a strategic partnership between one or
  more NHS and social care organisations and at
  least one university.
• Provide an explicit research strategy in an
  area of national priority or of demonstrable
  need for health and social care.
• Identify a designated leader with recognised
  expertise in an appropriate field of research.
• Identify a range of interrelated projects that
  make up the Programme (a minimum of three
  projects is required for a programme). Please
  note, a project is a time-limited research
  protocol to answer a defined research question.
• Explicitly draw upon knowledge, track record
  and ability in the subject area.
• Demonstrate high standards of research
  governance and management including research
  sponsorship arrangements. The NHS organisation,
  or other recognised sponsor, acting as sponsor
  for different elements of a programme should be
  clear.
• Involve academic disciplines, professions and
  service sectors appropriate to the research
  questions to be investigated.
• Have clear arrangements in place for including
  service users and carers, as appropriate, in all
  stages of the research process as appropriate to
  the topic area.
• Demonstrate clear and appropriate mechanisms
  for disseminating research results, and close
  links with wider NHS and other functions
  responsible for improving the quality of health
  and social care.
• Demonstrate the ability to build capacity in
  NHS RD through offering training and supervision
  of PhD students and post-doctoral Fellows.
• Note that, programmes will be expected to have
  additional external funding from a range of
  appropriate sources, such as Research Councils,
  charities, Government departments as well as NHS
  RD Funding (NHS Support for Science Funding and
  NHS Priorities and Needs RD Funding).