The UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) is a partnership of organisations working to establish the UK as a world leader in clinical research, by harnessing the power of the NHS. UKCRC’s aim is to re-engineer the environment in which clinical research is conducted in the UK, to benefit the public and patients by improving national health and increasing national wealth. One component of the UKCRC’s aims is to develop and maintain high quality capacity for specialist trial design, conduct and analysis in the UK. The UKCRC Clinical Trials Unit Registration Process is designed to register units with relevant high quality trials expertise that are committed to working with the UKCRC to support clinical research.
This is the second call for applications from Clinical Trials Units in the UK that centrally coordinate multi-centre clinical trials and other well-designed studies (i.e. have the overall responsibility for the design, recruitment, data management, publicity and analysis of the trial). Collaborative groups are also eligible to apply, please refer to the information pack and guidance notes. Applicants must be able to demonstrate a number of key competencies. These are:
-
a track record and experience of centrally coordinating multi-centre clinical trials and other well-designed studies
-
presence of a core team of expert staff to develop studies
-
presence of robust quality assurance systems and systems to ensure adherence to research governance standards
-
resources to provide adequate and stable infrastructure and senior staff as well as an ability to ensure continuity of the core disciplines.
Full Registration will be given to Clinical Trials Units possessing all essential competencies. Provisional Registration will be given to newer or smaller Clinical Trials Units that are working towards possessing the expertise to enable Full Registration status.
Clinical Trials Units with current provisional registration will also be able to apply for Full Registration at this time, further information is available in the information pack and guidance notes. These units should contact Lyndsey Tuck (email lyndsey.a.tuck@nihr.ac.uk Tel 0113 3430412) to discuss the process for this.
This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute to a network of Clinical Trials Units, developing and coordinating a national portfolio of clinical trials research. UKCRC Registered Clinical Trials Units have a national profile, and will also be able to work together to share expertise, systems and knowledge and therefore prevent duplication of effort across Clinical Trials Units.
The application form and guidance notes are available below:
In order to complete their applications Applicants will require access to Adobe Reader software. The latest version can be downloaded without charge from Adobe at http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/.
Requests for further information should be directed to Lyndsey Tuck at lyndsey.a.tuck@nihr.ac.uk or Tel 0113 3430412.
The closing date for applications is Friday 7 August 2009.
[]