Clinical Research Network: Eastern appoints Clinical Directors

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH) has appointed Clinical Directors to the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network for Eastern, which has its administrative base at the Trust.

The NIHR Clinical Research Network is the clinical research delivery arm of the NHS, and last year was responsible for helping more than 630,000 patients to take part in research studies that contribute towards improving treatments for the future.

CRN: Eastern has appointed three Clinical Directors from different geographic areas and specialties to help cover the region and maximise engagement.

The three Clinical Directors are:

• Jesus Perez (to be lead Clinical Director of CRN: Eastern) to lead on Mental Health. Jesus is a consultant psychiatrist at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, was Co-Director of West Anglia Comprehensive Local Research Network (CLRN) since September 2012 and Clinical Director of West Anglia CLRN since April 2013.
  
• Jonathan Graffy to lead on Primary and Community Care. Jonathan is currently an Academic General Practitioner in Bedfordshire with experience in primary care research. He is Clinical Director of Primary Care Research Network – East of England and since 2007 he has worked as Co-Director of West Anglia CLRN.
  
• Jeremy Turner to lead on Acute Care. Jeremy is currently a Consultant Endocrinologist at NNUH and Co-Director of Norfolk and Suffolk CLRN since 2011.

The Clinical Directors will be responsible for boosting the level of clinical engagement in research across the patch, ensuring that studies are carried out efficiently, and maximizing the opportunities for patients to participate in a study that could benefit them.

Anna Dugdale, Chief Executive at NNUH said: “We are delighted to have appointed such experienced and talented Clinical Directors. They will be key in building on the excellence achieved to date to further improve engagement with all those involved in research and with our patients, and ensuring that CRN: Eastern is vibrant, well-connected and dynamic in its approach.”

Dr Jonathan Sheffield, Chief Executive of the NIHR Clinical Research Network nationally said, “Clinical research provides vital evidence to help us to improve treatments for NHS patients, so it is extremely important that we have great local leaders to encourage doctors, nurses and managers to make clinical research part of the standard treatment options for all patients. I’m delighted that Jesus, Jonathan and Jeremy have been appointed as the Clinical Directors for CRN: Eastern, and I look forward to seeing the area build on an already impressive track record in clinical research under their leadership.”