New start for Clinical Research Network: Eastern

Clinical research in the region will receive a boost today, 1 April 2014, with the launch of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network: Eastern.

The Network – one of 15 across England, which all begin operating from today – brings together local hospitals, doctors’ surgeries and other healthcare providers from across the region, to collaborate in conducting high quality clinical research studies that could lead to better treatments for NHS patients.

NIHR Clinical Research Network: Eastern will receive around £20 million of funding this year to invest in clinical research nurses to match patients with appropriate research opportunities, carry out the clinical duties required for the studies and cover research-related costs such as x-rays and scans.

Having the opportunity to take part in research studies is important to the region’s patients and carers.  According to a consumer poll carried out by Censuswide last year, 97 per cent of people in the East of England, said that NHS doctors and nurses should always tell patients about clinical trials that would be suitable for them.

Commenting on the start-up of NIHR Clinical Research Network: Eastern, Dr Jonathan Sheffield, chief executive of the Network at a national level explained:  “The Network has in fact been running for a while, but from April 2014 we will be operating in a new structure that will help us to reach out to even more healthcare providers and patients, and really make clinical research a part of the “day job” for the NHS – which is what it should be.”
Jesus Perez is lead Clinical Director of CRN: Eastern and Fiona Durban is the Chief Operating Officer.

Jesus Perez said: “Today a new chapter in the story of the clinical research networks begins.  CRN: Eastern will be a cohesive, transparent and innovative organisation and we are very much looking forward to supporting all those involved in research and spreading the benefits of participating in clinical research studies to even more patients.”

Fiona Durban said: “This is an amazing time to be working in research.  We have extremely talented and dedicated teams here in the East of England and we look forward immensely to working with researchers in the region and supporting them to provide as many opportunities as possible for patients to be involved in research studies.”