UKCRF Network awarded £2.4 million in public funding to support the delivery of early phase research studies

The UK Clinical Research Facility Network (UKCRF Network), hosted by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), has been awarded £2.4 million funding by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to support research studies over the next five years.

The UKCRF Network works in collaboration with 54 Clinical Research Facilities (CRFs) based within NHS Trusts across the UK and Ireland. It also links with other key early phase and experimental medicine infrastructure including for cancer and vaccine trials.

Health and Care Research Wales is a member of the UKCRF network, together with a number of Welsh CRFs, serving as members and staff of the working groups. Jayne Goodwin, National Head of Research Delivery of Health and Care Research Wales said:

This is a very welcome announcement. We enjoy a collaborative relationship with the UKCRF network which provides us access to training resources, mentorship and collaboration with industry which are beneficial to our work in Wales.”

The aim of the network is to benefit the UK early-stage clinical research and life sciences industry by developing, sharing and implementing excellence in operational practice for efficient and effective trial delivery, excellent patient experience and safety.

Interim Director of UKCRF Network, Paul Brown, led on the successful proposal to the NIHR alongside MFT, CRF Directors and colleagues within the Network.

He said:

We are thrilled to announce that this bid was successful, and we have been officially awarded NIHR funding for the UKCRF Network from 1 March 2023 to 28 February 2028.

NIHR’s funding is a significant increase, which is a testament to our collaborative structure and a vote of confidence in the work to date. We look forward to expanding our teams, their remit and continuing our growth and success over the next five years.”

The 28 NIHR CRFs belong to the UKCRF Network and are a key part of the UK’s leading early-stage clinical research infrastructure and play an important role in making the country a global hub for life sciences.