Improving clinical research across the UK: who, why, how?

2006 Conference

The UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) is a partnership of organisations working to revitalise the environment for clinical research in the UK. Through a coordinated programme of work the UKCRC Partners are working to harness and build on the huge research potential of the NHS. The ultimate aim is to benefit patients and the public by establishing the UK as a world leader in clinical research. The strength of the UKCRC is that it brings together the main UK funding bodies, academia, the NHS, regulators, industry and patients. An important part of the UKCRC’s agenda is to find effective ways to involve and engage patients and the public in this broad programme of change.

The UK Clinical Research Network (UKCRN) forms one of the key components of UK Clinical Research Collaboration’s work to build up the infrastructure for clinical research in the NHS. This Network is in place to provide the support to facilitate clinical trials and other well-designed studies. It is tasked with developing support for clinical research in the UK, aiming to improve patient care and allow people across the country access to the best treatment. Therefore a common theme that runs throughout its work is Patient and Public Involvement. The UK Clinical Research Network believes that active patient and public involvement is needed if it is to achieve a programme of research which directly benefits, and reflects the needs and views of, patients and the public.