New Wessex-based Commercial Research Delivery Centre

The new centres will enhance the speed and efficiency of commercial clinical research delivery, contributing to the health and wealth of the nation. They will work with industry and other research delivery infrastructure to support the UK’s status as one of the best places in the world for innovative companies to bring their portfolio of research.

Building on the work of Wessex Research Hubs

The new Wessex-based CRDC builds on the success of four existing research hubs in Portsmouth, Southampton, Bournemouth and Weymouth. Since opening, people from across the region have benefitted from being able to take part in vitally important public health studies in their local area. 

The unique, cross-organisation and pan-regional approach of Wessex Research Hubs began as an emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since opening, staff from all sites have run late-phase, large scale clinical trials, supported by the NIHR’s Regional Research Delivery Networks. 

Improving access to clinical trials

Under an enhanced model, the new CRDC will:

• Further increase access for the public across Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight to participate in important research to advance healthcare
• Help shift clinical trials beyond large hospital trusts into community settings, meaning those in underserved areas will have better access
• Expand the use of two mobile research units to support more trials in the community
• Support more GP practices to become research active, bringing trials even closes to people’s homes
• Work with patient and public involvement and engagement officers to build local links with communities to increase the diversity of our recruitment
• Broaden the range of research to include trials for both healthy volunteers and patients with conditions – widening access to innovative treatments and interventions
• Create opportunities for people living in Salisbury and Basingstoke to take part in research
• Provide access to a network of commercially active sites with gold-standard set-up times and performance
• Build links with industry, leading to greater inward investment into the Wessex area and the UK as a whole

Cross regional partnership 

Several local organisations will work together to deliver and support the new NIHR Commercial Research Delivery Centre:

• University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (lead)
• Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust
• University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
• Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
• Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
• The Adam Practice, Poole
• South Central Ambulance Service
• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• NHS Dorset
• NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight 
• South Central Regional Research Delivery Network
• South West Central Regional Research Delivery Network

Under the governance of Wessex Health Partners

The new NIHR CRDC will be under the governance of Wessex Health Partners, a regional partnership working to accelerate improvements in health and care through research and innovation. 

Christine McGrath, Managing Director of Wessex Health Partners, said: “When we came together as Wessex Health Partners during the pandemic, we created a trailblazing new model which elevated pan-regional working to a whole new level. Our new CRDC will build on this work further, showing that by working together we can achieve so much more regionally, nationally and globally.”

Dr Patrick Moore, Director of the new NIHR CRDC, said: "Many participants in our trials are motivated by a strong desire to give back to the NHS and contribute to groundbreaking medical advancements that could improve the health and care of others in the future. With this expansion, even more people will have the opportunity to take part in vital research, driving meaningful improvements both regionally and beyond." 

Prof Saul Faust, Co-Director of the new CRDC, said: "Becoming an official CRDC is a great milestone for Wessex Research Hubs. What makes this even more special is the opportunity to continue working as a collaborative team across the whole region. Being part of the new national network is an exciting development that will help us to offer taking part in clinical trials to many more people." 

Dr Karen Underwood, Director of Research & Development at University Hospital Southampton, said: “Delivering research that impacts on our patients and communities is fundamental to our vision. I am proud that our Trust is supporting this regional initiative and look forward to working together with partners to deliver patient-centred and inclusive commercial research.” 

Kirsty Gladas, Senior Research Nurse Manager at South Central Regional Research Delivery Network, said: “We are excited to be able to offer more research opportunities to our communities, and ultimately contribute to the improvement of health and wealth in the region.”

A CRDC Network will be established to coordinate activities across the UK’s CRDCs, providing national leadership, alignment and strategic engagement, and enhancing the capacity and efficiency of commercial research delivery across the centres. The CRDCs are a critical scheme that supports UK Clinical Research Delivery – a cross sector programme of work aimed at creating a faster, more efficient, more accessible and more innovative clinical research delivery system, making the UK a world leader in clinical trials.