NIHR Wessex CRDC (Commercial Research Delivery Centre)
Wessex Research Hubs are a network of clinical trial facilities delivering research at scale and pace. The network consists of:
Bournemouth Research Hub - based in a major general hospital, this hub recruits from one of the most elderly populations along the south coast, offering a unique demographic
Portsmouth Research Hub - working out of a community centre, this hub offers later phase trials and is embedded in city life
Southampton Research Hub - based in Shirley Health Centre, this hub offers trials in the heart of the community
Weymouth Research Hub - based in an NHS vaccination centre, this hub is finding new ways to engage with people in a small coastal town
How the model works
The linked hubs model has proved very attractive to sponsors looking to open research at scale and pace. Sponsors can discuss their requirements with one contracting organisation, but have four sites at their disposal.
The Research & Development (R&D) team at the contracting organisation, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, performs set-up functions with each sponsor and Principal Investigator, on behalf of the four hubs.
Known as a 'multi-site single contract' model, this allows the sponsor to liaise with just one point of contact for all R&D, staffing, laboratory and pharmacy requirements, budgeting and official documentation. This means sponsors benefit from vastly increased recruitment reach across multiple sites without duplicating work, saving time on set-up and administration.
The sites are equipped with the infrastructure, staffing and skills to deliver both commercial and non-commercial studies. The current pipeline includes vaccines studies for Covid-19, flu, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), Mpox and shingles, as well as maternal and paediatric studies. All phases of studies can be facilitated at the hubs and there are plans to expand the type of studies delivered in the future.
With three of the hubs based in local community settings, the hubs are helping to reach groups historically under-served by research opportunities. Their increased accessibility helps remove barriers to participation - as many potential participants are not keen on driving long distances into hospitals, parking and navigating large sites.
Future aims
The aim is to open further centres within the region, particularly in community settings, and grow the pipeline of studies. Work is being done to build awareness of the hubs, encouraging a greater diversity of participants to come forward. There is also work to educate sponsors on the advantages of running trials in this way, and designing study protocols around this model from the start.
The long-term ambition is to align the research in each hub with the health needs of local communities. This way, the impact of the model can be maximised, giving patients access to innovative treatments and interventions, and helping the NHS address health inequalities.
Chrissy joined Wessex Health Partners in July 2024. She moved across from her work with the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) Wessex. As Communications and Engagement Lead, Chrissy played a pivotal role in the development of Wessex Research Hubs and Buses. She led the creation of a new cohesive brand, designed the website, developed a full suite of social media, ran online campaigns and extended PPIE work into the hubs and buses. She also launched the CRN’s first ever programme of public engagement to support recruitment into the region’s research studies aimed at improving health and care. Chrissy moved into comms after a long stint as a journalist, including nearly twenty years working for BBC South Today. She continues to approach most comms challenges as a journalist, putting storytelling at the heart of everything she does and always prioritising accessibility, immediacy and audience need.
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