CRN UPDATE THE CRN: NORTH THAMES NEWSLETTER | Issue 3 CRN Update The CRN: North Thames Newsletter Issue 3 170 Tottenham Court Road London W1T 7HA Delivering clinical research to make patients, and the NHS, better Early Success Dr. James Lyddiard, Chief Operating Officer It is now seven months since CRN North Thames was established so it is a good opportunity for us to take stock on progress. Across the Partnership we have had an extremely successful period, recruitment activity is higher for almost all of our partner organisations and as a whole have recruited 35,467 patients in the first 6 months. This is excellent news as we are exceeding expectation and are well ahead of our targets as well as being the highest recruiting CRN nationally. NOVEMBER 2014 announce that we have now appointed to the vacant Clinical Specialty Lead posts and we are pleased to say that the following individuals have taken up appointment: CRN Now Dr. Simona Cicero Dr. Francesco D’Aiuto Dr. Stefano Fedele Dr. John Hurst Dr. Andrew Kelso Dr. Kieran McCafferty Dr. Michael Mullen Reproductive Health The CRN: North Respiratory Newsletter Thames Neurology Joint Leads for Oral and Dental Renal (from 1/4/15) r Cardiovascular These new clinical leaders will add to our current complement of 170 Tottenham Court Road clinicians working to enhance the strategic planning of the research portfolio in these key areas. We will shortly be advertising for a vacant Clinical Divisional Lead post for Division, cancer (1PA), but in the meantime it would be good if any interested parties could get in touch. London, W1T 7HA The work to develop a single system for RM&G approvals across the network continues through the R&D Advisory Group. It is essential for us to have workable plans in place to enable a smooth transition of HRA process in 2015. We will keep you informed as we finalise and begin to implement plans. We recruit to all Specialties and are significantly contributing to the national specialty objectives and activity. Areas of particular note are mental health, stroke, hepatology, anaesthesia and ophthalmology where we are the highest recruiting Network nationally. The strength of our effectiveness resides in the established research culture, the engagement of Investigators as well as the dedicated workforce and strength of the local clinical leadership. We are therefore delighted to Lyn and I continue to travel around the Network, as we get to know our member Trusts, understand their potential to deliver research and how we might be able to support them. Our Research Delivery Managers and their teams are supporting us in this and we are finding the enthusiasm for engaging in research across the region is striking and demonstrates the vibrant research culture already in place. As some of you will know, the delivery of the national Central Portfolio Management System (CPMS) has been delayed further and is hoped to go live late in 2014. Locally work is also progressing on the procurement of a Local Portfolio Management System (LPMS). We are undertaking a joint procurement with the other London Networks CRN UPDATE THE CRN: NORTH THAMES NEWSLETTER | Issue 3 sharing our knowledge, experience and hopefully driving economies of scale on purchase. We have an ambitious timescale engaging with our local user group and aim to begin roll-out of the system in March 2015. I would like to take the opportunity to thank a number of staff who are leaving the core team, Alastair Nicholson and Gill Hood are both off to pastures new and we wish them well. I would also like to welcome a number of new starters who have joined the team, Subhir Bedi as Head of RM&G, and Heidi Chandler as Deputy Delivery Manager (Division 3). Network Vacancy An exciting opportunity to apply for a role as Research Delivery Manager with CRN North Thames is now live on NHS jobs: https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/28dbcb8509f4d1ae2f55a4b40409a 3bd/?vac_ref=913561644 Meet the Network This month we are pleased to introduce our new Head of RM&G and two more of our six Divisional Research Delivery Managers. Subhir Bedi, Head of RM&G Subhir started his career in healthcare research after completing postgraduate work at Newcastle University. He began working in Research management in 2009 when he joined Southampton NHS R&D, later moving to similar roles within London based Trusts including Senior Research Governance Manager at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Subhir then made the leap into the NIHR after joining as the former London and South East MCRN as a network manager. Whilst in this position Subhir worked closely with industry and research groups to enhance the portfolio of children’s research covering 33 NHS sites. With a strong background in research management and governance and industry collaboration Subhir led the GOSH permission centre as the commercial liaison officer for the UCLP-harmonisation project, whilst carrying on the role of Deputy Research Delivery manager for Division 3. Subhir has a keen interest in RM&G and is committed to ensuring, through his new position as Head of RM&G, this activity within CRN North Thames goes from strength to strength. This is a key time for RM&G with the HRA on the horizon and the ongoing local consultation. Phillip Smith, Research Delivery Manager: Cancer Phil Smith brings to the role a great depth and breadth of experience in research, management, NHS engagement and most of all the successful delivery of research. Via a variety of roles Phil has provided leadership to support the transformation of the way research is perceived and managed in the NHS. Over the last 6 years he has been part of the Essex and Hertfordshire Comprehensive Local Research network and has held responsibilities for the Senior Management of the network, Research Delivery, Commercial Research, Research Governance and workforce development. Phil has a very strong desire to make CRN: North Thames the best place for research, and in particular cancer research, for the benefit of patients, researchers, Trusts and the wider economy. Tania Page, Research Delivery Manager: Mental Health, Neurology & Dementia Tania Page is a New Zealand trained Registered Nurse, with over 15 years of nursing experience, she has gained a wealth of knowledge working in acute settings with children and adults. In 2001, Tania embarked on her research journey working as a research nurse in a leading Phase 1 Clinical Research Facility in London and from there has continued to develop a growing interest and moved from corporate into the NHS environment. Her current role as a Research Delivery Manager facilitating Mental Health, Dementia, Neurodegenerative and Neurological Disorders research in the NHS will be the most challenging to date. Tania is working closely with local trusts and clinicians to ensure that research is part of the clinical pathway and that patients are made aware of how to be involved. She looks forward to working with you all. Trust Success in Blood Clot Study Queens Hospital in Romford, part of the Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, is England’s top recruiting site (out of 32) for an important study comparing a blood thinning injection with a blood thinning tablet for people with cancer who have a blood clot. You can read more on our website: http://www.crn.nihr.ac.uk/blog/news/crn-north-thames-trust-is-toprecruiting-site/ Chair gets involved The Chairman of Basildon and Thurrock University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has led the way for those wishing to get involved in Research, and has himself volunteered to take part in a recent study running at the Trust. The news was featured in a local newspapers and you can view the full article on our website: http://www.crn.nihr.ac.uk/blog/news/trust-chair-takes-part-in-research GCP Training CRN North Thames co-ordinate training across all their Trusts and can assist with registering for courses via LMS. Dates are now available for 2015. To view these and find out more please visit our website: http://www.crn.nihr.ac.uk/north-thames/about/training/ Staff Contacts Don’t forget you can also find a full list of all our staff contact details on the website: http://www.crn.nihr.ac.uk/resources/crn-north-thames-key-contacts/