Getting Involved in Research

NIHR Clinical Research Network Portfolio

The portfolio database is a public searchable database consisting of high quality clinical research studies that are eligible for consideration for support from the NIHR Clinical Research Network. The Research Promoter for the trust regularly trawls the database, searching for studies that are looking for new research sites. Please contact the Research Promoter with the area of research that you are interested in and a full study search can be completed.

Industry Studies

The Clinical Research Network have a number of Industry Managers whose roles are to help facilitate and monitor commercial research in the area. A number of commercial sponsors will liaise with the Network to aid them in finding new sites to participate in their studies. These Industry Managers contact the R&D Department with information regarding up and coming studies. If you are interested in participating in commercial research please let the Research Promoter know what area you are interested in and they can contact you if a relevant study becomes available. They will liaise with you to complete the relevant forms and submit to the network. Some commercial partners contact the research team that they want to be involved directly, in these cases if you contact the Research Promoter/R&D they will help with any forms that are needed. All forms should be submitted via R&D.

Principal Investigator (PI)

The Principal Investigator is a person who is responsible for the day to day running of the research project at a particular site. The PI must ensure that all researchers working on the project are aware of their responsibilities to make sure that any research undertaken adheres to the agreed protocol, help health care professionals to ensure that participants receive appropriate care whilst involved in research, protect the integrity and confidentiality of clinical and other records and data generated by research and report any failures in respect of drug reactions and other events or suspected misconduct through the appropriate systems.  Further information regarding PI responsibilities is available in the R&D standard operating procedures.

Co-Investigator (Co-I)

Co-Investigators are key personnel who have responsibilities similar to that of a PI on a research study. While the PI has the ultimate responsibility for the conduct of a research project at the organisation, the Co-I is also obligated to ensure the study is conducted in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and institutional policies.

Here at CDDFT if a study is going to be carried out across the trust (at DMH, UHND and/or BAH) then usually we would assign a PI at one site and a Co-I at other sites participating in the research.

If you are interested in getting involved in research contact the Research Promoter for more details.