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Review
. 2012 Jul 6;4(4):23.
doi: 10.1186/alzrt126. eCollection 2012.

Supporting clinical research in the NHS in England: the National Institute for Health Research Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network

Piers Kotting  1 , Kris Beicher  2 , Ian G McKeith  2 , Martin N Rossor  1
Affiliations
Review

Supporting clinical research in the NHS in England: the National Institute for Health Research Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network

Piers Kotting et al. Alzheimers Res Ther. .

Abstract

Clinical research is best done when aligned with clinical care - that is, when the patient can be identified, recruited and, in many instances, researched in parallel with the delivery of clinical service. However, to achieve this effectively requires identification of the additional cost to the National Health Service clinical support services and the development of an appropriately skilled workforce. The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Cancer Research Network demonstrated the value of dedicated research support in terms of the number of patients recruited into clinical trials. Building on this model, the NIHR in England funded the Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network (DeNDRoN). DeNDRoN is now in its sixth year and has established a geographically widespread network of research support staff and research leadership managed by a central coordinating centre. Success can already be measured by a significant increase in the number of patients entering studies and the speed with which both commercial and noncommercial studies are completed. There are also early indications that the network will result in improved patient outcomes.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
National Institute for Health Research in England. NHS, National Health Service.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Structure of the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network. NIHR, National Institute for Health Research.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Functional organisation of the Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network Coordinating Centre.
Figure 4
Figure 4
DeNDRoN Local Research Network regions, 2006.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network Local Research Network regions and specialty groups. Map of Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network (DeNDRoN) Local Research Network regions and Comprehensive Local Research Network (CLRN) DeNDRoN specialty groups in England, 2012.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Balance of the Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network dementia portfolio, 2011. Number of studies = 66.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Balance of the Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network portfolio by disease, 2011. Total number of studies on portfolio = 132. MSA, multiple system atrophy; PSP, progressive supranuclear palsy.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Total Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network dementia portfolio activity, 2006 to 2011.
Figure 9
Figure 9
National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network portfolio dementia activity 2007/08 to 2010/11. Comparison of activity between Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network (DeNDRoN) Local Research Network (LRN) regions and non-LRN regions: numbers of studies open to recruitment, number of National Health Service sites recruiting and number of people recruited.
Figure 10
Figure 10
National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network portfolio commercial dementia activity 2007/08 to 2010/11. Comparison of activity between Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network (DeNDRoN) Local Research Network (LRN) regions and non-LRN regions: numbers of studies open to recruitment, number of National Health Service (NHS) sites recruiting and number of people recruited.
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