The NIHR Clinical Research Network is the clinical research delivery arm of the NHS. The Network operates nationally across England through a national coordinating centre and 15 local branches delivering research in the NHS across all disease areas.

Communities of clinical practice

The Primary Care Specialty is one of 30 specialties which bring together communities of clinical practice to provide national networks of research expertise. Members are research-interested clinicians and practitioners at both national and local levels. The Network’s job is to ensure that the primary care studies that are included in the NIHR national portfolio of research receive the right support to ensure they are delivered successfully in the NHS. The team will look at the feasibility and ‘do-ability’ of studies, using their detailed knowledge of patient pathways, and will find patients to recruit to studies. Network research nurses and research trained practice staff are crucial to the success of the work.

Local expertise

The NIHR Clinical Research Network: Eastern is hosted by Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The Trust is responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of research in the Trusts, primary care organisations and other qualified NHS providers throughout the Eastern area. The CRN Eastern (primary care) has a track record of success and is regularly in the top three nationally for its recruitment performance in  primary care research studies.  

Quick facts

• there are 15 Local Clinical Research Networks
• CRN: Eastern is hosted by NNUH
• Clinical Directors are Dr Jesus Perez, Dr Jonathan Graffy and Dr Jeremy Turner and the Chief Operating Officer is Fiona Durban

Find out more

Helen Macdonald: helen.macdonald@nihr.ac.uk

https://www.crn.nihr.ac.uk/primarycare/

https://www.crn.nihr.ac.uk/primarycare/contacts/