CARE-PC (Capacity and Academic Research Excellence in Primary Care)

Welcome to the CARE-PC (Capacity and Academic Research Excellence in Primary Care) website. We are a community of practice that aims to facilitate academic research capacity across primary care.

Primary care research is essential to the NHS and the UK economy and sits at the heart of the NHS 10-year plan¹.

 Some key facts supporting the important relationship between primary care practice and research are:

• Primary care research is often high impact, relevant to real-world patients and directly affects policy and practice².
• Portfolio careers for clinicians, such as GPs and primary care clinicians, who are involved in research, are more likely to lead to a more satisfied and longer-lasting workforce and is an answer to the recruitment and retention crisis³.
• Academic GPs represent only 0.05% of the GP workforce ⁴.
• Expansion of the academic GP workforce is needed to evidence-informed care in the community².

CARE-PC is a community of practice for primary care professionals who are interested in getting involved in research.

You might be wanting to learn more about research, incorporate it into your practice, or undertake some research of your own.

Sign up via mailing list: CARE-PC Mailing List 

 We have also signposted to other relevant guidance for your practice.

1. UK Government. Fit for the future. 10 Year Health Plan for England. 2025. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/10-year-health-plan-for-england-fit-for-the-future
2. Taylor CJ, Avery AJ, Mughal F et al. Building capacity in the academic general practice research workforce. British Journal of General Practice. 2025; 75 (756): 330-333. https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2025.0089
3. Marchand C and Peckham S. Addressing the crisis of GP recruitment and retention: a systematic review. British Journal of General Practice. 2017; 67 (657): e227-e237. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp17X689929
4. Academy of Medical Sciences. Future-proofing UK health research: a people-centred, coordinated approach. 2023. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/policy/policy-projects/future-proofing-uk-health-research