The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care with the aim of improving the health and wealth of the nation.

The NIHR Clinical Research Network East Midlands supports the delivery of high-quality research in the NHS and social care across the East Midlands region. We are committed to providing the infrastructure that allows research to take place so that patients, carers and the public can benefit from new and better care and treatments.  

• Contributing to NICE evidence

• Patients having the opportunity to participate in research

• Quality mark for CQC inspection 

• Learning & Development for staff

• Financial Support

For further information and how to get involved in Oral & Dental research please contact supportmystudyeastmidlands@nihr.ac.uk

Dr Sarah Young, Dr Jessica Lau and Dr George Andrew are developing a young dentists (less than 10 years after qualifying) research group within the East Midlands.

The mission of the East Midlands Young Dentist Research Network is to increase engagement among young dental professionals in oral and dental research through career development, education and networking opportunities. 

Terms of Reference for Group: 

1. To develop a strategic approach in engaging dentists within 10 years of qualification and dental trainees in research activity.

2. To act as a mechanism whereby young dentists can feed in to the development of research policy. 

3. To communicate NIHR research objectives and strategies and provide support for their implementation.

4. To develop as appropriate proposals in relation to research matters for consideration by the LCRN. 

5. To identify resourcing issues relating to research and 'dental teams'. 

6. To refer as appropriate issues for discussion across the group to the East Midlands LCRN and Derbyshire LDC. 

7. To share good practice in supporting oral and dental research performance. 

8. To share good practice in the development, delivery and tracking of impact.

The Primary Care Dental Practice scheme will support the delivery of NIHR portfolio research studies and associated activities at Dental Practice sites across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire in the East Midlands region. The Dental Practice will nominate two members of research active members of staff who will be based at the site's premises and responsible for overseeing research activity.

Dental Practices will deliver research studies as a Patient Identification Centre (PIC) or a recruiting site.  A PIC is where the Dental Practice identifies potential research participants by processing personal data (e.g. through carrying out a database search to identify individuals that meet a studies eligibility criteria and then inviting the participants to the research study).  A Recruiting Site is where participants are identified and consented at the Practice. 

The practice will be allocated funding and is eligible to receive NHS Service Support Costs of NIHR Clinical Research Network funding where applicable. 

The scheme offers a great opportunity for Dental Practices that are passionate about contributing towards improved patient care pathways, treatments and processes to become research active to drive forward these advancements and offer increased opportunities to both their patients and staff. 

Good Clinical Practice (GCP) is the international ethical, scientific and practical standard to which all clinical research is conducted.

It is important that everyone involved in research is trained or appropriately experienced to perform the specific tasks they are being asked to undertake. GCP training is a requirement set out in the UK Policy Framework for Health and Social Care Research developed by the Health Research Authority for researchers conducting clinical trials of investigational medicinal products (CTIMPs). 

Different types of research may require different training, and some researchers are already well trained and competent in their area of expertise. Some researchers doing other types of clinical trials may also benefit from undertaking GCP training but other training may be more relevant.

The NIHR offers range of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) courses and training aids for the clinical research delivery workforce. Our GCP courses are designed for individuals involved in the delivery of studies at research sites.

If unable to access the research training please contact supportmystudyeastmidlands@nihr.ac.uk.

NHS Service Support Costs are the additional patient care costs associated with the research, which would end once the R&D study in question had stopped, even if the patient care involved continued to be provided.  These costs are met by the Clinical Research Network. Non commerical studies Service Support Costs for NHS registered patients only (excluding private dental practices) are claimed through the submission of the online form.

The form can be submitted as many times as you require and we encourage you to complete this on a regular basis or as required as per your sites completed activities. 

Please Note: You can only submit a claim for one study at a time.

If the activity you are claiming for is taking informed consent a request form does not need to be submitted. 

Please ensure you have claimed all SSC by the end of the current financial year.

If your practice name & ODS code is missing please contact supportmystudyeastmidlands@nihr.ac.uk.

How do Dental Practices Submit Claims for Service Support Costs?

To find a range of downloadable resources for use on patient waiting room digital screens and practice websites, please click here.