Primary Care Research Hub

Welcome to the North West Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN) Primary Care Research Hub

About the Hub

Developed with insight from general practices across our region, this Primary Care Hub aims to provide online support through:-

The latest clinical research news and updates
Information on available portfolio research studies you can participate in
Access to information on ongoing and upcoming portfolio studies
Access to online training resources and materials
Information on our local partners and initiatives
Access to additional online tools such as the Open Data Platform
Information on how the RRDN can support you in delivering research
Access to our Primary Care Research Solutions

Latest news and updates

Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Introduction: E6(R3) and the Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Refresher: GCP E6(R3)

In line with the new E6(R3) GCP and UK Clinical Trial Regulation updates, both the GCP Introduction course and the GCP Refresher course have now been updated on NIHR Learn.

To access the new GCP courses, please follow this link - https://learn.nihr.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=1238

You will be asked to log in to your NIHR account to access the course. If you do not have an account, please use your NHS email to create an account.

We ask that staff members complete this new training at your earliest convivence.

If you have any questions about the new GCP course, please email widercareteam.nwrrdn@nihr.ac.uk

Meet the Primary Care Commercial Fellows

Commercial trial recruitment has declined nationally, reducing the UKs competitiveness. Primary Care is underused for commercial research despite its reach and diversity. The SPCR GP Commercial Research Fellowships form one part of a wider national effort to rebuild capacity. Fellows are hosted by 11 UK academic institutions in the NIHR School for Primary Care Research (SPCR). The fellows introduce themselves in the slidedeck below:

SPCR Commercial Fellows v2 SE version_KW2 (1).pptx

WIDER CARE FUNDING APPICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

NHS and Wider Care Settings organisations were invited to apply for 2 new funding calls for 2026/27, offered by the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN). The funding calls are aimed at helping to improve access to research opportunities for health and care staff, and those they care for.

Thank you to everyone that submitted their applications - we can confirm that applications are now CLOSED.

RRDNs will inform applicants of their submission outcomes by 27th February 2026.

If you were not able to apply this year, you can still be supported as an Engaged site and receive Service Support Costs + 15%

Research Delivery Team Essentials

Training course available for any clinical or non-clinical staff working in primary care delivering research as part of their role

The NIHR North West RRDN Workforce Team offers a free 2 day in-person training course for all staff working in research delivery roles across the region, this includes staff working in primary care. The course aims to equip staff with the knowledge and skills to safely and effectively deliver and manage studies in their practice. It is aimed at staff who have 4-6 months experience of working in research. Staff must be nominated by their line manager due to the 2 day commitment. Please email nw.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk for further information.

International Festival of Public Health

Date: Tuesday 14th July 2026

Venue: Schuster Building, University of Manchester

Time: 09:00-17:00 - however there is the option to attend full day or just the AM or PM sessions

The purpose of the International Festival of Public Health is to provide an inclusive platform for the public, researchers, students and professionals working in the public health field to interact and share ideas for developing services, research and teaching.

Further information about the event can be found here: About the Festival (The University of Manchester) & you can register here to attend/

RRDN replaced the CRN on 1st October 2024

From 1st October 2024, the 15 Local Clinical Research Networks (LCRNs) were replaced by 12 NIHR Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDN). Each were mapped onto the NHS England Regional Office boundaries and those of the Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) operating within the regions, also coterminous with most local authority boundaries.

This provides even more focus on regional collaboration, influence and development with the local NHS and care system, to meet the needs of people within a region, while facilitating joint working with the NHS and ICSs. The NIHR Research Delivery Network is led by the leaders of the Regional Research Delivery Networks together with the National Coordinating Centre.

LCRN Greater Manchester and LCRN North West Coast have merged to become the new North West Regional Research Delivery Network, which covers the Integrated Care Systems of Cheshire and Merseyside, Greater Manchester, and Lancashire and South Cumbria.

We are excited by the opportunities we believe the new Network geographical coverage and infrastructure provides to communities across the North West’s population of 7 million people. As we embark on the transition, our focus continues to be ensuring we deliver the best research experience for local residents and working with our current and future GP partners with as little disruption to you as possible.

Invitation to Participate in an Interview on the Inclusion of Care Home Residents in Vaccine Trials

The team at NHS Grampian are looking for interest in their study Watch:

Title: Stakeholder perspectives on challenges and solutions to recruiting care home residents to vaccine clinical trials.

The study team are seeking volunteers to participate in a research study exploring the inclusion of care home residents in vaccine trials. The study involves one-to-one interviews with people from diverse backgrounds, including the clinical trial, regulatory, and care home-related sectors.

Who can be involved:

Healthcare Professionals and trial team members (who have experiecne in conducting, recruiting and setting up vaccine trials involving lder people and or research care home settings)
Care home professionals (owners, managers, registered nurses, carers)
Care home residents and relatives
Pharmaceutical members and trial regulators

Study information and aims:

The aim is to understand your thoughts, views and experiences about recruiting care home residents for vaccine trials.

The research team would be delighted if you would consider taking part in an interview at a time and place that is convenient for you. The interview is expected to last between 30 and 60 minutes. Please find the study flyer attached for more details.

Attached is a flyer along with a link to project information for review: Widening Access to Trials in Care Homes (WATCH) project

How to be involved or hear further information:

If you are interested, please be in touch with the study team via the following email addresses: roya.soiza@nhs.scot and selvarani.subbarayan2@nhs.scot.

The team will then provide you with the Participant Information Sheet, additional details about the study, and arrange your interview.

New SNOMED codes - dissent from research invitation

SNOMED have recently released a new code for GP sites to accurately record a patient's dissent from receiving research invitations directly from their practice.

- 1771641000000107 | Fully specified name: Dissent to receive invitation from general practitioner practice to participate in research

- 1771651000000105 | Fully specified name: Dissent withdrawn to receive from general practitioner practice to participate in research

For more information and to find out what action you may need to take at your practice, please see here.

Join Dementia Research - GP Text Messaging

Join Dementia Research is a national service funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, run by the National Institute of Health and Care Research in partnership with Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer Scotland.

Join Dementia Research enables people diagnosed with dementia, their partners and carers, as well as anyone with an interest in dementia research, to register their interest in taking part in dementia research and to be matched to suitable studies.

There’s a wide range of studies on Join Dementia Research, including studies into diagnosis, prevention, new treatments and quality of life studies. Volunteers with a dementia diagnosis often report that being involved in research can help them to maintain a positive attitude to life.

If you are interested in supporting sign ups to JDR from your practice please contact nw.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk for further information on how to get involved.

Keep up to date with other latest news, events and updates from the North West Research Community, with this link to our NW RRDN page.

NW RRDN Contact

If you have any queries about primary care research in the North West, please contact the team at: nw.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk

Page updated

Report abuse