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

Your new North West PRES Dashboard

It's taken us a little longer than we would have liked but we're now able to share the link to the new North West PRES Dashboard.

The Dashboard is based on the QLIK platform which you may already be familiar with if you use the Open Data Platform (ODP). If you have an ODP account, or an NIHR Learn account you're log in credentials should work for this (for those in the former GM patch this means no more @nihr.ac.uk email addresses are needed!).

How to use the dashboard

See below for details of drop in sessions, but in the meantime there is a video called "How to view PRES data on the dashboard" on the Digital PRES tab of the National PRES Microsite. Whilst the video is of the platform our colleagues in the North East RRDN use, ours is based on theirs so it's a very similar tool. If you open the 'introduction' sheet, you can use the arrows towards the top right corner to move backwards and forwards through the report, with the filter fields

Wed 7th Jan 09:30 - 10:15 PRES dashboard drop in session | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams:

Friday 16th Jan 15:00-15:45 - PRES dashboard drop in session | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams

Thursday 5th Feb 11:00-11:45 - PRES dashboard drop in session | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams

The free text comments will be added on, we're just doing some testing to make sure they work they way we want them to. As soon as they are ready to view, we'll let you know. The dashboard can be viewed by your research delivery staff too, they just need to follow the same instructions mentioned in step 1 to create an account if they don't have one. The platform will update weekly on Tuesday mornings.

If you have any questions, please email nw.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk.

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.

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.

Exclusive event for GPs serving deprived* areas of Greater Manchester

*GP's serving populations in deciles 1-4. Health Inequalities Leads at PCNs or Feds from across Greater Manchester are also welcome.

Learn about funded opportunities to get involved in research.
Network with researchers to design studies that matter to you.
Connect with the Greater Manchester Primary Care Commercial Research Delivery Centre.

Thursday 22nd January 2026 10am-12.30pm @ Village Hotel, Ashton, OL7 0LY

Free parking and Networking Lunch

Booking is essential

Book your FREE place HERE or contact: gmicb-mh.mimpresearch@nhs.net for more info.

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