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CLOSING MONDAY 06/10/2025: Shape the future of how we support Commercial Research in Primary Care
What Is The NIHR East Midlands RDN Research Site Initiative (RSI) Scheme For Dental Practices?
What Is The NIHR East Midlands RDN Research Site Initiative (RSI) Scheme For Dental Practices?
The NIHR Dental Research Site Initiative (RSI) scheme was implemented in 2022 with the overarching aim of supporting clinical research delivery within Dental practices by providing funding, allied with a delivery support package.
The NIHR Dental Research Site Initiative (RSI) scheme was implemented in 2022 with the overarching aim of supporting clinical research delivery within Dental practices by providing funding, allied with a delivery support package.
The scheme offers a great opportunity for NHS Dental practices that are passionate about contributing towards improved patient care pathways, treatments and processes within the NHS to become research active to drive forward these advancements and offer increased opportunities to both their patients and staff.
The scheme offers a great opportunity for NHS Dental practices that are passionate about contributing towards improved patient care pathways, treatments and processes within the NHS to become research active to drive forward these advancements and offer increased opportunities to both their patients and staff.
The RSI Scheme Accommodates & Supports Primary Care Sites With Varying Levels Of Research Delivery Experience
The RSI Scheme Accommodates & Supports Primary Care Sites With Varying Levels Of Research Delivery Experience
The RSI scheme accommodates and supports both sites who are completely new to research to sites who have established research delivery departments and teams. Each site on the scheme is also allocated a member of the East Midlands RDN Primary Care Research Team who will support your site throughout the year offering expert knowledge, guidance and resources to ensure the successful delivery of high-quality research at your site.
The RSI scheme accommodates and supports both sites who are completely new to research to sites who have established research delivery departments and teams. Each site on the scheme is also allocated a member of the East Midlands RDN Primary Care Research Team who will support your site throughout the year offering expert knowledge, guidance and resources to ensure the successful delivery of high-quality research at your site.
The scheme continues to develop and change each year in accordance with the changing Primary Care landscape and the needs of sites. This year the scheme will move to a 'Level System' to support sites who wish to strive to deliver increased amounts of research at their sites.
The scheme continues to develop and change each year in accordance with the changing Primary Care landscape and the needs of sites. This year the scheme will move to a 'Level System' to support sites who wish to strive to deliver increased amounts of research at their sites.
Recording Research Activity
Recording Research Activity
The East Midlands RDN Research Activity App has been developed to provide Research Active Sites in the East Midlands with a streamlined and comprehensive process to record all clinical research related activity at your sites to support you with study delivery, RSI Performance, Management and Training of Research Staff and the Claiming of Service Support Costs.
Dental Practices can collaborate under the Research Site Initiative Scheme
Under this model, Dental practices apply for the scheme together as one collaborative partnership and are recognised on the RSI scheme as one site. Each practice may still have its own individual responsibilities, but the collaboration allows for shared resources, expertise, and a collective approach to delivering research initiatives. KPIs will be met as a collective rather than as individual sites.
Lead Site: One site is designated as the lead site, which receives the single RSI payment on behalf of the other participating sites. The lead site must have research trained staff, including a clinical and non-clinical research lead. This site will assume responsibility for meeting with the RDN Primary Care Research Team for progress and monitoring meetings.
Funding Distribution: The lead site is responsible for managing and distributing the funding to the collaborating sites according to their local agreement. This can involve allocating funds for specific activities or research tasks.
Hub and Spoke Model: In some cases, the lead site may conduct most or all of the research activities, using the collaborating sites’ patient lists for participant eligibility and recruitment. This structure is referred to as a hub and spoke model, where the lead site acts as the central hub, and the collaborating sites act as the spokes.
KPI Completion: KPIs will be met as a collective rather than as individual sites.
Monitoring: For monitoring purposes, the entire collaboration is treated as a single entity. For example, if the group is required to complete five studies, the total number of studies across all sites must add up to five, rather than each site completing five studies individually. Monitoring and Progress meetings with the RDN Primary Research team will be completed with the Lead site.
Applying For The RSI Scheme
Applying For The RSI Scheme
The scheme runs from April to March in accordance with the financial year. Applications to be part of the scheme open every February via an online process on this website- to find out more about joining the RSI Scheme contact your local Primary Care Research Team.
The scheme runs from April to March in accordance with the financial year. Applications to be part of the scheme open every February via an online process on this website- to find out more about joining the RSI Scheme contact your local Primary Care Research Team.
Applications For the 2025/26 Scheme Are Now Closed
Applications For the 2025/26 Scheme Are Now Closed
Which RSI Level Should My Dental Practice Apply For?
Which RSI Level Should My Dental Practice Apply For?
There are 2 Levels within the RSI Scheme, each Level is associated with a defined amount of funding which is proportionate to the amount of research activity to be completed by the site. Activity required is outlined in the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) associated with each Level. The full list of KPIs can be found on each of the Levels application page.
There are 2 Levels within the RSI Scheme, each Level is associated with a defined amount of funding which is proportionate to the amount of research activity to be completed by the site. Activity required is outlined in the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) associated with each Level. The full list of KPIs can be found on each of the Levels application page.
Below is the activity highlights for each Level:
Below is the activity highlights for each Level:
Level 1 RSI Site Highlights
Level 1 RSI Site Highlights
Aimed At Sites New Or Recently New To Clinical Research Delivery. Click Here For More Information In Regards To Getting Started In Research.
Aimed At Sites New Or Recently New To Clinical Research Delivery. Click Here For More Information In Regards To Getting Started In Research.
The Practice should ensure a Research Lead is based at the site where Research is planned to be delivered. All staff involved in the delivery of Research at the site are required to complete GCP Training and where appropriate Clinical Consent Training . Practices are expected to complete at least 1 New NIHR Consent at Site Studies within the financial year (Opened at the practice after April 1st 2025). In addition to promoting additional research studies or completing data base searches to identify and invite patients suitable to take part research studies in Secondary Care or at an additional Primary Care / Community Site (PIC Studies). Regular contact with the sites Local RDN Primary Care Research Team in regards to performance and support should also be maintained.
The Practice should ensure a Research Lead is based at the site where Research is planned to be delivered. All staff involved in the delivery of Research at the site are required to complete GCP Training and where appropriate Clinical Consent Training . Practices are expected to complete at least 1 New NIHR Consent at Site Studies within the financial year (Opened at the practice after April 1st 2025). In addition to promoting additional research studies or completing data base searches to identify and invite patients suitable to take part research studies in Secondary Care or at an additional Primary Care / Community Site (PIC Studies). Regular contact with the sites Local RDN Primary Care Research Team in regards to performance and support should also be maintained.
Sites are funded £4,500 in addition to study specific funding; research, service support and excess treatment costs, to assist with completion of the defined KPIs.
Sites are funded £4,500 in addition to study specific funding; research, service support and excess treatment costs, to assist with completion of the defined KPIs.
View the Full Level 1 RSI Agreement
Level 2 RSI Site Highlights
Level 2 RSI Site Highlights
Aimed At Sites Who Have Successfully Delivered Clinical Research As A Level 1 RSI Site & Have Demonstrated Their Ability To Progress To Being A Level 2 Site. All Staff Involved In The Delivery Of Clinical Research Should Be Appropriately Trained and Processes & Procedures For The Delivery Of Clinical Research Should Be Established.
Aimed At Sites Who Have Successfully Delivered Clinical Research As A Level 1 RSI Site & Have Demonstrated Their Ability To Progress To Being A Level 2 Site. All Staff Involved In The Delivery Of Clinical Research Should Be Appropriately Trained and Processes & Procedures For The Delivery Of Clinical Research Should Be Established.
The Practice should ensure a Research Lead is based at the site where Research is planned to be delivered. All staff involved in the delivery of Research at the site are required to complete GCP Training and where appropriate Clinical Consent Training. Practices are expected to complete at least 2 New NIHR Consent at Site Studies within the financial year (Opened at the practice after April 1st 2025). In addition to promoting additional research studies or completing data base searches to identify and invite patients suitable to take part research studies in Secondary Care or at an additional Primary Care / Community Site (PIC Studies). Level 2 sites should are also expected to support and offer guidance to Level 1 or Non-RSI Dental Practices, located within the sites geographical locality, who want to become research active. Regular contact with the sites Local RDN Primary Care Research Team in regards to performance and support should also be maintained.
The Practice should ensure a Research Lead is based at the site where Research is planned to be delivered. All staff involved in the delivery of Research at the site are required to complete GCP Training and where appropriate Clinical Consent Training. Practices are expected to complete at least 2 New NIHR Consent at Site Studies within the financial year (Opened at the practice after April 1st 2025). In addition to promoting additional research studies or completing data base searches to identify and invite patients suitable to take part research studies in Secondary Care or at an additional Primary Care / Community Site (PIC Studies). Level 2 sites should are also expected to support and offer guidance to Level 1 or Non-RSI Dental Practices, located within the sites geographical locality, who want to become research active. Regular contact with the sites Local RDN Primary Care Research Team in regards to performance and support should also be maintained.
Sites are funded £6,000 in addition to study specific funding; research, service support and excess treatment costs, to assist with completion of the defined KPIs.
Sites are funded £6,000 in addition to study specific funding; research, service support and excess treatment costs, to assist with completion of the defined KPIs.
View the Full Level 2 RSI Agreement
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