When to contact us

Before the study comes onto the portfolio

We recommend that researchers contact us as soon as possible. We can advise appropriately as part of the CRN Early Contact and Engagement Service on issues including: 

•  Advice on eligibility for the CRN Portfolio and the process of applying for CRN support for your study.

• Advice and support on cost attribution, following the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Attributing the Costs of health and social care Research and Development (AcoRD) guidance. 

• Support in completing the relevant forms including Schedule of Events Cost Attribution Template (SoECAT).

• Authorisation of the Schedule of Events Cost Attribution Template (SoECAT) by an AcoRD Specialist. 

• Support for navigating the approvals process through Health Research Authority (HRA) and Health and Care Research Wales (HCRW) Approval and HRA Ready to Recruit, including support with submitting an Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) application. 

• Signposting to relevant training e.g. Cost Attribution, SoECATs, IRAS/ HRA and Good Clinical Practice (GCP). 

• Providing local intelligence about sites and services in your region to optimise delivery including the exploration of recruitment pathways. 

• Facilitation of support for multi-site studies across the LCRNs and with the Devolved Administrations. 

• Facilitating access to Specialty Research Leads. 

• Signposting to additional support for protocol design e.g. Research Design Service and Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE).

• Signposting to available funding streams.

• Support for the life sciences industry to help plan, place and perform your research.

Portfolio application stage

Researchers may wish to check in with us at the CRN to find out the benefits of the portfolio and  how to apply.       Advice may be required on which application route for non-comm studies (eg Standard Iras, Iras Combined Review, Non-commercial Portfolio application route) As part of this we might discuss: 

• Funding questions

• Does the study qualify under the definition of “research”

• What Approvals are required 

• Obtaining an IRAS ID

• Is the study already open to recruitment and if it is is there sufficient time left on the study to meet the portfolio adoption requirements

Early stages of the study

• Identifying additional sites or making community contacts

• CPMS login

• ISRCTN registration

• Badging the speciality correctly

• Opening the study to recruitment on CPMS

• Help with recruitment upload - manual or LPMS?

• Assistance with understanding the process of recruitment verification

• Delivery Team Help (or booking the research van)

• Signposting to training opportunities

• Studies who have not already applied to be on the portfolio can approach us at this stage even if they are already open to ask about adoption.

During study delivery and closure

• Recruitment difficulties - either in meeting targets or uploading and verifying recruitment

• Study extension or target amendment

• Study closure