PSP032: Life Sciences, Partnerships and Growth

It is essential that the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Delivery Network (RDN) continues to expand its Portfolio of clinical research studies in order to:

• create wider opportunities for patients and the public to participate in clinical research;

• contribute to both:

  • the Government’s Strategy for UK Life Sciences, 

  • the Government's response to the independent review of Commercial clinical trials in the UK, and;

  • the NIHR’s vision to improve the health and wealth of the nation.

By increasing investment into the Network and developing partnerships with the Life Sciences industry and funders of non-commercial research, the RDN will develop a broad and deep Portfolio of research.

The successful delivery of studies is of prime importance in attracting and securing future business.

This RDN POF Support Page (PSP) provides additional advice and information to enable RRDNs to fulfil the standard requirements relating to business development and marketing activities, as specified within Section C.21 of the Performance and Operating Framework (POF).

The RDN Business Development and Marketing Directorate is now the Life Sciences, Partnership and Growth Directorate (LP&G). Our vision is that the UK is a prime location to undertake clinical research.

For this vision to be realised, the RDN Coordinating Centre works closely with other parts of the NIHR e.g. the NIHR Coordinating Centre Industry - facing teams, as well as organisations with a remit to improve the research environment in the UK and drive innovation, e.g. the government Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Office for Life Sciences (OLS).

LP&G activities focus around business development and marketing and aim to:

• increase the volume and value of research on the RDN Portfolio with a particular focus on attracting new business from existing customers through a Key Account Management model

• identify changes in the clinical research landscape (e.g. design, delivery and pipelines) to enable the RDN to respond and increase benefit to customers;

• demonstrate the role the RDN plays in attracting investment into UK clinical research.

The role of the RDNCC LP&G Directorate is to lead, manage, coordinate and support the RDN's business development and marketing activities. RRDNs are expected to develop and maintain a vibrant local NHS research environment within their area and as part of a national system.

Business development with national life science companies and non-commercial research funders is coordinated by the RDN Coordinating Centre through a key account management programme, in which RRDNs will start to play an increasing role with Life Sciences Key Account Managers in post in every region. Engagement with local small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) within the RRDN area is the responsibility of the RRDN with support from the RDN Coordinating Centre and approaches for the new ways of working are in development.

Section C.21 of the Performance Operating Framework (POF) sets out standard requirements for all RRDNs: 

Requirement

1. Ensure that any RRDN business development and marketing plans are aligned or complementary to national NIHR RDN business development and marketing objectives and plans and aligned with the NIHR-wide Industry Engagement programme of work.

2. Work with the national Life Sciences Partnerships and Growth (LP&G) team to support the enhanced Key Account Management Service for commercial and non-commercial sponsors and other national and NIHR-wide business development and marketing initiatives.

3. Provide the national LP&G team with intelligence on RRDN interactions with NIHR RDN customers to support enhanced Key Account Management Service and wider customer relationship discussions.

4. Ensure that life sciences companies are appropriately briefed about the national NIHR offer to industry, of which the RDN Study Support Service is one part, to help inform nationwide planning, placement and performance of research.

5. Ensure relationships with RRDN Delivery organisations and the local R&D  community foster shared ownership of, and engagement with, NIHR RDN nationwide planning and placement activities for new research.

6. Ensure marketing activities aimed at the Life Sciences industry are aligned with national messaging as advised by the RDNCC Life Sciences, Partnerships and Growth team and aligned with the NIHR-wide Industry Engagement programme of work.

Local plans should outline how the RRDN will align with or complement the national NIHR-wide and RDN-specific business development objectives, including promoting the importance of the industry agenda to RRDN Delivery organisations and clinical teams.  RRDNs should use the NIHR-wide resources provided for industry engagement and charity engagement.  

RRDN core teams should contribute to the development of case studies illustrating RDN support for, and successful delivery of, studies in areas relating to national business development objectives.  For example, suggesting case studies to the LP&G team, commenting on the suitability of proposed case studies or suggesting local contacts to be involved.  Information on existing or potential case studies should be provided directly to the LP&G team.

RRDNs must engage with the national LP&G team to share intelligence on RRDN interactions with NIHR RDN Customers to support key account relationship discussions, and contribute to the regular sharing of intelligence through agreed national processes. See Appendix 1 for details of RRDN Link Business Development Managers.

RRDNs must ensure that their staff who work with life sciences companies are able to confidently and appropriately convey the same messages to them as the national LP&G team.  This would include having a good understanding of the NIHR-wide offer to industry of which the RDN Study Support Service is one part. Industry facing staff must be able to confidently  share information regarding the entire NIHR offer to industry, and appropriately signpost companies to the correct pages on the NIHR website: NIHR Support for Industry and the complementary Life Sciences Customer Resource Centre on NIHR Learn.

 If RRDN staff are uncertain, they should contact their link Business Development Manager for advice.

RRDN research delivery management teams should be knowledgeable about the RDN services, and aware of wider NIHR services, and support staff in their local Delivery organisations and R&D community to engage with and own the national RDN activities that support the planning and placement of new research studies in  health and care services.

Further information in support of this requirement can be found in PSP043, PSP049, PSP050 (reflecting the National Contract Value Review Process). These POF Support Pages (PSPs) are available on this site. 

Further information in support of this requirement can found in PSP043, PSP049, PSP050 (reflecting the National Contract Value Review Process). 

These POF Support Pages (PSPs) are available on this site. 

Karl Davison, Senior Business Development Manager (karl.davison@nihr.ac.uk)  is the primary contact for any queries on the RRDNs. Alternatively please contact Nicola Yallup, Head of Business Development and Marketing (nicola.yallup@nihr.ac.uk).

CRO: Contract Research Organisation

DBT: Department for Business & Trade

DHSC: Department of Health and Social Care

ECMC: Experimental Cancer Medicines Centres

HRA: Health Research Authority 

LP&G: Life Sciences Partnership & Growth

MICs: Medtech & In vitro diagnostics Co-operatives 

NHS: National Health Service

NIHR: National Institute for Health and Care Research

OLS: Office for Life Sciences

POF: Performance and Operating Framework                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

PSP: POF Support Pages

RDN: Research Delivery Network

RDNCC: Research Delivery Network Coordinating Centre

RRDN: Regional Research Delivery Network

SME: Small to medium sized enterprise

Version number: 1.4 

Effective from date: June 2025

Changes include: Update to section 3: Operating Framework standard requirements for LP&G. Removal of sections 3.4, 3.5, & 3.6.

Removal of Appendix 2, Guidance for completion of the RRDN Life Sciences, Partnerships & Growth Profile