14. RDN Specialties and Settings

14.1.1. Maintain RRDN Specialty and Settings Leadership for each RDN Specialty and Setting. The RRDN Specialty and Settings Lead (RSSL) roles must conform to the National Specialty Group Terms of Reference, once developed.

14.1.2. Inform the RDNCC of any changes to RSSLs, including NIHR Confidentiality Disclosure Agreement status dependent on their employing organisation. Support from the RDN National Specialty and Settings Leads in the appointment or replacement of RSSLs can be requested as needed.

14.1.3. Support RSSLs to complete or redirect relevant early feedback and eligibility reviews for which they receive requests in compliance with their role in the delivery of the RDN Study Support Service.

14.1.4. Establish a process to identify and communicate with those new to research, and report to the RDNCC upon request, how they have been mentored and supported to increase involvement in NIHR RDN Portfolio research delivery. In addition, actively support initiatives which aid the development of Principal Investigator (PI) skills, such as the Associate PI scheme, and the Clinical Research Training Programme.

14.1.5. Maintain existing local Champions where they remain in their role and the role is unfunded, and notify RDNCC.

14.2.1. The NIHR RDN has adopted a framework of 29 Research Specialties and 4 Research Settings, for the purposes of engagement with health and care research communities and to enable research leadership and strategic oversight of the NIHR RDN Portfolio of research studies. 

14.2.2. The RRDN will engage with local patient, participant and relevant research communities through RRDN Research Specialty Groups that provide the structure through which Specialties within the RRDN are able to network and engage with study delivery. Each RRDN Research Specialty Group will: 

• Maintain an overview of the Specialty research portfolio, ensuring it is balanced, where possible, includes both non-commercial and commercial contract research, and includes clinical trials (including prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care) and other well designed studies relevant to the needs of the local population. 

• Promote robust feasibility and contribute to the Study Support Service, as appropriate.

• Seek opportunities to optimise delivery of new multicentre studies, for example, through the early feedback service to commercial companies, NIHR Programmes and delivering studies in line with care delivery pathways unless there are reasons not to (e.g. participant safety).

• Expand participation in relevant studies on the NIHR RDN Portfolio and those progressing through the funding pipeline. 

• Have representation from the full range of professionals and relevant participant groups.

• Be led by an appointed RRDN Research Specialty Lead (RSL). The RSLs will report to the RRDN Health and Care Director, and to the relevant National Specialty Lead. RSSLs will be responsible for the health and care leadership of their research communities within the RRDN area and development of RRDN Research Specialty Groups.

14.2.3. Each RRDN Management Team will ensure that a role induction and ongoing support is provided to the RSSLs to enable them to undertake their role in contributing to the NIHR RDN’s nation-wide study support activities across planning, placement and research delivery. Specifically this includes:

a) providing early feedback reviews on request and as part of the provision of key account management service;

b) Expert review for the eligibility decision;

c) where requested, local feasibility activities, delivery assessments and performance reviews.

14.2.4. The RRDN Research Specialty Leads will be expected to play an active role in the National Specialty Group for each Specialty, which comprises the Research Specialty Leads from all the RRDNs. Each National Specialty Group is led by a National Specialty Lead who reports to a Deputy Health and Care Director within the RDNCC. Together with other Research Specialty Leads and the communities of practice within that Specialty, they will constitute national networks of Specialty expertise. 

14.2.5. The RRDN Host, via the RRDN Management Team, has a contractual obligation to ensure that where RSSLs are undertaking work for the NIHR RDN, they are aware of and adhere to the contractual obligations. This applies whether they are employed directly by the RRDN Host, are seconded to the RRDN Host or are funded via an appropriate RRDN Host/Delivery organisation sub-contract.

14.2.6. The RSSLs will provide health and care intelligence and advice through the nation-wide Study Support Service, facilitating informed study planning, placement and research delivery. This includes provision of commercial early feedback, non-commercial expert review, delivery assessments and on request study performance reviews to support research delivery across the RRDN, addressing resource allocations and, where requested, the balance of the RRDN portfolio across Specialties, sites, patient and community groups and study composition, as well as providing guidance on the health and care implications of national policy at the local level.

14.2.7. The RSSLs may be employed by the RRDN Host Organisation or one of the Delivery organisations within the RRDN area through a formal agreement between the RRDN Host Organisation and the relevant Delivery organisation.

14.2.8. The RDNCC is responsible for the selection and performance management of National Specialty and Settings Leads (NSSLs). Performance management of NSSLs will cover all aspects of the NSSL role. The RRDN Management Team will support the RDNCC in these activities, through the provision of information and other support as required, such as ensuring timely delivery of Study Support Service activities including response to commercial early feedback or non-commercial eligibility review requests.

14.2.9. Additional supporting information is available in the RDN POF Support Pages.