Research Delivery Network (RDN)
This site contains information for existing staff at the Clinical Research Network (including both RDNCC and LCRN staff) and stakeholders. It includes the latest updates, information and links regarding the organisation’s transition and transformation into the Research Delivery Network (RDN).
NEW:
Revised Springboard section and additional/refreshed Questions and Answers added - 10 July 2024
RDN Board Key Messages - June 2024 and RDN Board Bios added - 8 July 2024
RDN Board page and Transformation Engagement Working Group (TEWG) May Update added - 14 June 2024
Vision page updated to include refreshed Organisational Maturity slides - 11 June 2024
Schedule of upcoming meetings and topics for discussion added to NIHR CRN All Staff Meetings page, and RDN Nomenclature page added to Supporting Information section - 31 May 2024
Recording from 7 May All staff meeting added - 10 May 2024
Contents
What is the Research Delivery Network (RDN)?
The NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN), launching in April 2024, will support the country’s world-class research system to deliver high quality research that enables the best care for our population.
Building on the success of the NIHR’s Clinical Research Network, it will work across the health and care system, with staff in all health and care settings, and distribute funding to support the effective and efficient initiation and delivery of research.
The NIHR RDN will operate as 1 organisation across England, through a network of 12 Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDNs) and a central Coordinating Centre (RDNCC).
The RDN Board will set the Network's direction, develop strategies and plans and ensure consistency in their implementation at both a national and regional level.
The RDN will be a vital part of the research infrastructure in England and a key component in making the UK the best place to carry out research.
More information about the role of the RDN can be found on the NIHR website.
More information on the RDN vision can be found on the RDN Transformation page.
RDN Purpose
The NIHR RDN will have 2 primary purposes:
To support the successful delivery of high quality research, as an active partner in the research system
To increase capacity and capability of the research infrastructure for the future
As a result, research will reach more people, address changing population needs, support the health and care system and the economy, and become a routine part of care.
Transition and Transformation
As we work to stop being the Clinical Research Network and become the Research Delivery Network, we will transition our people, processes and structures to new roles, teams and hosts, while also transforming how we all work together as one organisation and also how we work with our customers and stakeholders. Visit the following pages to learn more:
RDN Transition - The RDN Transition programme of work is delivering activities to design and implement operational structures, services, systems, processes, facilities and associated material for the RDN
RDN Transformation - The RDN Transformation programme of work is defining how we work together as one organisation and how we work with our customers and stakeholders. It covers how we will live the RDN vision in our day-to-day work, our organisational values and defining what success will mean for the RDN as an organisation
Springboard transformation programme - The ‘Springboard’ transformation programme is transforming the CRN’s Study Support Service now, in advance of forming the RDN. The programme bridges and moves us from our current ways of working as the CRN to our new ways of working as the RDN; supporting studies to be effectively delivered across the system and building strategic capacity and capability in a different way
Staying up to date
We are regularly updating this site so that all the latest information is available to you. Please refer to our latest changes and additions page if you’d like to see what has changed since your last visit.
Key updates will be cascaded regularly through the CRNCC, LCRNs and to key stakeholders so please watch out for these.
Every month we will publish an RDN Update Briefing, starting from January 2024, for the purpose of sharing and engaging with staff and stakeholders.
We have also started a series of All Staff webinars to ensure you can stay up-to-date with the transition and transformation into the Research Delivery Network.
Wellbeing
There is support available for CRN staff during this period of Transition and Transformation.
Infographic on sources of wellbeing support depending on how you are feeling. There is also an accessible version of the wellbeing support infographic.
Questions
If you have any questions related to the RDN please refer to the RDN Questions and Answers page to see if your question has already been answered, and if not, please use this Google form.
If your questions are specifically transition/HR related, please liaise with your line manager and/or relevant employing organisation.