Clinical specialties

Clinical Research Specialties, often shortened to "Clinical Specialties" or "Specialties", are communities of clinicians who champion and encourage engagement in the NIHR Clinical Research Network Portfolio in their field of clinical practice.

Each Specialty is led by a National Specialty Lead. The National Specialty Leads are supported by the CRNCC and act as ambassadors for their individual Specialty across the whole of the NIHR CRN and bring the communities across the CRN together.

There are also local Specialty Leads, who are based within the LCRNs to support the appropriate set-up and delivery of NIHR Clinical Research Network Portfolio studies in their area and contribute to the local and national leadership of research in their clinical area.

There are 31 Clinical Specialties, each supported across the whole CRN. You can find out more about what is happening in each Specialty on our website.

The 31 Specialties are grouped into six "Specialty Clusters", detailed in the image below. These clusters form the Medical Directorate of the CRN, led by Professor Nick Lemoine.

The six Specialty Cluster Offices provide the clinical leadership for the Specialties in which they have particular expertise and connections.

The Cluster Offices are hosted by the higher education institutions which form the Alliance and are led by

• a Specialty Cluster Lead, who provides clinical leadership across the relevant group of Specialties and for an area of emerging technology and innovation in the CRN

• and an Assistant Specialty Cluster Lead, who is responsible for the delivery of initiatives and activities.

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