The NIHR Leicestershire and Northamptonshire CRDC is one of 21 CRDCs across the UK set up to increase commercial clinical research and respond to the five pillars of the UK clinical research delivery vision.
Commercial research refers to clinical studies funded and sponsored by pharmaceutical companies or the biotechnology industry. These studies test new treatments, medicines, or medical devices. They help to ensure that new healthcare innovations are safe and effective before they become widely available in the NHS and other healthcare systems. Evidence shows that clinically research-active hospitals have better outcomes for their patients.
Launched in April 2025 and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the CRDCs have replaced the former Patient Recruitment Centres (PRCs).
The NIHR Leicestershire and Northamptonshire CRDC is hosted by the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and based at the Leicester General Hospital. The CRDC operates using a ‘hub and spoke’ model with seven ‘spoke sites’ located in communities across Leicestershire and Northamptonshire in the following organisations:
- Danes Camp Medical Centre in Northampton.
- East Leicester Medical Practice.
- Health Lane Surgery in Earl Shilton.
- Kettering General Hospital.
- Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.
- Northampton General Hospital.
- Pinfold Medical Practice in Loughborough.
The team has a wealth of experience in efficient set-up and delivery of commercial research and has access to dedicated, state-of-the-art facilities.