Research has been identified as an area of importance in our Trust strategy. We continue to develop new state-of-the-art facilities, and develop our existing capabilities to enhance our research portfolio.
We are fortunate to host several National Institute for Health and Care Research bodies alongside our academic partners, the Universities of Leicester and Loughborough. Our Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Commercial Research Delivery Centre is one of 21 CRDCs across the UK set up to increase commercial clinical research. We are also home to the Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, the Leicester Clinical Research Facility, the NIHR East Midlands Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN) and the Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) East Midlands. We also have Experimental Cancer Medicine Research Centre status with the Hope Cancer Trials Centre at the Leicester Royal Infirmary being vital in the delivery of its research, as well as the pioneering Leicester Diabetes Centre.
Our experienced teams consistently deliver an efficient authorisation process, with increasing year on year recruitment to time and target. We also have specialist colleagues focusing on the feasibility process, contracts, monitoring and training, and communications and marketing. Together, these teams drive the Trust’s research endeavours.
Our patient population is large and diverse. Our patient and public involvement work is embedding research throughout the Trust through the Public Research Engagement Panel (PREP), made up of volunteers and supported by the Research and Innovation team.
With all the above in mind, Leicester is a great place to choose to become involved in clinical research.