CRN Greater Manchester funding model 2023/24
Contents
Background
The NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) is directly funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). CRN Greater Manchester, which is part of the NIHR CRN, will receive £21.4m in 2023/24 as part of this funding, an increase of £572,000 in funding compared to 2022/23.
| Funding type | Funding Element | Allocation 2022/23 | Allocation 2023/24 | 2023/24 Variance |
| Main Allocation | PRIDES Coordinating Hub Funding | £20,571,350 | £20,549,140 | -£22,210 |
| Main Allocation | PRIDES Coordinating Hub Funding | -£5,000 | £0 | £5,000 |
| Main Allocation | Uplift in Core Funding | £78,822 | £563,162 | £484,340 |
| Core Funding - Main Allocation | Sub-total | £20,645,172 | £21,112,302 | £467,130 |
| Core - Top Sliced | Radiotherapy Trials Quality Assurance (RTTQA) | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Core - Top Sliced | National Specialty Lead | £73,334 | £56,000 | -£17,334 |
| Core - Top Sliced | Pharmacy Formulations | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Core - Top Sliced | PRIDES Coordinating Hub Funding | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Core - Top Sliced | Proton Beam Therapy | £0 | £107,683 | £107,683 |
| Core Funding - Top Sliced Allocation | Sub-total | £73,334 | £163,683 | £90,349 |
| Main Allocation | Public Health Prevention Research Funding | £77,270 | £77,270 | £0 |
| ETC Services | ETC Service Funding | £85,490 | £88,055 | £2,565 |
| Main Allocation | National Contract Value Review Funding | £15,152 | £24,305 | £12,153 |
| Total Funding Allocation | £20,893,418 | £21,465,615 | £572,197 |
2023/24 approach
Following the principles established by the CRN Greater Manchester Joint Working Finance Group for a funding model suitable to drive the local research economy whilst being able to support equity of access to research across the region and across all specialities in supporting the delivery of an ambitious strategy, the funding to partner organisations will be provided through a combination of;
- allocations to each partner to utilise in support of their research priorities
- access to a flexible research delivery team working across the network and managed centrally by CRN Greater Manchester Core Team
Partner organisations submitted their resource requirements to deliver their respective 2023/24 predicted recruitment targets. This approach ensures a future needs-based approach is implemented based on predictive recruitment modelling, allowing funding to follow the costs required to support NIHR’s non-commercial portfolio research delivery.
Plans have been assessed against 2023/24 predicted recruitment targets to ensure value for money.
The table below informs the proposed interim funding allocations to all partner organisations incorporating cost pressure funding for AfC pay award for approval. It complies with the Department for Health and Social Care multi-year funding assurances disseminated earlier this year of funding beyond the current financial year to alleviate any pressures in planning and stability.
The decision informed that Trusts, with an average CRN funding allocation of over £1m in the previous five years, will be assured 90% of their 2022/23 initial allocation in the 2023/24 financial year. The remaining 10% or additional funding will depend on research activity volume and other factors. This assurance of funding level in 2023/24 is provided to meet expected research delivery volume and performance. There will be no change to the allocation methodology for Trusts with Research and Development spending under £1m for 2023/24.
DHSC has directed all Clinical Research Networks to ring-fence a minimum of 2% of their budget for delivering initiatives to help increase research access to the underserved communities in their local regions.
How the model is agreed
The CRN Greater Manchester Executive Group and Partnership Group have reviewed and approved the model.
| Partner organisation | Sum of Total | Sum of WTE | Sum of PA |
| BOLTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | £565,225 | 12.33 | |
| BRIDGEWATER COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | £5,000 | 0.01 | |
| EAST CHESHIRE NHS TRUST | £410,170 | 9.40 | 0.25 |
| EAST LANCASHIRE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST | £1,050,913 | 23.18 | 2.25 |
| GREATER MANCHESTER MENTAL HEALTH NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | £731,797 | 15.03 | 5.75 |
| MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (Central Network Costs) | £1,834,705 | 40.00 | |
| MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (Delivery) | £6,742,689 | 134.04 | 31.25 |
| MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (Host) | £1,924,908 | 13.30 | |
| NORTH WEST AMBULANCE SERVICE NHS TRUST (GM) | £50,966 | 0.81 | |
| NORTHERN CARE ALLIANCE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | £3,783,295 | 69.71 | 22.25 |
| PENNINE CARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | £243.167 | 5.32 | 1.00 |
| PRIMARY CARE CRN GREATER MANCHESTER | £306,142 | 0.22 | 1.00 |
| STOCKPORT NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | £467,903 | 8.74 | 1.50 |
| TAMESIDE AND GLOSSOP INTEGRATED CARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | £387,386 | 9.24 | - |
| THE CHRISTIE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | £1,696,571 | 29.96 | 5.25 |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER | £325,296 | 3.80 | 8.50 |
| WRIGHTINGTON, WIGAN AND LEIGH NHS FOUNDATION TRUST | £939,483 | 18.90 | 5.25 |
| Grand Total | £21,465,615 | 393.99 | 84.25 |