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CRN East of England

The NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) East of England helps to increase the opportunities for people to take part in health and social care research. CRN East of England also ensures that studies are carried out efficiently, and supports the Government’s Strategy for UK Life Sciences by improving the environment for commercial contract clinical research in the NHS and social care across East Anglia.

Who we are

CRN East of England has the second largest geography of the 15 local networks across England, with a diverse population of around 3.9m across Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire. 

We support the delivery of research at these NHS Trusts:

Integrated Care Board (ICB) Organisations:

We also deliver research in GP practices within Primary Care in the East of England, in addition to a growing number of organisations in wider care and community settings.

What we do

We are passionate about the contribution that clinical research can make to our patients lives, and work collaboratively with other NHS providers to translate that passion into the effective delivery of studies in the area. To do this, we make sure that clinical research occupies the place it deserves in the day-to-day work of the NHS across the East of England region. Our region includes 16 Trusts, 6 Integrated Care Boards and selected other qualified providers of NHS and non-NHS public services.

We provide our Partner Organisations with the practical support they need to make clinical studies happen in the NHS, so that more research takes place across the region and more patients can take part.

This practical support includes:

  • Advising researchers on how to make their study work in the NHS
  • Reducing the bureaucracy associated with setting up a study
  • Helping researchers to identify suitable sites and recruit patients to take part in studies
  • Funding the people and facilities needed to carry out research
  • Access to nationally and locally designed research-related training.

Support for the Life Sciences Industry

We have a strong history of collaboration with industry and are committed to the impact that clinical research can make to patient care. Our region offers first class research facilities and centres of excellence within leading teaching hospitals and collaboration with academia.

Our dedicated Industry team supports all commercial Portfolio research within the East of England region throughout the study life cycle. The Industry team provides the following:

  • Strategic oversight of the activities of the CRN, nationally, regionally, and at site level to facilitate delivery of industry sponsored studies on the NIHR Portfolio
  • Engagement with regional SMEs to encourage engagement with the NHS to deliver research
  • Support sites in increasing their commercial portfolio and if required, provide one to one support for first commercial studies
  • Access to staff to support under-recruiting studies, and partner experienced and new staff to maintain high quality study delivery, whilst increasing research capacity
  • Single point of contact for study queries, feasibility and support

You can get in touch with our Life Sciences Industry Team for more information by emailing crneoe.industry@nihr.ac.uk.

Our Funding Model

The model by which our funding is distributed to Partners each year is ratified by the CRN East of England Partnership Group.  Our Funding Model for 2022-24 has been agreed by Partners and has been designed to run for 2 years in the first instance.

Get in touch with CRN East of England

  • Call us on +44 (0)1603 287490
  • Email us at crneoe@nihr.ac.uk
  • Follow us on Twitter @NIHRCRNeoe and on Instagram @NIHREOE
  • Write to us at CRN East of England, 20 Rouen Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 1QQ

For CRN East of England general workstream enquiries email our...