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.
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:
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.
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, 11 Clinical Commissioning Groups 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:
Last year saw our CRN East of England community face unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic with drive, determination and innovation. Despite the pressures faced by all, our region saw more than 122,000 volunteers taking part in research - three times the number of the previous year and a phenomenal effort.
For an overview of the East of England research funded and supported by the NIHR over the last year, take a look at our 2021-22 CRN East of England Public Annual Report.
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:
You can get in touch with our Life Sciences Industry Team for more information by emailing crneoe.industry@nihr.ac.uk.
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.
