Deliver your trial at Patient Recruitment Centre: Blackpool
The national Patient Recruitment Centre (PRC) programme is purpose-designed to increase the UK’s capacity to deliver late-phase commercial clinical research, and here in Blackpool we have a lot to offer. PRC: Blackpool is co-located with the Lancashire Cardiac Centre and Lancashire Haematology Centre, which are centres of excellence focused on offering the latest cutting edge treatments.
Research expertise and track record
Our host organisation, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a provider of specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services across Lancashire and South Cumbria. While our dedicated and highly skilled team of clinical research professionals cover a range of specialties with more than 40 experienced Principal Investigators.

Research expertise
Our research active staff cover more than 20 clinical specialties and include world-renowned experts in Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Diabetes, Gastroenterology, Acute Medicine, Oncology and Haematology.

Participant experience
In 2020/21, 96% of participants said that they had a 'good experience' when taking part in research at our PRC.

Time and target
We have recorded one of the fastest set-up times since 2017 according to key sponsor metrics and 76% of our NIHR-supported commercial contract trials delivered in 2019-20 recruited to time and target.

Volume of trials
We have increased the number of our commercial studies despite COVID-19 by 40% in 2020/21 compared to previous years, building upon our superb relationships with numerous life science companies.

Participants recruited
Since 2014/15, we have recruited approaching 15,000 participants into NIHR portfolio clinical research studies across the Trust. We have shown year-on-year growth, increasing recruitment in 2021 by 90% since 2015.

Recruitment successes
Last year (2020/2021) we recruited four “Global” and “UK” first participants. Of note, in partnership with Fylde Coast Clinical Research, in September 2020 we recruited the first participant in the world to the Phase III Novavax Covid-19 Vaccine Trial.
Find out more our research expertise and experience
Learn more about all of these successes by visiting our 'More about our research expertise and experience' page.
Research facilities and regional reach
Our state-of-the-art facilities and wide regional linkages covering primary, secondary, and tertiary care services make us a destination of choice for late-phase commercial clinical research. This, combined with our collaborative ethos, which is represented by our integrated data platforms and broad recruitment reach which includes the use of recruitment registries and our social media accounts, provides a compelling reason to collaborate with us.

Unique to our region
Blackpool is in the top 20% most deprived areas in England and has one of the lowest life expectancies amongst men and women when compared with local authorities nationally, which offers unique opportunities for research and to improve health outcomes in our region.

State-of-the-art facilities
We offer state-of-the-art facilities within our dedicated PRC which is co-located with the Lancashire Cardiac Centre and Lancashire Haematology Centre.

Integrated data systems
We are working towards the installation of new Participant Finder Systems to support our rapid set up activities and enable high volume patient recruitment.

Regional relationships
One of our key strengths is our ability to connect with our local and regional health care community which supports rapid, high volume patient recruitment across our region.

Recruitment reach
All four neighbouring NHS acute Trusts fully support our PRC and are keen to enable wider access to late-phase commercial research for their patients, which allows a potential reach of more than 1.6 million people.
Find out more about our recruitment reach and facilities
Learn more about region and local partnerships by visiting our 'More about our region and facilities' page.
Studies delivered at PRC: Blackpool
Take a look at our research portfolio delivered at PRC: Blackpool since we opened our doors in November 2020.
Get in touch
- Telephone : 01253 951514
- Email : bfwh.prc.blackpool@nhs.net.