Abstract
GOSH hospital has a strategic vision to become a research hospital and build on our position as a key Paediatric partner for research industry by fully integrating research into clinical services. Our vision is in line with the UK 10-year vision for the future of clinical research delivery, particularly the themes on embedding and streamlining research in the NHS. This necessitates facilitating collaborations to strengthen and develop new research portfolios and ensure equitable access to all types of research across all specialties.
The NIHR GOSH Clinical Research Facility (CRF) has established a model to support the clinical teams to grow their research portfolios throughout the hospital utilising satellite teams. We analysed two research portfolios as tangible examples of this action plan. Data were extracted and collected from different sources including portfolio trackers. We reviewed the increase in the number of studies overtime, the potential delivery in clinical service, and clinical teams’ perspectives on the support received from the CRF.
Our analysis showed a considerable expanding number of research studies across the two specialties in a relatively short period of time since the start of the model implementation (figure 1). A total of 29 studies were identified. The majority were later phase studies at 55%, followed by observational studies at 31%, and early phase studies at ~ 14%. A number of these studies were at a stage where minimum or no CRF support was required and could fully or partially run in the clinical service. This relieved substantial pressure on the CRF capacity and enabled the CRF team to support early phase studies.
This model has proven successful in accelerating quality research set-up and delivery across different specialties at GOSH. We continue to replicate this model within other specialties to empower their research activities in their clinical departments.
Acknowledgements for funding or support This work is supported by the Joint R&D and NIHR GOSH CRF. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, UCL, the NIHR or the Department of Health.
