May 2020 Newsletter
Date: 29 May 2020
Training & Learning Plans
First virtual Forum classroom to go live June 29th
We can confirm that our first virtual training room will take place on the 29th June for those previously booked onto the NHS R&D Forum Archiving master class. Members will benefit from all of the learning they were expecting to receive face-to-face, including interactive time with peers and the ability to ask questions of our expert trainer. We are working hard to ensure that other courses are also able to run online where there is a need, in order that we are able to continue with professional development opportunities for the community.
Appreciating the unique challenges at this current time, if there is a particular course you are looking for then please get in touch so we can prioritise to meet your needs.
Forum Round up
New Forum Shared Practice Bulletin
Development and Sharing of Practice during COVID-19
Earlier this month we published a set of 16 examples of R&D management, support & leadership practice from across the NHS during COVID-19.
The aim of this bulletin is to capture the ongoing work, experience, learning and development of practice across the NHS that has resulted from our weekly conversations with Forum members that have been hosted by our working groups.
Read and download and share the bulletin here.
If you have more examples to add to a second edition please email them FAO Kate via info@rdforum.org.uk
Forum contributes to re-start
The NIHR website has now been updated with the NIHR Framework for Restart. The Forum, along with a large number of stakeholders, has been closely involved in developing this. The document is a framework, not detailed guidance, and implementation will be an iterative process requiring local leadership and decision-making as we gain experience in opening up studies during what will probably be a fluctuating situation for the NHS dealing with Covid-19.
Maria Palmer, Director of the Forum, is on the Advisory Board that will be contributing to the further development and implementation of the framework. It would be helpful if you could report any concerns and issues encountered as you restart paused studies and start new ones so that we can identify areas that need further clarification and so that the experiences of our community can be brought back to the Advisory Board.
Our weekly COVID-19 hangouts provide extremely valuable insights from R&D teams that inform our input to the advisory board and we will be extending these to include more members of the community over the next few weeks. If you would like to take part in these please also get in touch.
Please email any insights, experience or information as you re-start to info@rdforum.org.uk
RDF21 location and dates announced
Usually in our May newsletter we would be reporting on the achievements and outcomes of our annual conference but due to the impact of COVID-19 the decision was made to postpone this event to 2021. We are, however, delighted to announce that RDF21 will take place in Newcastle from 16th-18th May.Planning is already underway to ensure RDF21 provides a much needed opportunity for all those in NHS research and development to network with colleagues and other professionals, share information about latest developments and hear the views of expert speakers. New bookings for RDF21 will open in September and we will announce key dates and conference updates in this newsletter, on our website and in our social media channels to keep you all informed.
We are working hard to ensure that RDF21 will be a vibrant event and we are delighted to announce that several sponsors and exhibitors have already confirmed their support. Our conference website will be updated regularly with information on those supporting our annual conference and more details about the opportunities to get involved can be found by clicking on the button below.
We have emailed all those who booked to attend RDF20 explaining that bookings for delegates who paid to attend RDF20 will be automatically transferred to RDF21. Further information and a detailed list of FAQs can be found by clicking here.
DHSC communication: Early phase COVID-19 trials
Dr Louise Wood issued a letter on the 11th May 2020 on the prioritised status of early phase COVID-19 trials and expectations on how these might be supported, which we circulated at the time of issue.
Read the letter here
A question was recently raised as to whether international patients traveling to the UK for a clinical trial need to quarantine for 14 days? The following answer has been given:
No, DHSC has confirmed that Annex D of the regulations exempts ‘individuals travelling for a pre-arranged appointment with a healthcare provider’ which covers trial patients.
Earlier this year the NIHR CRN conducted a survey on engaging NHS organisations in research. This survey was a follow on from a previous version conducted in 2017 however recognising the critical role of NHS R&D teams the NHS R&D Forum working groups were asked to input into the design.
The NIHR CRN have written up their analysis of the data and you can read this here including an Adobe Spark summary by Roger Steel. Roger in his analysis makes the important point that although everything may seem as to have changed, some of these findings of this survey may be more pertinent than ever.
The Forum group members have access to the data and continue to work closing with the NIHR CRN, the Royal College of Physicians and other partners to look at how we can work together in partnership towards embedding research in care organisations, we will have more to report on this soon.
The clear messages from the survey are that research engagement is becoming easier and teamwork works, but that challenges remain around culture and expectations and capacity for research. As we learn the lessons from research during COVID-19 and look towards system – wide improvement there will be many opportunities for the Forum to continue this important work.
Read more:
Report summary
Adobe spark
GPES Data for Pandemic Planning and Research – published 14th May 2020
New online Booking Service for IRAS
The amendment tool and full guidance about the new process for handling amendmentsTraining videos: amendment tool demonstration and how to complete online submission of amendments
For queries on how to complete the tool, questions on the results from the tool, once complete or how to submit your amendment online, please contact:
For England and Wales led studies: amendments@hra.nhs.uk
For Scotland led studies: nhsg.nrspcc@nhs.net
For Northern Ireland led studies: Research.Amendments@hscni.net
NIHR update
The CRN would like to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to both for the work R&D offices and research staff at site have undertaken in delivering prioritised Urgent Public Health Research.
Elements of the research effort for COVID-19, specifically the platform studies, are noted in the Government’s plan to rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy (section 5.7 and 5.11). Your hard work to expedite set-up and delivery of this urgent research has even achieved a first global recruit.
The CRN team has been working hard behind the scenes to be able to secure a pipeline of commercial contract and collaborative COVID-19 trials from international sponsors to the UK. Whilst the CRN team focuses on securing these studies for the UK, the role of the research community in being able to support and successfully deliver these studies holds the UK in a great position for future non COVID work.
The CRN Business Development and Marketing Directorate are now focusing on securing the pipeline of COVID 19 vaccine trials. Delivery of these vaccine trials will be crucial in our response to the pandemic via research so we look forward to working with you to make these studies a success for the benefit of our population.
The NIHR website hosts the systemwide Urgent Public Health Application for national prioritisation and a list of the studies that have been badged as Urgent Public Health Research. To date we have 40 clinical trials on this list, including academic, commercial contract research; both clinical and preclinical. The website also includes a Q&A section to help R&D offices when speaking with potential investigators for studies investigating COVID-19.
From those studies open and recruiting, over 73,000 participants are now taking part in vital NIHR-supported COVID-19 research, at NHS sites across the country. The more patients who take part, the sooner we will know how best to treat COVID-19 and protect others from the disease.
Thank you again for your continued support and hard work during this time of national crisis.
NIHR Learn website area for COVID-19
Congratulations to the 5 new Funded Patient Recruitment Centres in NHS Trusts
The five new Patient Recruitment Centres have now been selected and will be based within the following NHS trusts:
- Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust
- The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Read more here
New resources in REX this month
The NIHR CRN research engagement survey reported that only 24% responders were aware of the Forum resources exchange. This exchange holds over 500 useful links and tools for all members of an R&D function so please share widely with your colleagues and please continue to contribute.
New resources in REX this month
QUEST launches clinical trial reporting manual for universities & hospitals. Read more here
The NIHR updates FAQs are now available. Read more here
New competency Framework for Trial Managers: UK Trial Managers Network. Read more here
ABPI Q&A on COVID19. Read more here
HEE NHS Library and Knowledge Services team: A Bank of COVID-19 Searches and ready-made search strategies. Trusted sources of evidence and information across a range of topics to support our specialist workforce including a rich mix of information resources and on aspects of adapting the workplace, health and wellbeing etc. Read more here
Cochrane (in collaboration with NIHR, WHO and others): Question bank of key research questions that are being prioritised and are either being addressed or need addressing: Read more here
Latest Jobs
Cumbria, Northumberlad, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Research Delivery Team Lead
Click here for more information.
Please submit your latest vacancies and we will also tweet them out.