Research

As Northern Ireland’s largest research delivery platform, we act as the central hub offering effective access to multi-disciplinary research stakeholders. We work closely with research partners across Trusts, governance, academia, charities, and commercial sponsors. We share knowledge, locally, nationally and internationally.

High Quality Research

The Clinical Research Network provides infrastructure that allows high-quality clinical research to take place across all Health and Social Care (HSC) structures, so that patients can benefit from new and better treatments. Here are some examples of this high quality research:

REMAP-CAP uses a novel and innovative adaptive trial design to evaluate a number of treatment options simultaneously and efficiently. This design is able to adapt in the event of pandemics, and increases the likelihood that patients will receive the treatment that is most likely to be effective for them.

REMAP-CAP Trial: https://www.remapcap.org/

Panoramic is a UK-Wide clinical study sponsored by the University of Oxford and funded by the NIHR to find out if new antiviral treatments for Covid-19 in the community reduce the need for hospital admission and help people to get better sooner.

PANORAMIC: https://www.panoramictrial.org/

Phosp-Covid study looks at how different patients recover from Covid-19, aiming to identify whether there are longer-term health problems of COVID-19 for those who were hospitalised. The study team want to understand why some people recover more quickly than others, why some patients develop other health problems later on, which treatments received in hospital or afterwards were helpful and how patient care can be improved after they have been discharged from hospital.  Additionally a data resource will be developed to help other research teams.

PHOSP: https://www.phosp.org/

PHOSP-COVID study public webinar – Tuesday, 4th July 2023 at 4pm.

To register please use the link below and you will receive login details closer to the time:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/phosp-covid-study-public-webinar-tickets-650686489807 

MAG-Vue: Efficacy and Safety of the Scharioth Macular Lens in Advanced Macular Disease

AMD and other conditions such as inherited eye diseases can lead to loss of central vision. Normal hand-held low vision aids can be helpful, however these are limited because the field of view is small and they can be difficult to handle. Recently, a new approach has been the use of a magnifying lens implanted into the eye. The trial will have 2 treatment Groups – all eligible patients will receive treatment either the implanted magnifier (SML), or the contact lens magnifier. The potential benefits of the study are that the SML magnifying lens or the Contact Lens Simulator will improve reading ability. All participants will receive additional low vision training during the trial.

MAG-VUE: https://magvue.info

The Ability Study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of Abluminus stents (sirolimis eluting stent) versus XIANCE Everolimus Eluting Stents in Diabetic patients eligible for PCI. Diabetic patients are at higher risk of acute/sub acute/late thrombosis, restenosis of stents and delayed vessel healing. PCI outcomes for diabetics are worse with accelerated disease progression, increased co-morbidity and higher incidence of left Mainstem disease. This study aims to find out if the Abluminus stent can provide more drug and greater drug delivery which may result in a reduction of restenosis at the one year follow up in diabetic patients. Patients are recruited Pre PCI and follow up is at 1 month, 6 months, 12 months and 24 months.

Ability Diabetes Global Clinical Trial – Sirolimus Drug Eluting Stent (conceptmedical.com)

Clinical Specialities

The Clinical Research Network is made up of different Clinical Specialities (Interest Groups) working in areas that are relevant to Health and Social Care. These are led by clinicians with a proven track record in clinical research. The Clinical Speciality Groups are facilitated by research support posts in the HSC, so that researchers have access to experienced staff, who can carry out the research study.

Cardiovascular

We undertake cardiovascular research throughout Northern Ireland. The Clinical Research Network is part of a UK-wide initiative to provide opportunities for patients and clinicians to participate in high-quality clinical research.

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Child Health

We undertake research in child health throughout Northern Ireland. The NICRN is part of a UK-wide initiative to provide opportunities for patients and clinicians to participate in high-quality clinical research.

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Critical Care

We undertake critical care research throughout Northern Ireland. The NICRN is part of a UK-wide initiative to provide opportunities for patients and clinicians to participate in high-quality clinical research.

 

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Diabetes

We undertake diabetes research throughout Northern Ireland. The Clinical Research Network is part of a UK-wide initiative to provide opportunities for patients and clinicians to participate in high-quality clinical research.

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Gastrointestinal

We undertake GI research throughout Northern Ireland. The Clinical Research Network is part of a UK-wide initiative to provide opportunities for patients and clinicians to participate in high-quality clinical research.

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Mental Health

We undertake mental health research throughout Northern Ireland. The Clinical Research Network is part of a UK-wide initiative to provide opportunities for patients and clinicians to participate in high-quality clinical research.

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Neurodegenerative

We undertake dementia research throughout Northern Ireland. The Clinical Research Network is part of a UK-wide initiative to provide opportunities for patients and clinicians to participate in high-quality clinical research.

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Orthopaedics

We undertake orthopaedic research throughout Northern Ireland. The NICRN is part of a UK-wide initiative to provide opportunities for patients and clinicians to participate in high-quality clinical research.

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Primary Care

We undertake primary care research throughout Northern Ireland. The Clinical Research Network is part of a UK-wide initiative to provide opportunities for patients and clinicians to participate in high-quality clinical research.

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Renal

We undertake renal research throughout Northern Ireland. The Clinical Research Network is part of a UK-wide initiative to provide opportunities for patients and clinicians to participate in high-quality clinical research.

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Respiratory Health

We undertake respiratory health research throughout Northern Ireland. The Clinical Research Network is part of a UK-wide initiative to provide opportunities for patients and clinicians to participate in high-quality clinical research.

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Stroke

We undertake stroke research throughout Northern Ireland. The Clinical Research Network is part of a UK-wide initiative to provide opportunities for patients and clinicians to participate in high-quality clinical research.

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Vision

We undertake vision research throughout Northern Ireland. The Clinical Research Network is part of a UK-wide initiative to provide opportunities for patients and clinicians to participate in high-quality clinical research.

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Dedicated Teams

The Network provides skilled health professionals who can help researchers to set up and deliver clinical studies efficiently and effectively, recruiting patients and ensuring their needs are at the centre of research activity. We actively work to promote research within health and social care and beyond. 

Our team