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Pan Birmingham Cancer Research Network
Room 102
Birmingham Research Park
Birmingham
B15 2SQPBCRN@westmidlands.nhs.uk
Telephone: 0121 414 5346 Fax: 0121 414 3400 The Pan Birmingham Cancer Research Network operates as part of the NIHR National Cancer Research Network in England. It is part of the National Institute for Health Research and forms part of the UK Clinical Research Network.
The Networks support and deliver high quality clinical research studies.
Background
Pan Birmingham Cancer Research Network (PBCRN) is part of a highly successful government initiative, the National Cancer Research Network to improve the infrastructure in the NHS for cancer research .
Our aim in the Pan Birmingham Cancer Research Network (PBCRN) is to implement and uphold the aims set out by the National Cancer Research Network (NCRN), which are:
To provide the NHS infrastructure to support randomised prospective trials of cancer and other well-designed studies in order to
- Improve patient care.
- Improve the coordination of research.
- Improve the speed of research.
- Maintain and enhance research quality.
- Improve the integration of research.
- Widen participation in research.
The core team provide central support to Cancer Researchers across the PBCRN. The support is not exclusive to researchers funded by PBCRN monies but to the wider research community.
The Core Team comprises Clinical Lead, Research Network Manager, Network Lead Research Nurse, Information Officer and Administrator.
Pan Birmingham Cancer Research Network Infrastructure
PBCRN has chosen a devolved model with the Research Network Executive providing a co-ordinating role, supporting Trust Cancer Research Leads to expand trial activity and provide training and support to Trust staff. In order to integrate research into normal practice, the individual Trusts within the Network have full autonomy over the use of their NCRN funded research staff and their trial portfolio.
Network Meetings
The Research Committee is the Board level meeting of the Pan Birmingham Cancer Research Network.
Members of the core team and trust representatives attend a number of Service Network meetings, as appropriate, to discuss and promote research issues.
Portfolio and Accrual
More than 6700 patients with cancer or a pre-malignant condition have been recruited into National Cancer Research Network (NCRN) portfolio clinical trials and other well designed studies since 2001 in Pan Birmingham Trusts. A further 5950 volunteers have also participated in screening and prevention studies. This represents a significant achievement for all of the staff that have contributed to this success.
Studies are open in all cancer diseases and across all study types, for example, treatment, genetic epidemiology, diagnosis and prevention are carried out in the Network.
Whilst our most obvious and measurable target has been that of trial recruitment, the hidden benefits of having designated researchers are those of quality and standard raising. As part of our role within the Network, we have written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to support research teams in all Trusts and Organisations. The standards are not intended to replace any existing standards, but to complement existing Research Practice. NCRN Standard Operating Procedures have also been adopted and adapted for local use. Research has undergone major legislative changes over the last two years, with the introduction of the EU Directive. Training and Education for Researchers is essential to meet the recommendations made within the Directive and the NCRN aims, to provide a skilled workforce.
Training and Development
All staff working on NCRN portfolio studies have access to PBCRN and NIHR CRN courses irrespective of funding stream. PBCRN has a Network Training Link (NTL) who can be contacted via the core team office. A series of practical workshops have been rolled out locally for new staff. In addition Pan Birmingham Cancer Research Network has joined with other Trusts and Organisations with a responsibility for Training and Education and formed the Birmingham Research Training Collaborative (BRTC). To ensure that our teams are kept informed and up to date and to help us share experiences the Research Network produces a monthly Grapevine circulated to the immediate Pan Birmingham Research Network and interested others and a more formal quarterly Newsletter, which is circulated to the wider Research Community. We have also produced a Patient Information Leaflet, which is available from the core team office on request. Other patient information is available on various websites.
Communication
The Manager and Training Link would like to engage all professional groups and User Partnerships (Patient Groups). For further information please contact the Research Network Manager. The local Research Teams meet regularly for peer support, team development and to share best practice
Page created : ginad (27/02/2007 21:03:02), last updated : mnunn (27/04/2010 15:39:39)
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