Health is a devolved area of government, resulting in differences in how clinical research is supported in the four nations. The UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) produced a document that maps the similarities and differences (see link for UK-wide working ).
In England, clinical research is managed via the NIHR-funded topic-specific clinical research networks covering:
- cancer
- dementia and neurodegenerative diseases
- diabetes
- medicines for children
- mental health
- primary care
- stroke
and the comprehensive local research network (CLRN) covers all other areas.
Similar structures operate in Northern Ireland, where the topics are:
- cancer
- cardiovascular
- children
- critical care
- dementia
- diabetes
- primary care
- respiratory
- stroke
- vision.
In Scotland there are seven topic specific networks covering:
- cancer
- medicines for children
- dementia
- diabetes
- mental health
- primary care
- stroke
with a generic research support network.
Clinical research networks in Wales focus on:
- cancer
- children and young people
- dementia
- diabetes
- emergency medicine
- epilepsy
- learning disabilities
- mental health
- primary care
- public heath
with a collaboration co-ordination centre.
Much research involves many centres across the UK and the national networks work together to ensure that systems are complementary. For example a UKCRC group looks at the development of regulation and governance checks to ensure that they are consistent across the UK.
February 2010