Guy’s and St Thomas’ to host new NIHR Regional Research Delivery Network

Guy’s and St Thomas’ has been selected to host a new Regional Research Delivery Network for south London, as part of a national network announced by the Department of Health and Social Care.

The south London network will be one of 12 new regional National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) networks which will be hosted by NHS organisations to be set up across the country from 1 October 2024.

They will support the successful delivery of health and social care research in England.

Guy's and St Thomas' has a world-leading reputation for clinical research and trials.

The Trust’s cutting-edge experimental medicine infrastructure, internationally renowned experts and collaborations enable it to deliver research with local, regional, national and global impact.

In 2022/23, 15,812 people took part in 493 NIHR research portfolio studies open at the Trust looking at new ways to diagnose and prevent illness as well as new treatments, medicines and medical devices.

Professor Ian Abbs, Chief Executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’, said:

As a Trust with an international reputation for excellent clinical research, Guy’s and St Thomas’ is proud to have been chosen to host the Regional Research Delivery Network for south London.

“We are grateful to our patients, without whose generous support new research would not be possible, and to our talented staff and partners. Together, we can collaborate to improve how we diagnose and treat people in south London, the UK and beyond.” 

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Executive of the NIHR, said: “I’d like to congratulate Guy’s and St Thomas’ and all the successful hosts for the future NIHR Research Delivery Network. I am looking forward to working with Guy’s and St Thomas’ and all the organisations across the new Research Delivery Network to support the delivery of the best health and care research for the public.

“The opportunity to be part of research is crucial for all communities, particularly those with major health and care needs. The new NIHR Research Delivery Network will build capacity to extend research delivery in primary, community and social care settings to make it easier for patients to get access to cutting-edge treatments and new models of care, through research.

“The plans and ambitions we have for the NIHR Research Delivery Network have evolved from the excellent work of the Clinical Research Network over the last nine years. Its many dedicated staff have worked incredibly hard to support researchers and sponsors in England to deliver some of the best health and care research during this time. Without their passion and determination, so much of the world-leading research produced in this country during the COVID-19 pandemic would not have been possible.”

The RRDNs will form part of the NIHR Research Delivery Network, which will operate as a single organisation across England. The joint leadership function will balance regional context, expertise and leadership, with national coordination and strategy, involving DHSC policymakers.

The new NIHR Research Delivery Network will support the country’s world-class research system to deliver high quality research that enables the best care for patients and the public. It will work across the health and care system, with staff in all health and care settings, to support the effective and efficient initiation and delivery of research. This will benefit people receiving care now and in the future. It will support the NHS and care services and generate benefits for the economy of the UK.

The new Research Delivery Network, working with the wider system, will enhance equality of opportunity for people to get involved in research, no matter who they are or which part of the country they live in. It will enable research activity to follow patient and service user need, ensuring research is conducted in communities living with the greatest disease burden, in collaboration with patients, carers and the public, investigators and study sites.