Strengthening research capacity through effective training

In order to achieve our vision of driving positive change for our communities through the delivery of patient-centred commercial research, it is vital that the CRDC:GM team have the right training to set up and deliver leading research that makes a difference in our communities.

Differences in staff knowledge and understanding across the study set-up pathway including HRA approvals, IRAS applications, and local capacity and capability assessments, were identified across CRDC:GM partner organisations.
Through the CRDC:GM Operational Group it was agreed that training to address the knowledge and understanding gaps would support more efficient set-up of commercial trials.

Therefore, 8 staff members across CRDC:GM host and partner organisations attended the Clinical Trials Coordination Certificate course (CTCC) hosted at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT). The course provides understanding of study set-up, regulatory requirements, and multi-site trial delivery, helping standardise knowledge and practice across partner organisations.

This course was essential to ensure all partner organisations had research-ready teams with a consistent level of knowledge and confidence, enabling them to set up and deliver studies more effectively and at pace.

What happened as a result?

All 8 participants completed the 5 day CTCC and gained a structured understanding of regulatory processes and study set-up requirements.

The training improved confidence across key areas, including navigating regulatory bodies (e.g. MHRA, HRA), completing applications, and understanding end-to-end study delivery. It also created a shared baseline of knowledge across organisations, to support reducing variation in practice.

What impact has it made?

Following the completion of this training our team has an improved understanding of regulatory requirements, supporting faster and more efficient study set-up which has enabled patients to access clinical trials sooner.