For R&D managers
The Mental Health Research Network helps NHS trusts to promote and conduct
research, in line with the commitment of the NHS Constitution, and with the NHS
Operating Framework, which states ‘all providers of NHS care will need to increase
their participation in research.’
We currently work with around 60 NHS trusts that provide mental health services in
England, and our regional offices (hubs) liaise closely with R&D managers working
within them. Some of our clinical studies officers are based in R&D sections within
individual trusts, helping to enthuse mental health professionals about research and
recruit participants to studies through services.
By agreeing to work with the MHRN and help us recruit participants to the studies we support, NHS trusts can begin to build their own research portfolios. Collaboration on MHRN-supported studies can help trusts make contacts, gain expertise and financial support for research: we can help R&D managers foster relationships with researchers who hold grants for MHRN-supported studies, and learn about funding opportunities which may enable them to carry out their own research, addressing local needs.
Monitoring recruitment
Research teams we support must provide and update information about their studies for the NIHR pages of the UK Clinical Research Network Portfolio Database. This is a searchable database
of research, which lists studies and trials being carried out within NHS organisations
in the UK.
It includes information about the numbers of people recruited to each study, and each mental health trust is credited for the numbers recruited from their services. Recruitment data on the Portfolio therefore includes site details, and all MHRN-supported studies use the mental health trust’s name as the site name (there are codes that researchers should use alongside the trust name – download the list of mental health trusts and codes that should be used here).
We run a Portfolio Helpline that R&D managers can access if they want to check
whether a study has uploaded recruitment data for their trust. We can also help
if you think recruitment data has been incorrectly ‘mapped’ – erroneously credited
to another trust – and help you if you want to find out whether study is registered
on the Portfolio Database, and its current status. To access the MHRN Portfolio
Support helpline, email portfoliosupport.mhrn@manchester.ac.uk or telephone
01772 773 507.
We monitor recruitment to all mental health studies included on the Clinical Research Network Portfolio. If it is proving difficult to recruit the required numbers of participants
to a particular study, we work with the chief investigator to put in place a plan to meet the recruitment target. This often involves enlisting the help of R&D staff based in NHS trusts.
If you are worried about recruitment in your trust, or are interested in working with the MHRN and recruiting to the studies we support, contact your local regional office (hub).
page last updated 26 July 2011