Oxford AHSN R & D meeting 15 January 2013

Research and the Oxford AHSN

The Oxford AHSN held a stakeholders meeting on 15^th January to look at the plans being formulated for developing and delivering research, and the opportunities and challenges presented. The meeting was kindly hosted by Professor Richard Ellis, Dean, Faculty of Life Sciences at the University of Reading. 30 people from across the AHSN area attended and contributed in a wide-ranging discussion.

One of the key roles of the AHSN is to develop and deliver research. Research delivery across the AHSN area is overseen by NIHR Thames Valley Comprehensive Local Research Network and NIHR Topic Research Networks. The NIHR networks will, in future, function as a single network co-terminous (NIHR LCRN) with the boundaries of the AHSN. Jeremy Fairbank, Director of CLRN outlined the current network functions, including allocation of NHS support costs to ensure deliver of research across the network.

Chandi Ratnatunga presented a vision of the wider AHSN, and in particular its role in ensuring support for innovation, channelled through a series of clinical networks, eventually intended to cover all specialties. Research can only gain through a culture change in which there is much greater consistency in procedures across the OAHSN, enthusiasm for innovation and a commitment to delivering research alongside clinical activities. Jim Davies outlined the potential for better use of informatics and information technology to support delivery of clinical care and research, and Nick Edwards presented an overview of the importance of engagement with the life sciences industry and its importance to the AHSN.

Andrew Farmer presented current plans for work-plans and goals for OAHSN. These include improving the process of research governance approvals, particularly for commercial studies, increasing access to research by supporting the roll out of programmes for “consent-to-approach” linked to clinical databases and biobanks, and increasing recruitment to research studies in partnership with the clinical networks.

James Morris, Chairman of the Thames Valley CLRN, led a discussion. The ambition of the plans for the AHSN was recognised, along with the importance of identifying early objectives that could be delivered to establish the AHSN. Plans for early clinical networks (sometimes referred to as themes) were welcomed, but the importance of stressing plans to establish clinical network covering the breadth of activity was noted.   Noted also that OAHSN would not be funding clinical networks in their entirety but aim would be to provide some support/ funding.

Networking, and being proactive in bringing people together, can support integration and avoid multiple networks covering the same condition. However, many individuals across OAHSN will be common to different networks, and this will facilitate coordination and integration of activities. Although there is clear guidance that the financial management of NIHR LCRN should not be subsumed in the AHSN, this does not preclude the AHSN effectively “commissioning” research delivery from the LCRN whilst focussing on research development, for example engaging with life-sciences companies, the universities, identifying innovations from within the AHSN partners ready for research evaluation, and developing infrastructure to support research delivery that is not linked to specific studies (e.g. databases from consented individuals).
All agreed that the OAHSN had strong value as a network to bring people together.  The universities in particular would welcome further opportunities to discuss the wider aspects of research and the contribution to be made by departments perhaps not traditionally associated with clinical research.  Network can also potentially put resource into the identification and logging of project/products etc that could be commercialised

Industry partners – what can this group bring to the partnership – to include stronger relationships with potential to support development activities

The AHSN research programme will continue to develop its plans. OAHSN can also have a role in identifying and linking with clinical research not currently registered as eligible for NIHR support (not registered on the NIHR Portfolio).  Additional feedback noted the need for industry engagement in the governance of the R&D programme – currently absent. Establishing relationships with specific commercial partners as key advisers is an important way forward.

Professor Andrew Farmer

January 2013

Those present included: