About the UKF-PCRN

To jump to an area on this page please click on one of the shortcuts below:

> What does the Federation do?
> Encouraging Collaborative Research
> A 'network of networks'
> The core objectives of PCRN's
> How the Federation is run
> Funding

What does the Federation do? [top of page]

Supports cross-regional collaborative research

Co-ordinates research networks’ response to the development of national priorities for research

Represents networks’ interests and needs to external agencies such as professional and academic organizations

Promotes dialogue and communication between networks

Shares strategies for success

Encouraging collaborative research [top of page]

The Federation currently facilitates three research interest groups (RIGs): Coronary Heart Disease, Cancer & Mental Health.

The aims of the RIGs are:

to bring together primary care researchers with an interest in research in the RIG topic area

to explore opportunities for joint working on research projects

to disseminate work undertaken/in progress relating to primary care based research

to facilitate collaboration between primary care research networks on applying for research funding for research projects.

Click here for information about future meetings

A ‘network of networks’ [top of page]

An Annual Conference is held to share our rich range of experience and strategies for promoting primary care research, discuss issues relevant to all networks and liaise with other interested parties. This year the Conference will be held in York on 2-3 December.

We facilitate communication between networks through regular mailings, our newsletter ‘NetConnect’ and an e-mail discussion group.
NetConnect is published three times a year (click here for the most recent editions)

The Core Objectives of PCRNs [top of page]

The Department of Health has developed a list of core objectives for primary care research networks:

Promote the use of research in clinical practice

Provide access to and disseminate information on potential research collaboration, research training opportunities, research funding and academic advice

Encourage participation of practitioners in research activities

Identify research training needs among its constituency

Organise research training for primary care practitioners

Facilitate research cooperation and collaboration between primary care practitioners and other health related agencies e.g. social services, local authorities, acute care

Facilitate change in the research culture of primary care.

The core objectives are not intended to be a restrictive or exhaustive list of activities. The Federation membership is made up of organisations that broadly work along these lines.

How the Federation is run [top of page]

A steering committee is elected every two years. Sub-groups, reporting to the Committee, are set up to examine relevant issues such as evaluation, network communications and IT, and to take forward proposed developments.

The Committee is:

Chair – Sue Wilson,(Midlands PC-CRTU)
Vice-Chair – Beverley Hancock (Trent Focus)
Treasurer – Rose Streeton (PCRN for Northamptonshire)
Fenny Green (RCGP), Caroline Gunnell (Essex PCRN), Terri Harding (NoReN), Rhian Hughes (North Staffs GP Research Network), Mike Kirby (HertNet), Roy Marsh (SuNet), Lucy McCloughan (SSPC), Amy Scammell (Battersea Research Group)

Funding [top of page]

The Federation has been supported by grants from the NHS R&D Programme in England and Wales, the Scottish Office and Northern Ireland HSSB but is striving to be self-funded with the financial support of our network members through annual subscription fees.