Research Matters News from across NHS Research Scotland (NRS) Issue 3 | April 2016 Delivering Research Excellence Investing in cutting edge medical research...page 3 Inform, Engage, Promote Upcoming events ...pages 4 - 9 Health Research Authority Approval in England and Cross-border Arrangements for local NHS R&D permission...page 9 A different perspective Role of the Young Persons Group ...page 14 Much more inside... NHS Research Scotland www.nrs.org.uk An ambitious agenda... When ‘Delivering Innovation through Research’ harness engagement with stakeholders across was launched in October 2015 it set out ‘an NHS, academia, industry and third sector; and ambitious agenda for change’ requiring new support our strong ethos of collaboration in ways of working and a new approach to how Scotland. we go about our business. On 1 June 2016, NHS Research Scotland (NRS), Those changes and developments are Scottish Cancer Research Network (SCRN) and designed to maintain Scotland’s position at the ABPI Scotland Cancer Industry Group (SCIG) forefront of health research internationally. will host the second Scottish Cancer Research Conference - Working with Industry. On 27 It includes major investments such as the June, our Young Person’s Group (part of the establishment of the ‘Scottish Precision Scottish Children’s Research Network) will Medicine Ecosystem’ which you can read more travel to Barcelona to participate in the iCAN about on Page 3. Research and Advocacy Summit. Over the It also means adapting to changes in our coming months we also have an opportunity to systems and processes. The UKCRN Portfolio promote our work to over 7500 event Database has been replaced with a new delegates from over 50 countries. Building on Central Portfolio Management System (CPMS). these opportunities is crucial so read more on The system is set to enable users to access the Page 8 about how to get involved. full life-cycle of a study in a single location for Planning is also well underway for the annual the first time. The system went live on 31st NHS Research Scotland conference taking March 2016 and training has been rolled out place on 26 October 2016 (more on Page 5) for Scottish National Portfolio Managers with and led by the Glasgow Clinical Research more information available on Page 10. Facility, we are delighted to have successfully HRA Approval is another impactful change on won the bid to host the 2017 UK Clinical our systems in Scotland. Dr Janet Messer, Research Facility Conference (more on Page 8). Director of Research Systems, Standards and It is a busy period and we have an ambitious HRA Approval Programme will be joining us in agenda to deliver but strong progress through Glasgow on 27 April to share information on 2016 alone is evident, and we have much to be the recent roll-out of the HRA single approval optimistic about. process in England and what it means for cross -border studies. It will be an excellent NHS Research Scotland Strategy Board opportunity for questions and discussion so we Mr Mike Stevens (Chair) encourage you to attend with more details on Head of Chief Scientist Office Page 10. Professor Julie Brittenden While it may be a period of change it is also a R&D Director, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde period of growth. Recruitment to SHARE Professor Maggie Cruikshank continues at an impressive rate. Supported by Acting R&D Director , NHS Grampian Lorraine Kelly, TV celebrity and former rector of Dr Jacob George University of Dundee, SHARE smashed its 100k R&D Director, NHS Tayside milestone in early March and continues to grow with over 106,000 people now signed up Professor Dave Newby to support health research in Scotland. R&D Director, NHS Lothian We also see growth in our programme of events, providing an opportunity to build and NHS Research Scotland 1 In this edition: Major investments position Scotland as a centre of excellence in precision medicine on Page 3 European Conference on Rare Diseases comes to Edinburgh - Page 4 Plans underway to make the annual NHS Research Scotland conference the biggest and best yet - read more on Page 5 Scottish Cancer Research Conference - Working with Industry will take place on 1st June in Glasgow - read more on Page 7 Beating Cancer: Ambition & Action - what action on research is proposed by Scottish Government’s new Cancer strategy - read more on Page 7 10+ events, 7500 delegates, 50 countries - read more on Page 8 about getting involved in our upcoming programme of external events Health Research Authority Approval in England and Cross-border Arrangements for local NHS R&D permission - Page 9 Central Portfolio Management System launches - read more on Page 10 Clinical Research Specialty Group Lead roles available in Genetics/Rare Diseases, Critical Care and Dermatology - read more on Page 10 SHARE smashes 100k milestone - read more on Page 11 NHS Tayside commercial team are first in class on new addiction study- read more on Page 12 A different perspective- read more about the role of the Young Person’s Group and their upcoming adventure in Barcelona on Page 13 Get in touch Research Bulletin Send articles, photographs or feedback to: Remember our e: [email protected] monthly e-bulletin is issued the first t: 0141 951 5508 week of each month. Publication Dates Look out for it in your inbox! Issue Submission deadline If you don’t receive you can subscribe Summer (June/July) 3 June 2016 via www.nrs.org.uk Autumn (October) 5 October 2016 Insert your email Winter (January) 16 December 2016 address at the foot of the webpage beside ‘Newsletter’ Contributions from across the research www.nrs.org.uk 2 Investing in cutting edge medical research Major investments announced recently by the Scottish Government will help position Scotland as a centre of excellence in precision medicinef Precision medicine – combining increasing SGP is a collaboration of Scottish Universities understanding of the molecular basis of and the NHS capitalising on £15 million diseases with knowledge about individual investment in whole genome sequencing patients’ genetic and other molecular technology by the Universities of Edinburgh characteristics – can support more tailored and Glasgow. treatment, improving the effectiveness and By combining knowledge of the whole genome safety of healthcare. sequence of patients and information from In January 2016, the First Minister announced their health records, genetic diseases can be £4 million investment for the establishment of understood better and new ways to test, a ‘Scottish Precision Medicine Ecosystem’ to manage and treat these diseases devised. co-ordinate precision medicine resources and With the funding, SGP will be using this opportunities across Scotland, bring together technology for genomic research on rare findings from individual research projects and diseases, cancers and Scottish populations, and improve information sharing to drive to work with Genomics England on the development. diagnosis of patients in Scotland with rare The ecosystem will be supported by the genetic diseases. Stratified Medicine Scotland Innovation Centre SGP will be a cornerstone of the Scottish Preci- that will align NHS, academic and business sion Medicine Ecosystem. assets, including NRS facilities, to drive developments in precision medicine. The funding will also support two flagship For more about these investments see: precision medicine programmes on pancreatic http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Investing-in- cancer and multiple sclerosis. the-healthcare-of-the-future-2255.aspx And in February 2016, the Minister for Sport, http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Investing-in- Health Improvement and Mental Health cutting-edge-medical-research-2338.aspx announced investment of £4 million from the Scottish Government and £2 million from the Medical Research Council in the Scottish Genomes Partnership (SGP). NHS Research Scotland 3 Bringing together all rare diseases, across all European nations 8th European Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Products Taking place in Edinburgh from 26—28 May 2016, the 8th European 7000+ rare genetic Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Products (ECRD) provides a disorders affecting... unique opportunity to connect with over 800 delegates from the rare disease community. Up to 300,000 people The ECRD is the only event which unites all rare disease stakeholders in Scotland... from all European nations - patients and patient representatives, healthcare professionals and researchers, industry, payers, regulators and policy makers alike - in the fight against rare diseases. 3.5million throughout Six content themes will be presented over two days; from the latest the UK... research to developments in new treatments, innovations in healthcare, social care and support. NHS Research Scotland will be in attendance. For more information 30million throughout visit www.rare-diseases.eu Europe “Collaboration is crucial in the fight against rare diseases and Scotland has an important role to play in this. This conferences provides a platform to promote our research in clinical genetics and rare diseases, highlight the connected infrastructure in Scotland to support this research and engage with our partners across Europe” Jonathan Berg, Specialty Group Lead - Clinical Genetics, NHS Research Scotland www.nrs.org.uk 4 NHS Research Scotland Annual Conference Wednesday 26 October 2016 Queen Elizabeth Teaching and Learning Centre Now in its fifth year, the annual NHS Research Scotland conference is firmly established as Scotland’s leading clinical research conference, bringing together almost 500 delegates across NHS, academia, industry and third sector. The conference showcases the best examples of clinical research across Scotland and provides a key networking opportunity, capitalising on our strong ethos of collaboration in Scotland. Based on feedback from 2015 we are working to create an exciting and impactful agenda which will explore opportunities and challenges within the sector and demonstrate progress against the aims set out in Scotland’s health and social care research strategy - Delivering Innovation through Research (2015) , launched at last year’s conference.