CRN Portfolio

The NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) Portfolio of studies consists of research studies that are eligible for support from the NIHR CRN in England.

All high-quality research studies, eligible for NIHR CRN support in England are included on the NIHR CRN Portfolio.

NIHR CRN supported studies benefit from the following:

Access to the Study Support Service - a standard national framework of support to help plan, place and perform high quality research in England
Provision of NHS support as defined by AcoRD and/or the equivalent of NHS support in other settings (e.g. research carried out in social care, care homes, hospices, or public health settings)
Provision of Research Part B costs as defined by AcoRD (for studies funded by AMRC member charities only)
Access to relevant research delivery training, including Good Clinical Practice training
ISRCTN registration via the Central Portfolio Management System. Registration of non-commercial studies with an interventional component is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Understanding which studies are eligible

NIHR CRN support is available to all studies, regardless of location, study type, study size, therapy or research area, provided they meet the Department of Health and Social Care established eligibility criteria.

This means that the NIHR can now support the delivery of funded health and care research taking place in settings such as care homes, hospices, schools, prisons, or other social care and public health environments.

Further information:

How to apply for NIHR CRN Support

There are two routes for English-led studies applying for CRN support. You must use the correct route for your study:

1. Via the Non-commercial Portfolio Application service:

If your study is an English-led CTIMP and you are applying for HRA Approval through the HRA and MHRA’s combined review service, you must apply for CRN support through the new Non-commercial Portfolio Application service in CPMS.

The Non-commercial portfolio application service is available to all English-led studies, including studies that do not need, and, therefore, are not applying for HRA Approval, with the following exceptions:

Studies that are applying for HRA Approval through the standard IRAS. See below
Studies that are fully supported by other NIHR Research Infrastructure. These will not require additional support from the NIHR CRN and need not apply.

For info on how to use this service see the NIHR CRN Non-commercial Portfolio Application service webpage.

2. Via the standard Integrated Research Application System (IRAS)

Studies that require HRA Approval but are not being progressed through combined review: should apply for NIHR CRN support through the standard IRAS by selecting ‘yes’ to question 5b of the IRAS Project Filter. This will ensure key information from your IRAS submission is automatically shared with us and used to determine eligibility.

Please note: we cannot make a decision on whether your study can be included on the NIHR CRN Portfolio until full funding has been secured and evidence of this has been provided.

If you are applying for NIHR CRN support, and have not already done so, you are advised to contact your Local Clinical Research Network as soon as possible to benefit from a bespoke service designed to meet the needs of your study. Your local Clinical Research Network team will work with you to identify how they can help you to plan and prepare.

Applying for research infrastructure support in other UK administrations

Queries regarding access to research infrastructure support outside of England, including for studies that do not require HRA Approval, should be directed to the relevant national coordinating functions:

Scotland: NHS Research Scotland (NRS)
Email: enquiries@nrs.org.uk
Wales: Health and Care Research Wales (HCRW)
Email: portfolio@wales.nhs.uk
Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Clinical Research Network (NICRN)
Email: NICRNPortfolio@nicrn.hscni.net