Recruitment of cancer patients to National Institute for Health research cancer research network portfolio studies between 2001 and 2011.

Abstract

6091 Background: The National Institute for Health Research Cancer Research Network (NCRN) was established in 2001 in England, United Kingdom to improve cancer patient outcomes by improving the coordination, integration and speed of cancer research. Methods: Baseline recruitment of cancer patients in England to clinical studies was around 4% of incident population. Research Networks were established initially in England (NCRN) and then across the UK, co-terminus with clinical cancer service networks, and a per capita based funding model used to provide a research infrastructure to support recruitment to a nationally defined research portfolio. Results: Within 3 years, as the networks were established, recruitment of patients to studies doubled from 10,000 to 20,000 cancer patients per year. Recruitment has continued to increase year on year, supported initially by underspend that had accrued from earlier years in the life of NCRN, and more recently from additional resources invested via the NIHR comprehensive networks. Data for 2010/11 show that over 45,000 cancer patients are now recruited into portfolio studies in England each year, with over 50,000 across the whole of the UK. Conclusions: Dedicated, targeted, clinician-led National Health Service investment into supporting national portfolio studies, has delivered an unprecedented five-fold increase in recruitment of cancer patients into clinical trials across the United Kingdom. This required coordinated research infrastructure, close cooperation with research funders, particularly Cancer Research UK and the National Cancer Research Institute, and the enthusiasm and hard work of many clinicians, patients and others working to deliver clinical cancer care in the National Health Service in the United Kingdom.