• identifying the appropriate funding stream(s)
• refinement of research questions
• choosing the most appropriate study design
  • trial design
  • including an economic evaluation component
  • including a qualitative component
• development of participant selection, strategies and sampling
• choosing the most appropriate outcome measures
• planning for compliance with regulatory and governance requirements
• guidance on ethical issues
• guidance on feasibility issues, in collaboration with the NIHR Clinical Research Networks
• evidence synthesis/systematic review
• IMP procurement, including referral to NHS Trust pharmacy and procurement services
• advice on resource requirements
  • distinguishing between research, NHS support and treatment costs
  • costing the proposal, in collaboration with University and NHS Trust finance colleagues
  • planning and scheduling study timelines and milestones
• advice on the role and membership of Trial Oversight Committees
  • Trial Steering Committee (TSC)
  • independent Data Monitoring and Ethics Committee (DMEC)
• advice on presenting the application to funders

We have experience of applying to the following funding streams:

NIHR

• Health Technology Assessment (HTA)
• Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME)
• Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB)
• Programme Grant for Applied Research (PGfAR)
• Fellowships
• Invention and Innovation (i4i)
• Public Health Research (PHR)
• Health Service and Delivery Research (HS&DR)

MRC

• Development Pathway Funding Stream (DPFS)

Charities

• British Heart Foundation
• Arthritis Research UK
• Heart Research UK
• Cancer Research UK
• Diabectics Research UK

We also have experience of working on commercial Investigator Initiated Trials (IIT).

We work closely with the following sponsors

• The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NuTH) (https://newcastlejro.com/about/partners/)
• Cumbria, Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) (https://www.cntw.nhs.uk/about/research/)
• South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (https://www.southtees.nhs.uk/about/teaching/research/)

As a UKCRC Registered CTU based in England, and with a strong track record in winning funding from the NIHR funding streams managed through NETSCC, NCTU is in receipt of NIHR Clinical Trials Unit Support Funding, which provides pump-priming resourses.