Portfolio adoption

Eligible studies

Studies will be eligible to be considered for portfolio adoption if:

• some of the research funding is provided by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), central government or NIHR non-commercial partners*, and
• it fulfills the eligibility criteria definition of a research study

*NIHR non-commercial partners are organisations that:

• award research funds as a result of open competition across England with high quality peer review
• fund research of clear value to the NHS
• take appropriate account of the priorities, needs and realities of the NHS when making decisions on research to fund

Potentially eligible studies

Commercial and non-commercial studies can potentially be eligible for NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) support.

Commercial

Studies must be commercially funded and sponsored (i.e. commercial contract research).

Industry sponsored studies reviewed by a network industry adoption panel and accepted into the NIHR CRN portfolio will be classed as high priority.

Non-commercial

Studies will be initiated by non-commercial investigators (i.e. university or NHS staff) if the majority of funding to support the research study is provided by:

• a commercial organisation
• an overseas government, or
• a charity

Studies must be considered via the non-commercial adoption process. This ensures the quality and value of the study to the NHS, before confirmation of eligibility for consideration by the NIHR CRN.

Eligible, non-commercial studies will be given the following priorities:

• Medium priority for investigator-initiated or overseas governments
• Low priority for overseas charities

Ineligible studies

Studies will not be eligible to be considered for NIHR CRN support if they:

• do not meet the eligibility criteria definition of a research study which excludes:
  • audits
  • needs assessments
  • quality improvements
  • other local service evaluations
  • banking of biological samples or data (except where this is integral to a self-contained research project designed to test a clear hypothesis)
• do not have full research funding
• are funded by training awards that are not part of the recognised research career pathway