The Arden Cancer Research NetworkThe National Cancer Research Network (NCRN) was established by the Department of Health in April 2001 to provide the NHS with an infrastructure to support prospective trials of cancer treatments. Its original aims were:
To provide the infrastructure to support trials To increase recruitment of patients into trials To promote integration of research into standard treatment of cancer To speed up the recruitment of patients into trials To improve the quality of data collected from research trials
Thirty four local networks were created covering the entire population of England, the Arden Cancer Research Network (ACRN) being one of these, which was established in November 2002. The original targets set by the NCRN were to increase recruitment of cancer patients to 7.5% by April 2004, (from a national baseline of this 3.75%). This target was comfortably achieved by the ACRN, in fact by April 2004, the ACRN had recruited 10.5% of patients into trials.
Prior to the ACRN being established, patients in this area only had restricted access to trials, mainly through the cancer centre, with only limited activity at the cancer units (George Eliot Hospital, Warwick Hospital, Solihull Hospital and Alexandra Hospital). Once the ACRN was established, resources were available to set up trial offices at each of these hospitals, which were staffed by research nurses who were based at University Hospital, but spent several days a week at the cancer units.
Key developments in the clinical trial service:
The ACRN has continued to develop, and today employs a clinical lead for research, 2 network managers (job share), 10 research sisters, 1 research nurse and 5 administrative staff. The majority of staff employed work part-time, but staff provide cross-cover for each other.
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