What are CRDC’s?
NIHR Commercial Research Delivery Centres (CRDCs) were established in April 2025 to enhance the speed and efficiency of commercial clinical research delivery in the UK, boosting the global competitiveness of the UK life sciences sector and contributing to the health and wealth of the nation.
There are 21 CRDCs across the UK. The NIHR manages 15 of these, in England. In addition there are 4 in Scotland, and a one nation approach in Wales and Northern Ireland.
What do CRDCs do?
The CRDCs work with life sciences organisations and other research delivery infrastructure to deliver commercially sponsored research. They support the UK’s status as one of the best places in the world for innovative companies to bring their portfolio of research.
A key part of their remit is to increase participant recruitment and retention by expanding clinical trials beyond large hospital trusts and into community settings and underserved regions.
Improving access to clinical trials
The Sussex CRDC provides a hub and spoke model for the efficient and inclusive delivery of commercial clinical research for Sussex.
The new Sussex CRC will:
- Further increase access for the people of Sussex to participate in important research to advance healthcare.
- Help shift clinical trials beyond large hospital trusts into community settings, meaning those underserved areas have better access.
- Support more GP practices to become research active, bringing trials even closer to people’s homes.
- Increase opportunities to participate in clinical trials offering treatment for mental health conditions.
- Work with our Sussex Research Engagement Network to build local links with our communities to increase the diversity of our recruitment.
- Broaden the range of research to include trials for both healthy volunteers and patients with conditions – widening access to innovative treatments and interventions.
- Provide access to a network of commercially active sites with gold standard set up times and performance.
- Develop our commercial research delivery workforce.
- Build links with industry, leading to greater inward investment into the Sussex region and the UK as a whole.