SPCR General Practice Commercial Research Fellowship

Building Capacity for Commercial Research in Primary Care

2025-2026

• Commercial trial recruitment has declined nationally, reducing the UK’s competitiveness.
• Primary care is underused for commercial research despite its reach and diversity.
• Barriers include limited experience with commercial trials and weak links with industry.
• National initiatives (NIHR RDN transformation, CRDCs, O’Shaughnessy Review) aim to rebuild capacity.
• The SPCR GP Commercial Research Fellowships form one part of this wider national effort.
• Fellows are hosted by 11 UK academic institutions including all 9 institutions in the NIHR School for Primary Care Research (SPCR)

Background

Aims of the Fellowship�

• Increase capacity for commercial research in Primary Care
• Increase uptake and engagement in commercial studies
• Expand opportunities for patients — especially underserved groups — to participate
• Identify practical and sustainable ways to increase recruitment in Primary Care
• Champion the full spectrum of Primary Care research, including commercial research

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Anticipated Outputs During the Fellowship

• Fellows develop expertise and networks to champion commercial research
• Shared learning on barriers and facilitators
• Presentations at key conferences (e.g., RCGP, South West Society for Academic Primary Care)
• Improved engagement with commercial research
• Contribution to NIHR training modules
• Strengthened collaboration between Primary and Secondary Care

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The Fellows�

• 11 fellows based across Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, Keele, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, QMUL, Southampton and UCL
• All are practising GPs with varied research experience
• Funded by NIHR SPCR
• 1 day per week from September 2025 – December 2026
• Academic mentorship from host universities
• Active national peer‑support network

The Fellows

Work of the Fellows�

• Work with NIHR Research Delivery Networks and Commercial Research Delivery Centres
• Build relationships to identify barriers and facilitators to commercial research
• Map current commercial research activity across regions
• Strengthen collaboration between Primary and Secondary Care
• Gain hands‑on experience delivering commercial research
• Take research into communities (e.g., mobile research vehicles and other outreach models)
• Promote research to GPs and trainees, increasing awareness and participation

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How Stakeholders Can Help

• Share information about current commercial research activity
• Connect fellows with key stakeholders and local expertise
• Support the implementation of new approaches to increase commercial recruitment

Longer-term Outcomes

• Increased commercial research recruitment
• More Primary Care sites participating
• More patients offered opportunities to take part

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HOW TO GET IN TOUCH

SPCR directorate spcr@keele.ac.uk

SPCR GP Commercial Fellows Mentor kay.wang@soton.ac.uk

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