North East & Cumbria Diabetes Local Research Network

Welcome to the North East and Cumbria Diabetes Local Research Network

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The National Institute for Health Research and the Department of Health have appointed eight Local Research Networks (LRNs) to support the delivery and conduct of clinical diabetes research.

The North East and Cumbria Diabetes Research Networks (NEC DRN) is one such appointed local research network developed, to support the delivery and conduct of clinical diabetes research. The aims of the network are:

"To facilitate the conduct of randomised prospective trials and other well & designed studies of diabetes including those for prevention, diagnosis and treatment"

The NEC DRN original boundary sites cover the area from Berwick Upon Tweed to Middlesbrough, across to Carlisle and Whitehaven and covers a population of 8 million. We also have affiliated sites that cover the central areas of Bradford and Leeds. Managed centrally from the International Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne. Prof. Mark Walker is the clinical director and Anna Lartey the network manager. There are a team of dedicated research nurses, working in 3 hubs (North, Durham and South Tees) and affiliated sites. Each locality has a designated clinical lead.

The network supports, facilitates and co–ordinates ‘adopted‘ studies with primary and secondary care. We have a portfolio of academic and commercial studies and are always looking to extend our portfolio. We provide assistance progressing studies for adoption, coordinating research approvals, increasing recruitment into trials and uploading accruals to the UKCRN.