Boost recruitment and build future research capacity using the Associate Principal Investigator Scheme

In this webinar our panel explored how the Associate PI Scheme can help increase recruitment to clinical trials and develop future research capacity and capabilities in the UK. The webinar was hosted by Holly Speight, Associate Principal Investigator Scheme Manager, NIHR, and features: - Jon Wadsley, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Sheffield Teaching Hospital - Gregg Baillie, Strategy and Operations Country Head, Novartis UK - Laura Parkes, Portfolio Team Lead, Novartis UK - Dr Krishnaraj Rathod, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, The Barts Health NHS Trust - Dr Angela Parker, Chief Operating Officer, Fylde Coast Clinical Research Key topics covered: - Purpose of the Associate PI scheme: The scheme is a 6 month in-work training opportunity providing hands on experience for health and care professionals starting their career in clinical research. - Benefits for Sponsors: Commercial sponsors like Novartis have seen improved recruitment rates and faster study setup timelines, making the UK a more attractive destination for global trials. Adding your study to the scheme does not require additional ethics approval and studies can be registered quickly and easily by sponsors. - Benefits for Trainees: The scheme isb open to all health and care professionals, offers mentorship, a solid foundation of research experience, and formal recognition. - Capacity Building: The scheme helps build a sustainable research workforce by developing future Principal Investigators (PIs), with 99% of trainees reporting plans to stay engaged in research after completion. - Widening access to research: Encourages the use of a broader range of study sites, including primary care, and helps to ensure representative patient populations and increased equity of access to trials.