Getting involved in ENT clinical research in the UK; how can the NIHR Clinical Research Network help?

In 2006, the Department of Health formed the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) to create an environment for world class health research within the National Health Service (NHS). Historically, research occurred mainly in teaching hospitals, with a lack of equal opportunity for patients to participate in research and no overall nationwide framework to assist the conduct of research within theNHS.With themission to ‘Improve the health and wealth of the nation through research’, the NIHR has transformed clinical research in the United Kingdom through the establishment of the hugely successful Clinical Research Network (CRN) and the initiation of a national portfolio of studies, together providing the local infrastructure to support clinical researchers in conducting highquality research. This has led to an increased number of healthcare professionals and patients participating in research and the NHS being seen as an international leader in clinical research.