Commercial Research Delivery Centres (CRDCs)

Four Commercial Research Delivery Centres (CRDCs) are working with industry partners to deliver transformational change that improves the predictability and consistency of research delivery in NHS Scotland

Operating as part of a world-leading network of specialised regional hubs, they are increasing capacity, capability and innovation in commercial clinical research to support advancements in patient care and a healthcare system fit for the future.

Scotland’s CRDCs are coordinated through the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) of the Scottish Government. Enhanced resource, a dedicated and highly skilled workforce, and exceptional facilities based within NHS Scotland Health Boards combine with trusted, forward-thinking knowledge to ensure rapid set up and delivery of inclusive commercial trials. They are putting Scotland firmly on the international map for the expert delivery of leading commercial healthcare research thanks to unique assets including:

Hubs of research excellence with each CRDC embedded within an NHS Board and partnered with a Scottish Medical School
Access to national research infrastructure to ensure that clinical trials are accessible, inclusive, and supported
Centralised support across all phases of the research delivery pathway making it easier for commercial sponsors to conduct trials in Scotland
A coordinated NHS system which enables rapid patient recruitment, matched by world-leading electronic health data
Scotland’s mix of urban, rural, and remote communities enabling varied, representative data for cutting-edge trials

Underpinned by ongoing collaboration between NHS, industry, and academia, CRDCs are a cost-effective testbed for innovative commercial research and are committed to growing partnership opportunities — the lifeblood of life-changing breakthroughs.

Location

Scotland benefits from four CRDCs, based in Glasgow, Grampian, Lothian and Tayside. Together, they operate as a single, joined up and globally competitive network delivering commercial trials for the benefit of Scottish patients, the NHS and the economy.

This ‘once-for-Scotland’ approach allows the CRDCs to:

Increase the number of commercial research projects and enhance recruitment across Scotland
Access diverse and previously hard-to-reach populations across primary and secondary care
Provide a diverse portfolio of trial opportunities for the public to participate in
Access Principal Investigators (PIs) and academics from across Scotland, ensuring studies based anywhere in the country can benefit from the expertise of Scotland’s Medical Schools
Connect with life sciences innovation campuses, enabling close collaboration with biotech spinouts, SMEs and industry
Clearly articulate the Scottish offering to industry, highlighting world-leading expertise and capabilities
Access Scotland’s robust and secure Data Safe Haven environment, imaging capabilities, local and national biorepositories and precision biomarker infrastructure
Ensure strong relationships with the CRDC UK Network: this includes Glasgow CRDC’s Senior R&I Manager Chloe Cowan, representing the Devolved Administrations as CRDC UK Network Co-Director, and CRDC Scotland Directors appointed to co-lead data, activity, performance and operational services; plus research inclusion, skills, training and workforce development

Improving research inclusion

Scotland’s CDRCs also aim to help shift clinical trials into the community, improving research inclusion.

Our growing network of primary and secondary care ‘spokes’ (research locations receiving funding and support from CRDCs) widens the reach of the CRDCs to GP practices and smaller hospitals. They can work alongside CRDCs as part of a multi-site model or operate independently. This increases access to commercial research for remote, rural and underserved communities, encouraging more diverse patient recruitment.

A map of Scotland showing the various locations, spokes and network of the VPAG investment programme, as described in the surrounding text.

In primary care, commercial research is delivered through our Practice Embedded Research Units (PERUs). These are GP practices with research placed at the very heart of their activities. This ensures sustained commitment, reliable recruitment and integrated research capability. Each PERU GP practice is supported by experienced secondary care investigators and Health Board R&D teams who provide expert guidance on study set-up and delivery.

Improved engagement

The Scottish CRDCs are supported by a centralised team based within NHS Research Scotland (NRS) Central Management Team, which can be contacted using VPAG@nrs.org.uk. The team enhances support for commercial clinical trials in Scotland by:

Enabling one point of engagement with industry representatives for all centres
Effectively engaging with the current NRS and UK-wide feasibility services to build on current processes
- Feasibility approaches to CRDCs will be through the NRS feasibility service — if you require more information please contact feasibility@nrs.org.uk
Providing performance monitoring for studies across Scotland

This nationally coordinated model offers flexible delivery, inclusive recruitment, and strong governance support making Scotland an attractive and efficient environment for high-quality clinical research.

A UK and Scotland-wide collaboration

The Scottish CRDCs form part of the wider CRDC UK Network of 35 centres across the UK, designed to streamline commercial research delivery and strengthen the UK’s global competitiveness in life sciences. Scotland is committed to engaging with colleagues across the UK to enhance the environment for the placement and delivery of commercial clinical trials. This includes engaging and cooperating with the NIHR Industry Hub, working together to articulate and promote the UK-wide offering to industry whilst recognising the differing infrastructures within each nation. As part of the UK, Scotland will continually work towards improved predictability and consistency of delivery of commercial clinical trials.

Funding

The development of CRDCs in Scotland has been made possible through funding from the 2024 Voluntary scheme for branded medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) Investment Programme. The VPAG Investment programme is a unique joint public-private partnership to strengthen the UK’s global competitiveness in life science and innovation-led growth. One element of the programme is to support the delivery of commercial clinical trials across the UK by enhancing and expanding workforce capacity, resources and infrastructure to expedite delivery of commercial clinical trials in the UK.