Paediatric Specialty Group
What is the Paediatric Specialty Group (PSG)?
The MCRN only supports paediatric research involving or relating to medicines. Non medicinal paediatric research that is eligible for the NIHR study portfolio is now termed Paediatric (Non Medicines) Specialty Group Research (PSG) and is a specialty group within the Comprehensive Research Network. PSG does not include cancer as these studies fall within the Cancer Research Network.
What does this mean locally?
At a local level, PSG activity is funded via local Comprehensive Research Networks which award money according to activity, i.e. recruitment into PSG studies. In our region, both the Greater Manchester and the Cumbria & Lancashire Comprehensive Local Research Networks have identified PSG research as an area they wish to invest in and have encouraged our network to oversee both MCRN and the PSG.
This joined up approach to paediatric research will allow us to use the experience and infrastructure of our network to support the PSG portfolio and offer a less confusing backdrop for conducting research in children in our region.
We aim to offer similar services as for our MCRN portfolio, such as support for study development; approvals; set up; study management (dependent on resources available) and training.
Our PSG portfolio is additionally supported by PSG co-ordinator Laura Crowther (laura.crowther@cmft.nhs.uk). We also have three PSG Research Leads who assist in the development of the portfolio.
What is on the PSG portfolio?
We can only support PSG studies on the NIHR Clinical Research Network Study Portfolio and so adoption of eligible studies onto the NIHR PSG portfolio is crucial as it allows us to provide support and attract additional funding from the local Comprehensive Research Networks for this activity. We are still seeking suitable locally developed studies to submit for adoption, so please get in touch if you are involved in such a study.
Our region has significant PSG activity, much of it led out of Manchester. However, the cross cutting nature of paediatrics means that many PSG studies are co-adopted with other adult based specialty groups (e.g. respiratory).
Our region has significant PSG activity, much of it led out of Manchester. However, the cross cutting nature of paediatrics means that many PSG studies are co-adopted with other adult based specialty groups (e.g. respiratory).
