Clinical Directors appointed for the NIHR Clinical Research Network

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Professor David Goldsmith and Professor Steve Devereux as joint Clinical Directors of the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network for South London (CRN: South London). 

As Clinical Directors, Professor Goldsmith and Professor Devereux will be responsible for boosting the level of clinical engagement in research across the patch, ensuring that studies are carried out efficiently, and maximizing the opportunities for patients to participate in a study that could benefit them.

Professors Goldsmith and Devereux will take up the role on 1 April 2014, bringing a wealth of experience to the post.

Professor Goldsmith, a consultant nephrologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’, says: "We know that people want the NHS to carry out health research. The CRN: South London will help us to do this by providing more opportunities for local patients to become involved in studies and trials, wherever in south London they are seen and treated."

Professor Devereux, a consultant haematologist at King’s College Hospital and a professor of lymphoma biology at King’s College London, says: “I am pleased to have been appointed to this interesting and challenging post. Clinical research is a key component of quality healthcare and I look forward to helping ensure that as many patients as possible have the chance to participate.”

The CRN: South London is hosted by Guy’s and St Thomas’. Professor Charles Wolfe, Director of Research and Development at the Trust, says: “The CRN: South London starts in a strong position nationally. We look forward to working with Steve and David to influence the national clinical research network and deliver high quality health research to benefit our local communities.”

Dr Jonathan Sheffield, Chief Executive of the NIHR Clinical Research Network nationally, says: “Clinical research provides vital evidence to help us to improve treatments for NHS patients, so it is extremely important that we have great local leaders to encourage doctors, nurses and managers to make clinical research part of the standard treatment options for all patients.”

The NIHR Clinical Research Network is the clinical research delivery arm of the NHS, and last year was responsible for helping more than 630,000 patients to take part in research studies that contribute towards improving treatments for the future.