• Fiona Thistlethwaite (NIHR Manchester CRF)
• Edel O’ Dea (Wellcome-HRB CRF, St James’s Hospital)
• Miryam Healy (Wellcome-HRB CRF, St James’s Hospital)
• Pennie Soutar (GMP Projects, CCTech)
• Antonella Ghezzi (NIHR Cambridge CRF)
• Finn Willingham (Northern Alliance ATTC )

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the unique features and challenges of cross-institutional ATMP trial delivery
• Identify recent regulatory updates and opportunities for collaboration
• Recognise the benefits of a collaborative approach to the biosafety risk assessment of ATMPs
• Learn about latest developments at the ATMP networks

• Jenny Crooks (CRDC UK Network)

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the complementary roles of CRDCs and CRFs in clinical research delivery
• Identify opportunities for collaboration that enhance efficiency and patient impact.
• Explore practical models for joint planning, resource sharing, and governance.
• Define actionable steps for strengthening local and national CRDC–CRF partnerships.

• Dr. Aideen O Doherty (University of Galway; HRB-CRF Galway and Institute for Clinical Trials)
• Dr. Tom Melvin (University of Galway and Institute for Clinical Trials)
• Aideen Beatty (University of Galway Institute for Clinical Trials
• Dr. Joanna McCarthy (Rare ClinReg® Consulting)

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the regulatory and ethical framework governing medical device trials.
• Gain insight into the end-to-end setup process for a medical device clinical investigation.
• Explore the key operational roles, responsibilities, and documentation requirements within a device trial.
• Demonstrate understanding of site readiness and infrastructure needs for medical device trials, including staff training, equipment, participant-facing technology, and data management systems required for highquality delivery.
• Gain insight into common challenges encountered in delivering medical device trials.
• Apply best practice approaches to participant engagement and trial conduct.

• Cassandra Dinius (Health Research Charities Ireland and Rare Disease Clinical Trial Network)
• Cat Harvey (Barts Health NHS Trust)
• Dani Nebres (NIHR King’s CRF)
• Peter Bampton (Public Contributor, NIHR King’s CRF)

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand key EDI concepts and implementation in practice and how they can be applied in clinical research settings, drawing on examples from the NIHR King’s CRF and Research Delivery Units training programme, including cultural intelligence, trans* awareness, and addressing health inequalities.
• Identify practical strategies to improve accessibility and inclusivity within clinical research and PPIE activities
• Explore approaches to co-producing training and publications with public involvement members, and consider effective ways of working with community partners and seldom-heard groups.
• Critically reflect on and evaluate the inclusiveness of existing PPI plans and activities, identifying gaps and opportunities for embedding EDI within participants’ own research or organisations.

• Dr. Finn Krewer (University of Galway)
• Mr. Adnan Hussain (University of Galway)
• Cathal Hanley (Institute of Clinical Trials)

Learning Outcomes:

• Gain insight into the technology behind Large Language Models (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude) and how LLMs have become so capable in the last 18 months and how they can be applied to clinical and secondary research
• Explore how to design and execute a clinical study to examine AI in clinical practice
• Learn concrete examples of how AI tools can improve efficiencies in the day-to-day work of staff involved in clinical trials
• Understand and apply the ‘Learning from the Experts’ session, including unlocking data and real-world data sets

• Gavin Hershaw (IQVIA)
• Helena Baker (NIHR Leeds CRF)

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the role of central laboratories within global clinical trials.
• Gain insight into the operational processes involved in sample handling, testing, and reporting within a central laboratory.
• Explore common perceptions and challenges experienced by clinical research sites when working with central laboratories.
• Learn how central laboratories and study sites can collaborate more effectively to improve study delivery and patient experience.
• Identify opportunities to improve communication, query resolution, and sample management across the research pathway.
• Develop a better understanding of how laboratory processes influence protocol compliance, data quality, and participant outcomes.

Disclosure: IQVIA Laboratories is also a sponsor of the conference. The content of this session was developed independently of the sponsorship arrangement and in partnership with the UKCRF Network Laboratory Manager’s Group.

• Jeev Gunasekera (Leicester BRC & CRF)
• Edel Murphy (University of Galway)
• Casey Donaghey (PPIE Contributor)

Learning Outcomes:

• Gain insight into the different perspectives of public contributors on PPI payments
• Appreciate the challenges and solutions of PPIE payments for public contributors
• Learn how to develop a realistic PPI budget
• Hear examples of how CRFs have implemented solutions to payment barriers
• Contribute to further work in this area

• Professor Stuart Elborn (Queens University Belfast)
• Professor Noel G McElvaney (Beaumont Hospital)
• Professor Rachel Crowley (University College Dublin)
• Dr. Kiran Reddy (St. Vincent’s University Hospital)
• Aoife Mac Curtain (University College Dublin Clinical Research Centre)

Learning Outcomes:

• Discuss examples of where patients have sought care or trial access across borders
• Understand the current landscape of cross-border clinical trial collaboration, including existing pathways and limitations, with examples from the Island of Ireland (EU Legal Representative role)
• Describe referral processes for enrolling trial patients across borders and identify barriers in accessing studies
• Understand the current regulatory landscape for clinical trials conducted in Ireland/EU and the UK
• Co-develop practical recommendations to improve connectivity, streamline processes, and enhance patient access to research

• Hayley Clark (NIHR Birmingham CRF)
• Rebecca Nicol (NIHR Nottingham CRF)
• Sharon Carr (Northern Ireland CRF)
• Megan Webb (NIHR Cambridge CRF)
• Marivic Ricamara (NIHR UCLH CRF)

Learning Outcomes:

• Explore key updates in Version 6 of the UKCRF Network Emergency Scenario Training Guidelines and the rationale for these changes.
• Explore effective strategies and approaches to support staff learning and engagement during emergency scenario training.
• Identify at least one priority action to enhance emergency scenario training within their own practice area

• James Gibson (Edinburgh CRF)
• Kim Lee (Southampton CRF)
• Jo Bagshaw (Bristol CRF)

Learning Outcomes:

• Gain an understanding of the key aspects of the Quality Assurance role in a CRF
• Learn how to begin creating and embedding quality management in a research facility
• Discover UKCRF Network tools designed to support the QA role and learn how they can be used
• Contribute ideas and suggestions for a new QA Role Outline tool to be developed by the QA Work Group
• Take part in a Q&A session

• Padraic Dunne (Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland)

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand what the evidence says about positive health and wellbeing
• Recognise how lifestyle medicine and behaviour change science support sustainable health improvements
• Identify one key pillar of health most relevant to them personally
• Leave with practical examples of small, achievable changes that can realistically fit into everyday working life

• Professor Ben Parker (NIHR Manchester CRF)
• Rebekah Taylor  (NIHR Guy’s and St Thomas’ CRF)
• Siobhan Costello (NIHR Guy’s and St Thomas’ CRF)
• Eve Watson  (NIHR Bristol CRF)
• Amelia Te (NIHR King’s CRF)
• Jason Domingo  (NIHR Cambridge CRF)

Learning Outcomes:

• Explore the expansion of advanced therapies beyond haematology and oncology, including emerging therapeutic areas and clinical indications across different specialties.
• Recognise the role of multidisciplinary collaboration across specialties in supporting the safe and effective delivery of AT(I)MP therapies.
• Gain insight into the patient journey and patient care experience associated with receiving AT(I)MP therapies across different clinical specialties.
• Reflect on how patient perspectives can inform service design and care pathways for the delivery of advanced therapies.

• Paul Brown (UKCRF Network)
• Joanne Plumb (University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust)
• Steve McSwiggan (Tayside Medical Science Centre)

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand how UK R&D Directorates operate within hospitals, including their governance structures, approval pathways, and integration with wider NHS Trust responsibilities.
• Examine models of collaboration between UK R&D teams and universities, identifying features that enable effective partnership working and considering which elements may translate well to the Irish context.
• Explore established approaches to capacity building within the UK, such as structured development pathways and workforce supports, and reflect on how comparable approaches could be adapted to strengthen capacity within Irish hospital and regional settings.
• Gain insight into the Research Passport system, how it supports academic researchers working in hospitals, and how similar streamlined processes could inform practices in Ireland.
• Understand how UK R&D offices interface with legal, data protection, information governance, and wider data infrastructure teams, and consider how strong data foundations can enable research activity at scale.
• Identify practical, high value opportunities that Irish hospitals and regions can adopt, focusing on approaches that are achievable within existing structures and that build momentum for developing R&D functions.
• Consider effective ways of communicating research needs and opportunities to stakeholders, supporting shared understanding and informed decisionmaking around future investment and development
• Gain a deeper understating into the UK R&D funding landscape and how this has evolved over time.

• Athene Lane (University of Bristol)
• Ian Knight (University of Galway)
• Sinead Callinan (IQVIA)

Learning Outcomes:

• Gain a practical understanding of the core principles, design features, and contractual considerations involved in decentralised and hybrid clinical trials; 

• Explore and discuss the real-world operational considerations required to deliver decentralised trials effectively and efficiently; 

• Learn from real-world case studies to identify the unique challenges and opportunities associated with decentralised clinical trials, including funding utilisation, rare disease populations, and evolving contracting models; 

• Examine why traditional contractual approaches may not always be suitable for decentralised trials, while developing practical insights into risk allocation and responsibility management; 

• Apply decentralised trial principles to a range of real-world scenarios, from early-phase studies through to Primary Care–based clinical trials; and 

• Consolidate learning through an interactive open-forum discussion, enabling participants to reflect, share perspectives, and address key questions arising from the session. 

• John Casey (Children’s Health Ireland CRC)
• Jake Bonner (NIHR Imperial CRF)
• Jordan Rossan (NIHR Royal Free CRF)
• Forough R Daneshmand (NIHR Birmingham CRF)

Learning Outcomes:

• Learn about ways in which aspects of research delivery are increasingly moving toward digital technologies
• Understand the regulatory expectations for computerised systems
• Gain insight through case studies into the practical challenges of moving from paper-based to electronic systems
• Explore and discuss the barriers and facilitators to transitioning to digital technologies.

• Sarah Marr (NIHR Oxford Health CRF)

Learning Outcomes:

• Learn how good communication strengthens research delivery, recruitment, public engagement, and partnerships.
• Understand simple, adaptable best‑practice guidance for non‑comms staff (e.g., writing clear participant-facing materials, contributing to comms stories, using images ethically, engaging with social media safely).
• Explore short case studies from CRFs demonstrating strong cross-team collaboration.
• Gain insight into a practical element such as rewriting a short piece of text or identifying suitable case study stories to support recruitment and visibility.

• Derval Reidy (HRB-Wellcome CRF, St James Hospital)
• Jo Merrifield (Edinburgh CRF)
• Simone Walsh (Irish Research Nurses and Midwives Network -IRNM)

Learning Outcomes:

• Identify what professionalism means in research nurses and midwifery, and work through two case studies, matching CPD opportunities to the skills/experience.
• Learn about alternative ways to earn CPD points, outside of mainstream courses.
• Understand the CPD requirements in Ireland and the UK, and how the legal obligation of earning CPD in Ireland is being implemented for research nurses and midwives.
• Build the UKCRF CPD database for new and alternative opportunities.

• Laura Brady (Irish Platform for Patients Organisations, Science & Industry)
• Loes Knaapen (Irish Platform for Patients Organisations, Science & Industry)
• Alan McMichael (Health and Safety Executive)
• Margaret Grayson (Public Contributor)
• Sidra Malik (Member, ENGAGE Public Contributor Group, Oxford)
• Angela Conlan (NIHR Oxford Health CRF)

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand what effective community engagement looks like
• Learn how to map relevant communities and stakeholders
• Identify practical approaches and engagement methods to meet specific community needs
• Hear case studies on co-designing community engagement events
• Learn how to evaluate impact and effectiveness of community engagement

• Jess Radcliff Crags (NIHR)
• Janice Patterson (NIHR)

Learning Outcomes:

• Turn everyday practice into development opportunities – recognise flexible learning opportunities in real-world research delivery, not just formal training
• Discuss the first steps into leadership and developing a culture of curiosity and improvement
• Explore how continuous learning and leadership behaviours enhance the impact of the CRP and other roles within the research workforce
• Unlock the full potential of NIHR Learn –from learning to building communities and networks: find the right resources quickly and use them to drive your CPD and team development

• Naomi Hickey (Glasgow CRF)
• Sue Stockdale (TBC)
• Judy Bradley (The Wellcome Trust-Wolfson Northern Ireland CRF)
• Bronwen Connolly (Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine)
• Lucy Cooper (Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation Trust)
• Katherine O’Neil (iREACH Health)

Learning Outcomes:

• Recognise the key updates to the new UK GCP regulations relevant to the PI role
• Hear first-hand insights from experienced nonmedic PIs about their journey, leadership development, and practical strategies for trial delivery.
• Explore how CRFs can strengthen support for nonmedic PIs and share group reflections.
• Engage in Q&A to clarify issues, explore solutions, and identify any next steps for PI leadership.

Dear delegate  
There will be a Q&A session as part of  this session, please send your questions to Katherine O’Neil ([email protected]) by Wednesday 1st July 2026. 

• Karl Ward (NIHR Leeds CRF)

Learning Outcomes:

• Explore how recent changes to clinical trials regulations are affecting the setup and delivery of studies across different roles and settings.
• Consider the practical implications of the regulatory changes.
• Discuss common challenges and positive impacts of the new regulations.
• Share experiences and good practices emerging as the new regulations are implemented.

• Katie Nathan (Alzheimer’s Society)
• Chris Larkin (Alzheimer’s Society)
• Caroline Leech (NIHR Manchester CRF)
• Laurie Baylor Curtis (Quell Therapeutics Ltd)
• Aideen O Doherty (HRC CRF, Galway)

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the key factors that contribute to successful CRF–industry partnerships in clinical trial delivery.
• Recognise and learn from exemplary CRF–industry collaborations across the network.
• Identify opportunities to enhance trial efficiency, quality, and patient impact through industry partnerships.
• Explore practical strategies for overcoming challenges and fostering effective collaboration.
• Define actionable steps for developing effective industry partnerships
• Engage with peers and industry experts to share experiences and celebrate successes

A Slido Q&A will be available throughout so that questions can be added in real time during the session; these will be grouped into themes during the session, ready for the Q&A.

• Sittana Abdelmagid (Alzheimer’s Society)
• Cormac Kennedy (Wellcome-HRB CRF, St James’s Hospital)
• Louise Conway (Wellcome-HRB CRF, St James’s Hospital)
• Lauren Ellis (Wellcome-HRB CRF, St James’s Hospital)
• Emer Moore (SUPPORT Participant Representative)
• Lorraine Hodsdon (NIHR GOSH CRF)
• Caitlin O’Hagan (NIHR Moorfields CRF)

Learning Outcomes:

• Gain insight into research delivery staff and participants’ experiences of trial journeys completion
• Hear practical examples of CRFs improving the research participants end of study experience
• Learn about the workstreams of the UKCRF Network Clinical Research Delivery Group (WP3) ‘End of Study’ Sub-Group to improve end of study experiences
• Work with others to identify challenges and potential solutions to participants’ end of study experiences

• Seamus O’Reilly (University College Cork)
• Roisin Breen (Health and Safety Executive)
• Jack O’Grady (Impact Laboratories)
• Aifric O’Sullivan (University College Dublin)
• Charles Joly (Wellcome Trust)
• Hannah Short (University of Liverpool)
• Patrick Kivlehan (Patient Partner, Cancer Trials Ireland)

Learning Outcomes:

• Become aware of resources to integrate sustainability into research practice
• Learn how clinical research efforts can cascade into sustainable healthcare
• Understand barriers and facilitators to integrating sustainability into how we work
• Gain insight into the role of clinical trials in lifestyle change
• Discover the impact of successful laboratory based initiatives
• Explore evolving sustainability touch points such as Artificial Intelligence, Microplastics

• Norah Cassidy (Health Products Regulatory Authority)
• Kishor Santhosh (Wellcome HRB CRF)
• Mel Dhanaratne (NIHR UCLH CRF)
• Sarah Ruiz (NIHR GSTT CRF)

Learning Outcomes:

• Gain an insight into the purpose of GCP inspection interviews and how they are conducted
• Learn from an HPRA GCP Inspector about the expectations of regulators
• Discover tips on how to answer questions and conduct yourself during an interview
• Take part in a Q&A session with a panel including an HPRA GCP Inspector and CRF QA Managers

To help us prepare for the session, we would love you to submit your questions for the panel in advance, using the following link: GCP Inspection Interviews Session – Submit Questions for the Panel. These can be about any aspect of GCP inspections, but questions relating to interviews specifically will be prioritised.

You may submit as many questions as you like. However, please note that we may group questions and may not be able to answer all during the session. The deadline for submissions is 17:00 on Wednesday 1^st July. Any questions submitted after this time may not be considered for inclusion in the session.

• Susanne Cathcart (Glasgow CRF)
• Megan Webb (NIHR Cambridge CRF)
• Naomi Hickey (Glasgow CRF)

Learning Outcomes:

• Be introduced to the UKCRF Network leadership toolkit
• Reflect on personal leadership styles and recognise how different approaches influence engagement and performance in clinical research settings.
• Identify practical actions to strengthen leadership within their own teams and organisations
• Take part in Q&A

• Derval Reidy  (HRB-Wellcome CRF St James’s Hospital)
• Jo Merrifield (Edinburgh CRF)

Learning Outcomes:

• Explore issues, conflicts and errors that arise in an investigators site file.
• Gain insights on how to manage and correct ISF issues, conflicts and errors
• Delegate experience and feedback will support the development of an ISF that can be used for educational and orientation purposes.

• Katie Robinson (University of Limerick)
• Frances Shiely (HRB CRF, University College Cork)
• Julia Louw (University of Galway)
• Emma Kirwan (University of Galway)

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand key barriers that limit the participation of under-served populations in clinical trials.
• Gain insight into practical strategies for designing and delivering more inclusive clinical trials.
• Learn about methodological innovations and tools that support equity, diversity and inclusion in clinical research.
• Explore examples of initiatives and training programmes aimed at improving inclusive trial design and conduct.
• Identify approaches that can be applied within their own research to improve representation and engagement in clinical trials.

• Camille Poisson (Trinity College Dublin)
• Annie MacDonald (HELUS PHARMA)
• Lisa Coakley (Trinity College Dublin Psychedelic Research Group – TTPRG)
• Kete Campbell-Coker (NIHR King’s CRF, London)
• Susanne Fagerbrink (NIHR Imperial CRF, London)
• Edel O’Dea (Wellcome HRB CRF, St. James’s Hospital)

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand and learn about the regulatory requirements needed to be in place prior to study start and the differences between UK and EU regulations,
• Explore specific aspects surrounding the pharmaceutical management of these novel drugs,
• Design a clinical space dedicated to psychedelic studies,
• Understand the clinical therapeutic requirements that are needed to support participants in their trial, specifically during a dosing visit.

• Liz Farsaci (Trinity College Dublin)
• Cat Harvey (Barts Health NHS Trust)
• Neeta Patel (Barts Health NHS Trust)
• Jo Oliver (Barts Health NHS Trust)
• Mays Jawad (Barts Health NHS Trust)
• Anna Farina (Public Contributor, Barts Health NHS Trust)

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand two key impact frameworks/projects: PPI Ignite Impact Framework and Research Stories Project (Barts Health NHS Trust)
• Describe different types of PPI impact and how to effectively capture and measure impact e.g. via structured evaluation surveys
• Discuss effective methods of creatively communicating PPI impact e.g. via storytelling

• Professor Rachel Crowley (University College Dublin)
• Suzanne McCormick (Rare Disease Clinical Trial Network)
• Professor Mark Sherlock (Beaumont Hospital)
• Dierdre Gallagher (Children’s Health Ireland)
• Liz Molloy (Brighter Hope Foundation & Rare Disease Advocate)

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the challenges of Rare Disease Research
• Learn the importance of International Registries and cross-border collaboration in Rare Disease Clinical Research
• Gain insights from a patient’s perspective