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What is a Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC)?

A Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC) is a dedicated NHS-embedded research delivery unit that supports the delivery of commercial clinical research.

CRDCs bring together the infrastructure, workforce and expertise required to deliver commercial trials across a range of care settings. Majority of CRDCs work across a regional system and provide enhanced leadership, mentorship and resources to support green shoot sites to deliver high quality research. This supports the opportunity increase recruitment potential and address capacity issues across the NHS.

Where CRDCs operate

Primary care

Secondary (hospital) care

Specialist services

Community settings

This enables research to be delivered across different parts of the healthcare system.

CRDCs provide:

  • Dedicated and experienced research delivery teams
  • Workforce capacity across pharmacy, nursing and specialist roles
  • Specialities and resources across multiple clinical areas
  • Infrastructure to support study set-up and delivery
  • Experienced Principal Investigators and Key Opinion Leaders

Access and participation

By operating across a range of care settings, including community and primary care, CRDCs support broader access and greater opportunities for research participation.

CRDC UK Network news

18 June 2026

CRDC UK Network Director awarded Damehood in King’s Birthday Honours List

World leading type 2 diabetes and obesity expert, Professor Melanie Davies CBEhas become a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) ...

23 March 2026

Helping make the UK globally competitive in data-enabled digital trials

The CRDC UK Network is in full support of the ABPI’s new report, published 23 March 2026,

25 February 2026

CRDC trials innovative approach to making research accessible

A new digital initiative in Cambridgeshire is helping to change the way patients learn about taking part in clinical research.

01 December 2025

Network director takes up post to accelerate commercial research in the UK

Jenny Crooks has today joined the CRDC UK Network as Network Operations Director.