Dorset’s first specialist primary care commercial research centre
Poole-based GP surgery becomes official NIHR Primary Care Commercial Research Delivery Centre (PC-CRDC)
The Adam Practice has been research active for several years, working closely with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and regional organisations such as Wessex Health Partners to improve patient care through health research.
Becoming an officially-funded centre is part of national efforts to extend clinical trials beyond hospitals and into community settings, opening up high-quality research trials to many more people.
The new centres will support the shift of health research from hospitals into community settings. They will enhance access to clinical trials for people across England, particularly those in underserved groups and communities experiencing the greatest burden of ill health.
By ensuring fairer access to cutting-edge treatments and innovations such as medicines and vaccines through research, the centres aim to help people live healthier, longer lives.
The Adam Practice's research is driven by a commitment to advancing medical knowledge, improving treatments, and offering patients access to innovative therapies. The team has a strong focus on chronic disease management and preventative care. In recent years they have undertaken a wide range of studies including new treatments for migraine, diabetes, cardiovascular risk and obesity. Patients taking part might help trial new medication, try out a new device or simply answer questionnaires.
As part of this new centre, The Adam Practice will be working with several other practices to extend research opportunities to more people.
Quarter Jack Surgery, Wimborne
Poole North Primary Care Network (PCN)
Dr Patrick Moore, Director of the NIHR Dorset Primary Care Commercial Research Delivery Centre (PC-CRDC), said: “We are incredibly proud to have been selected to lead this important new centre. This award recognises the strength of primary care research in Dorset and will bring real benefits to patients across the region. By delivering more clinical trials through GP surgeries and local health settings, we can give people earlier access to cutting-edge treatments and ensure research reflects the needs of our communities. We look forward to working with patients, practices, and partners to make research more accessible, inclusive and part of everyday care.”
Rebecca Cutts, Co-Director of the NIHR Dorset Primary Care Commercial Research Delivery Centre and Clinical Research Nurse Lead, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to grow the reach of research across Dorset and ensure that everyone has the chance to take part. Our focus will be on supporting practices, training new staff and removing barriers that stop people getting involved. We want to make it easier for patients to contribute to research close to home, whether in their GP surgery, the community, or even from home. This centre will put Dorset at the forefront of patient-centred, primary care research.”
Being research active means The Adam Practice can:
- Improve patient outcomes: clinical research helps discover new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat conditions, ultimately improving quality of life
- Offer access to innovation: patients can participate in trials, sometimes gaining early access to new treatments not yet widely available
- Benefit communities: working with local networks ensures that research opportunities are accessible to a wider population, not just a select few
The practice joins 13 other centres in becoming a PC-CRDC. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has awarded more than £14 million to GP-led primary care organisations across England to expand commercial research delivery and improve access to groundbreaking clinical trials.
The PC-CRDCs will form part of the NIHR-funded Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC) UK Network, alongside the 21 CRDCs established in April 2025. Together these centres will work with industry, NHS delivery partners, other research delivery infrastructure and wider stakeholders to increase the attractiveness of the UK as a desirable global destination to carry out commercial research.
Visit the Be Part of Research website to learn more about research, search for opportunities and sign up to be contacted about studies that interest you.
The mission of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. We do this by:
- Funding high quality, timely research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care
- Investing in world-class expertise, facilities and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services;
- Partnering with patients, service users, carers and communities, improving the relevance, quality and impact of our research;
- Attracting, training and supporting the best researchers to tackle complex health and social care challenges;
- Collaborating with other public funders, charities and industry to help shape a cohesive and globally competitive research system;
- Funding applied global health research and training to meet the needs of the poorest people in low and middle income countries.
NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. Its work in low and middle income countries is principally funded through UK international development funding from the UK government.
