CRN WM Funding Model

The NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) is directly funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). CRN West Midlands which is part of the NIHR CRN, received £29,375,535 in 23/24 as part of this funding.

A detailed breakdown of the funding allocation for CRN West Midlands for the financial year 23/24 is outlined below:

Included in this allocation is the ring fenced spend on Transformation of Research Delivery and a minimum of 2% on targeting underserved communities. This is following the DHSC directive.

Table 2: Local Funding Breakdown 2023/24

Local Funding Model 23/24 used in West Midlands

Throughout the year at the Parthership Group (PG) in West Midlands this issue was discussed with the Partner Organisations voting for Stable Funding across the network as this enforces stability for the POs. Other projects such as strategic and Research Scholar funding also increases recruitment across the network and ensures all areas of research are funded. In previous years we had a cap and collar of -5% and+10% decrease/increase compared to previous years core funding, but the partnership board agreed to have stable funding therefore there was no cap or collar, just a rollover of the same amount of core funding as previous year funding which is now being followed.

Nationally Top Slice is PRIDES and National Speciality Groups but at West Midlands Top Slice refers to the funding used for other projects

Fixed - based on previous years allocations plus salary uplift

No cap and collar approach

Variable - this is for projects such as Research Scholars/Strategic Funding

Duration - 1 year until the end of contract in March 2024.