This document discusses ways to improve clinical research in Ireland using University Hospital Limerick and the University of Limerick as a case study. It argues that linking hospitals to universities through a medical school and research programs benefits patients, staff, the university and local industry. Specifically, it advocates establishing a Health Research Institute that brings together researchers from various departments at the University of Limerick and University Hospital Limerick. This would help build critical research capacity, strengthen governance and infrastructure for clinical research, and foster collaboration across specialties. The benefits would include improving patient care, attracting and retaining talented staff, generating additional revenue, and boosting the national and international reputation of both institutions.

1. How do WE improve
Clinical Research In Ireland?
Austin G. Stack
Professor and Chair of Medicine,
University Hospital Limerick,
Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick
Oct 13 2015

2. Vision
.
To be a world-class health system
Enable world-class health research
(support, facilitate, enable)

3. Mission of Healthcare Institution
Support
Research
Clinical Care
Medical Education

4. Research-Active hospitals benefit
…
UHL Patients  Better care
UHL Staff  Better staff
 Attractive element
 Better doctor and better students
 Expanded revenue sources
UL Medical
School
 Training ground
University of
Limerick
 Expanded research network
 Access to patient populations
 Clinical Research Facility
Local industry  Commerce

5. County hospitals
 Service delivery only
 No research support services
 No research programmes
 No critical mass
 No protected time
 No incentives for research
 Little prospects of career
progression
University Hospitals
 Research activity & Programmes
 Academic scholarship
 Critical mass
 Protected research time
 Incentivise research
 Rewards research activities
 Career Progression
 National & international profile
County Hospital vs University
Hospital

6. Ingredients for a Successful
Hospital (Healthcare
Institution)
 Links to a University
 Medical, Nursing, Pharmacy, Schools
 Research Programmes
 Clinical Research Centre (CRC)
 Strong Academic Leadership
 Interdependence, Symbiosis
 Academic Health Centre's: clusters of hospitals

7. How do WE improve
Clinical Research In Ireland?
=
What are the CHALLENGES of
conducting Research?

9. Challenges in Conducting Research
Research workforce
Organisational Framework
2008
Changing Systems
& Structures (HSE)
Funding Stream
Ineffective governance
Poor Guidance and support
Resources
Don’t have the right people

10. Question 1: Is it important?
Where is Research on the Hospital Executive
Agenda?
How often does it come up in discussion?
Daily Trolley Count
OPD Wait Lists
Cancer care and diagnostics
Surgery list cancellations
Nursing shortage
NCHD EWTD
Quality Improvement

11. Question 2: Is there a clear roadmap?
2008

12. Question 3: Is there a strong
regulatory framework in place?
HRI
Office
CAO
HRI
CRSU
University of
Limerick
UL Hospitals/ Primary
Care /Public Health
Oversight committee
UL/UL Hospitals CRU
CRU Management Board

13. Collaborator?
Recruitment group?
Legislation?
Sponsorship?
CRF?
Ethics approval?
Trial registration?
Randomisation?
Access to participants?
Study follow up?
Regulatory approval?
Access to reports?
Phlebotomy services?
Insurance?
Study documentation?
Question 4: Is the Infrastructure in
Place

14. Case Study:
National Kidney
Disease Surveillance
System

15. Getting Sign off from the
Stakeholders
Organisation
Contacts
Meetings
Lots of Time
1. Academic Partners (UCC, U of M)
2. State Agencies
CSO, Health Intelligence
3. Data Protection Office
4. Data Controllers
5. Ethics Committee Approval
6. HSE Approval
7. UL Approval
8. Data Coordination Centre (DCC)

16. Company Name: National Kidney Disease Surveillance System
Ref Number: 13551/A
Reg Type: DP
Company Address: Graduate Entry Medical School (GEMS) University of Limerick
Contact: Maria Connolly
Purpose:
Continuation Due
Date:
13/03/2016
Description:
Disclosees:
Transfers Abroad: None
Registry Details for 'National Kidney Disease Surveillance System'

17. Landscape has changed…

18. UL Hospitals & University of
Limerick
3 Counties –
Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary
387,000 population

19. A New Medical School….

20. With Benefits…
1. New Academic appointments and research personnel
2. Strengthened relationships
3. Substantial Investment
4. “University Hospital” status
5. Expanded hospital network
6. Expanded Primary care network

21. Our Graduates…

22. Projected cost:
€218m
Kappavilla Student Village €35m
World Music & Dance €21m
New Facility for ICO € 4m
Kemmy Business School €11m
Languages Building €12m
Living Bridge €15m
Boathouse € 4.3m
Medical School
on campus €19m
off campus €11m
Extension to Sports Arena €18m
Sports Training Pitches €17.4m
Industrial Enterprise Centre €11m
Upgrade to Phys Ed building €11m
Library Extension €29m
Recent/On-Going Physical Developments

23. Improving Clinical
Infrastructure…

24. Clinical Education &
Research Centre (CERC)
Size: 3,442 sq.m.
Cost: €13 m
Completion Date: Sept ‘16

25. THIRD FLOOR: - Research Area

26. Real Opportunities
 Research Strategy for the UHL
 connectivity
 Compete for Research funding
 Increase Academic Appointments
 Increase Programme Competitiveness
 Enable growth and development

27. Working together for our future

28. Innovation through
Partnership

29. UL Hospitals Research
Symposium 2015

30. Health Research Institute (HRI)
“Leading on Health Research”
Oct 13th
2015

31. Thematic Focus
Biostatistics & EpidemiologyBiostatistics & Epidemiology
Administrative Core, Regulatory and Legal CoreAdministrative Core, Regulatory and Legal Core
Technology and HealthTechnology and Health Health ServicesHealth ServicesLifestyle and HealthLifestyle and Health
Health Economics (HTA)Health Economics (HTA) Health InformaticsHealth Informatics
Health Relevance
Expertise, Synergies, Collaborations, INTERNAL and EXTERNAL
Health Relevance
Expertise, Synergies, Collaborations, INTERNAL and EXTERNAL

32. HRI to succeed
CAPACITY
Lecturer in Medicine 1998-2001
CRITICAL MASS
CAPABILITY
2008
RELEVANCE
COLLABORATION
CREDIBILITY

33. How to improve Clinical
Research?
1. Escalate research up the Executive Agenda
2. Build a clear roadmap
3. Get alignment of stakeholders
4. Embed and strengthen governance
5. Invest locally (% of annual budget)
6. Remove Obstacles, Empower & Facilitate
7. Use research to improve the health system

35. Benefits
o Me, You, Department, Hospital, University
o Improve health care delivery & outcomes (Patients)
o Smarter workforce: Attracting and Retaining
o Team & departmental expansion (critical mass)
o Revenue Generation: Funding opportunities and revenue
o Nurture the Clinical and Science interface
o National and international recognition

36. HRI: Strategic Collaborations