Turn your GP practice into a research Active site
Research delivery GP practice Course
A practical step by step programme for NHS GP partners, practice managers, ICBs and federations that want to become research active, win commercial studies and generate a reliable new income stream while improving patient care.
Built by Research Lead UK GP who has taken practices from zero to fully research active across NIHR portfolio and commercial trials.
Stop watching research income flow past your practice
Most UK practices want to be research active – but the pathway is opaque, the paperwork feels intimidating and nobody has time to reinvent the wheel.
No clear roadmap from "interested" to delivering your own commercial trials
Concerns about extra workload on already stretched clinical and admin teams
Uncertainty about data, governance, indemnity, CQC expectations and NIHR processes
ICBs and federations unsure how to coordinate research at scale across member practices
This course gives you the exact frameworks, templates and governance blueprint we have used in NHS practices so you can move from ad hoc feasibility emails to a structured research programme that makes research self sustainable.
By the end of the course you will be able to:
- Design a research strategy for your practice or federation aligned with NHS and ICB priorities
- Set up governance, SOPs and templates to safely deliver commercial and NIHR studies
- Confidently respond to feasibility requests and negotiate realistic recruitment and income
- Plan workforce, clinics and space so research supports – not disrupts – core GP services
- Model realistic income scenarios for your list size and local population
- Progress towards becoming an independent clinical trials site in primary care
You leave with a ready-to-implement action plan tailored to your practice or network not just theory.
What a research-active practice looks like in 12–24 months
This course is designed to help you move progressively from "research naive" to running your own portfolio of primary care studies.
Stage 1 · Foundations
Month 0–6
Lay the groundwork and become a research active site for NIHR and industry sponsors.
Clear research strategy signed off by partners or board
Named research lead and role descriptions and responsibilities
Core SOPs, templates and governance pack in place
First NIHR portfolio studies opened with support from local your local RRDN
Stage 2 · Growth
Month 6–12
Build predictable income and refine your delivery model.
Multiple studies open concurrently with clear recruitment plans
Practice processes for screening, consent and follow up running smoothly
Documented income from research activity feeding into practice budgets
Positive patient feedback and CQC-friendly evidence of research culture
Submitting funding bids to NIHR to increase research capacity
Stage 3 · Independent trials
Year 1–2
Position your practice or network as an independent trials site.
Proven track record of delivery and data quality for sponsors
Ability to negotiate and deliver commercial trials
Embedded research roles (e.g. research nurse/data manager) within your team
Research champions in team and patient groups
Robust governance and QA processes audited against trial requirements
Is this course right for you?
The GP Research Income Course is built for leadership teams who want research to be a strategic pillar not an occasional nice to have project.
We recommend at least two people from each organisation: a GP/clinical lead and an operational lead (e.g. practice manager or federation COO).
Perfect fit if you are:
- An NHS GP partner wanting to diversify income and improve retention
- A practice manager tasked with making your site research ready
- An ICB lead responsible for developing primary care research capacity
- A federation building a central research unit for member practices
Not a good fit if you:
Want a passive, hands off income scheme with no clinical oversight
Are unable to ringfence any leadership or admin time for research
Only want a single one off study rather than a sustainable programme
Inside the GP Research Course
Curriculum designed around real UK primary care delivery
Six structured modules delivered live and on-demand over 8 weeks, with templates you can lift straight into your practice policies and contracts.
Time commitment: ~2 hours/week on-demand plus optional implementation time with your team.
Format: Online.
Module 1 · The UK primary care research landscape How NIHR, CRNs, ICBs, federations, universities and industry sponsors fit together. Where income actually flows, and how practices are contracted and reimbursed.
Module 2 · Governance, risk and CQC assurance Building a compliant research governance framework: SOPs, delegation logs, training records, consent, data protection, indemnity and how to evidence this to CQC and your ICB.
Module 3 · Operational delivery in a busy practice Workflows for screening, invitations, clinics and follow-up that fit around QOF, enhanced services and routine demand. Role design for research nurses, GPs and admin staff.
Module 4 · Finance, contracts and commercial negotiation How to read study budgets, understand per-patient tariffs, negotiate set-up fees and overheads, and build practice-level income scenarios you can defend at partners' meeting.
Module 5 · Scaling across networks, ICBs and federations Models for hub-and-spoke delivery, central coordination, and fair income distribution across practices whilst maintaining quality and governance.
Module 6 · Becoming an independent trials site What industry sponsors look for, how to pitch your practice/federation, building a track record, and preparing for monitoring, audits and long-term partnerships.
What you get
8 weeks of structured teaching with recordings
Downloadable SOPs, templates and checklists
Practice research income modelling tools
Live Q&A sessions with experienced GP
Optional reviews of your research plan
Meet your course lead
Created by practising UK GP and Research Delivery leader
Dr. Fatima Tahir is a UK trained GP with over 15 years experience of working in NHS as well as private practice. She has led research teams in primary care, established PCNs to become independently research active delivering multiple trials working in close collaboration with sponsors and NIHR RRDN as well as secondary care teams. Dr. Tahir has trained GP colleagues and nurses to become qualified research members of the team which enabled the practices to deliver studies at scale.
You will learn all the skills in this course which would help your practice or organisation to deliver research trials at scale to generate income and improve patient care through research
Secure enrolment into the course
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Frequently asked questions about research
We understand there are many questions when you are starting to step into research. These are common questions asked.
How quickly could our practice realistically see research income?
It varies by list size, existing relationships and local CRN support. Many practices open their first studies within 3–6 months of starting to implement what we teach. Income typically follows 3–12 months after that as recruitment ramps up. The course focuses on building a pipeline of opportunities so research becomes a recurring income stream, not a one-off project.
Will this add unsafe workload to already stretched teams?
A core part of the curriculum is designing delivery models that protect core GP work. We cover practical options: protected research sessions, dedicated research nurses, remote visits where appropriate, and realistic recruitment targets. You will build a workforce plan so research time is explicit and funded, not just bolted on to existing clinics.
Is this aligned with NIHR and NHS guidance?
Yes. The governance frameworks, SOPs and templates are aligned with NIHR good clinical practice (GCP) principles, HRA expectations and CQC guidance on research. You will still adapt documents to your local policies, but you are not starting from scratch.
Can we share course materials across our ICB or federation?
Your licence type defines where templates and tools can be used: a single practice, a defined federation/PCN, or a wider ICB footprint. We will clarify this in your agreement so you can share appropriately while respecting IP.
What if we cannot attend some live sessions?
All core teaching sessions are recorded and available on-demand for your cohort. Q&A calls are also recorded so you can catch up. You will have access to a private course area to revisit materials whenever needed.
Make research a core part of your practice, not an afterthought
Enrol your practice onto the GP Research Course and build a research programme that improves care, attracts staff and pays for itself.