Staff Resources & Support

• Clinical Director:
• Manager: Lynn Prentice
• Lead Nurse: Karen Duffy
• Education, Training & Quality Lead: Naomi Hickey
• Lead Research Radiographer: Tracey Hopkins
• Project Management Unit Lead: Lynsey Gillespie

For more information visit our webpages on the NHS Research Scotland website or email us Glasgow.crf@ggc.scot.nhs.uk and follow us on twitter @GlasgowCRF

Application Flow

NHS GG&C has responsibility to ensure that there are appropriate governance arrangements in place for any commercially funded research, thus ensuring that:

• The interests and safety of patients enrolled in trials are protected in all eventualities 
• All trials are fully costed and that the costs are properly recovered
• Maximum benefit is provided to the investigator and to the board
• The interests of both the investigator and the board are protected in the event of Intellectual Property arising out of research
• Any external regulatory, ethical and financial approvals are obtained
• Any risks (liabilities) are properly considered and minimised
• The board presents a thoroughly professional approach in its dealings with industry.

In order to ensure Governance of commercial projects, all studies must receive Management approval. Only protocols and trials approved by the R&I Management Office will be covered by the appropriate insurance or NHS indemnity arrangements and the Board will not accept liability for any activity that has not been approved. This website contains a practical guide to help you navigate the R&I process and highlights key steps required to get your research project up and running. Please refer to this flow diagram for additional information on specific aspects of your R&I application

Investigators

If you have been approached to participate in a commercial research study your first port of call should be your Research Co-ordinator. The Co-ordinator will be able to advise on the steps required to get up and running, and will take over negotiations over fees and contracts with the company concerned. With your help the Co-ordinator should be able to manage the approval process from start to finish.

Companies

If you would like to run a study within NHS GG&C please contact the relevant Research Co-ordinator who will be able to advise on the best way to submit an R&I application.

Documents

In order to gain R&I approval as quickly as possible, we advise that you submit to R&I as early as possible. We are happy to receive documents as they become available, this will allow us to look at your application and progress quickly. The very minimum we require to start our process is a copy of the protocol and proposed budget. A checklist of documents required for R&I approval, and a documentation guide, can be downloaded here:

• R&I Document Checklist
• R&I Documentation Guide

Engage Support Departments

Once we have identified what support departments will be involved in the study we can contact the relevant personnel for confirmation of costs and approval for research to be conducted within the department

Once a copy of the protocol has been submitted to R&I the Research Co-ordinator can begin costing the project. Costs associated with a research project are calculated on the staff time required and on the allocated price for procedures. The Research Co-ordinator will usually work closely with the research team to ensure that time required to complete the study is accurately captured. The project costing is then sent to R&I finance and the investigator for approval. If required, the Research Co-ordinator can negotiate fees with the commercial company. Details of some of the fixed fees, payment details and wording for the remittance section of the contract can be downloaded here: CTA Finance Template

Before any commercial study can proceed within NHS GG&C a written agreement between the Board and the commercial company should be signed by both parties. Contracts should only be negotiated by Research Co-ordinators and are signed by an R&I director. The agreement should define the following: 

• Scope of work 
• Acceptable payment arrangements
• Important issues such as the right to publish results
• Protection of confidential information
• Indemnification of third parties.   

To help facilitate timely completion of the appropriate contractual documentation, the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and the Department of Health have developed, and published, a model Clinical Trials Agreement (mCTA) as a standard contractual framework for commercial trials involving NHS patients. To incorporate slight differences in Scottish Law and policy, a revised mCTA for use in Scotland has been developed. All legal agreements between the Board and commercial companies should be governed by the laws of Scotland. Legal advice on any aspect of the mCTA can be obtained from the CLO. Examples of CTA’s can be found here:

• Contract Research Organisation   
• NHS-ABPI-BIA
• Device Trial

GCP Training:

All members of the research team participating in a clinical trial of any type are required to complete a recognised GCP training course. These courses are run at the Glasgow CRF regularly and are free for NHS GG&C staff members.

In addition, there is a recognised online GCP course that is free to NHS GG&C employees.

A copy of the Board’s GCP training policy can be downloaded here.

Biochemistry SGH CPA Letter of Accreditation

Biochemistry SGH ACC Cert 2013

Haematology SGH CPA Certificate 2013

Haematology SGH CPA Letter 2013

All members of the research team participating in a clinical trial of any type are required to complete a recognised GCP training course. These courses are run at the Glasgow CRF regularly and are free for NHSGGC staff members.

In addition, there is a recognised online GCP course that is free to NHSGGC employees.

Once R&I approval has been issued NHS GG&C has responsibility for:

• Ensuring investigators perform pharmacovigilance to required regulatory timelines as dictated by government legislation (CTIMPS only)
• Ensuring research teams are working to GCP standards as required by the EU Directive and Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations, 2004 No. 1031 (as amended) (CTIMPS only)
• Following the trial to completion and ensuring regulatory requirements are met for the termination and final reports are submitted to ethics and/or the regulatory authority
• Capturing publication and dissemination, service benefits and other key research outputs

Multi-site Studies Where a research study is being extended to sites outwith GG&C to other NHS organisations, R&I will generate multi-site agreements which set out the responsibility of each party. R&I regularly organise international trials which have global sites round the world, e.g. U.S.A, Australia, France and Japan.

Monitoring R&I has a responsibility to monitor research studies conducted on its premises under ICH-GCP, the Scottish Executive Research Governance Framework for Health and Community Care (2nd edition February 2006) and the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations, 2004 No. 1031 (as amended).

The Investigator is responsible for the conduct of the research study. As a condition of Management Approval the following information is required to be submitted to R&I during the lifespan of the project:

• Notification of the commencement of recruitment at site
• Change of Principal Investigator
• Change of staff or site from the original SSI form
• Amendments – substantial or non-substantial
• SUSARS at site as defined by the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations, 2004 No. 1031 (as amended) (CTIMPS only)
• Notification of any potential GCP breaches at site as defined by the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations, 2006 No. 1928 (CTIMPS only)
• Notification of any regulatory site inspections (CTIMPS only)
• Notification of trial end including final recruitment figures and archiving arrangements.

Investigator Site File All research studies must have a site file to aid in document storage and management of the research study. The site file should contain all essential documents required to be stored at site and retained for five years following the study end (CTIMPS only). Please download an Investigator Site File template here.

Progress Reports The Chief Investigator (CI) must submit an annual progress report each year to Ethics. More information can be found at National Research Ethics Committee (NRES). R&I must also be supplied with a copy of the report made to ethics and the Principal Investigator (PI) must inform R&I when the study ends.

Safety SAE Reporting (CTIMPS only) CTIMPS sponsored by NHS GG&C or co-sponsored with The University of Glasgow The PI should ensure that all members of the research team are familiar with GCTU SOPs for Pharmacovigilance available here.  Further information on the SAE/SUSAR reporting procedure and services provided by the PV office including assistance with the preparation and submission of Annual Safety Reports are available here.

CTIMPs hosted by NHS GG&C Adverse events must be recorded, assessed and reported as specified in the study protocol. SUSAR Reports and Annual Safety Reports must be provided to R&I as per the conditions of Management Approval. Further information available here

Safety Reporting (Research other than CTIMPs) The NRES has specific reporting requirements for safety reporting in research other than CTIMPs. Details are available here

Amendments made to any study specific documentation must be reported to ethics, the MHRA (if the research study is a CTIMP or medical device) and R&I. The NRES require changes to studies to be reported with those deemed substantial to be approved. Guidance on whether an amendment is substantial or non-substantial can be found here. Please submit the following documentation to R&I to ensure management Approval of your study is still valid:

• Copy of the Notification of Amendment form sent to ethics
• Copy of the favourable opinion of the amendment from ethics
• Copies of all documentation listed in the amendment favourable opinion letter received from ethics
• Copy of amendment approval letter from the MHRA (only required for CTIMP or medical device).

Once the above documents have been satisfactorily reviewed by R&I you will receive an email confirming R&I Approval is still valid

Research is defined as: ‘..an attempt to derive generalisable new knowledge by addressing clearly defined questions with systematic and rigorous methods’ As R&I approval is required for all research studies it is important to know if your project can be classed as research or not. 

• Research must be systematic and follow a series of predefined steps defined in a protocol 
• Research must be well organised and undergo rigorous planning, including performing an in-depth literature review and evaluation of questions to be answered 
• The scientific definition of research generally states that a variable must be manipulated, although case studies and purely observational science do not always comply with this. 

This table should help you decide if your project is research. Should you be unsure, please do not hesitate to contact the R&I office who will be happy to advise. For projects classed as clinical audit or service evaluation, the clinical effectiveness team can provide specialist support and advice.

Data Handling Measures

Interim data handling procedures can be found here

Study protocols, patient information leaflets and patient consent forms should be prepared in standard templates (below) and should be date and version controlled.

When developing your protocol click here for a few key elements that you should consider

Once you have developed a full draft of your Protocol, Patient Information Sheets, Consent Forms and IRAS forms you should ask your Research Co-ordinator to review and provide some comments. Co-ordinators can advise on the level of detail required in each of the documents and can check for consistency between them.

The sponsor is the individual, or organisation (or group of individuals or organisations) that takes on responsibility for confirming there are proper arrangements to initiate, manage, monitor and finance a study. For any health research study covered by the Research Governance Framework, it is for the sponsor to be satisfied that clear agreements are reached, documented and carried out, providing for proper initiation, management, monitoring and financing. For any research that takes place in the context of the NHS in Scotland, there must be a sponsor. Normally, the sponsor will be one of the organisations taking the lead for particular aspects of the arrangements for the study. The sponsor may be the Chief Investigator’s employing organisation, the lead organisation providing healthcare, or the main funder. NHS GG&C can act as sponsor in the following situations:

• A study where the CI is an NHS GG&C employee
• A study involving NHS GG&C patients, staff or resources.

For more information on study sponsorship, please contact your Research Co‑ordinator.

Clinical Trials

For clinical trials involving medicines, the sponsor is defined as the person (e.g. individual, institution, company or organisation) who takes responsibility for the initiation management and financing (or arranging the financing) of that trial. Such sponsors have specific legal duties under the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004. Following appropriate risk assessment, NHS GG&G may act as sponsor on a trial where the Chief Investigator is an employee of NHS GG&C. Where the Chief Investigator is an employee of the University of Glasgow, NHS GG&C and the University may act as co-sponsor. Clinical trials sponsored by NHS GG&C should be formally adopted by and run by standards outlined by the Glasgow Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The Greater Glasgow Health Board Policy on the Management of Intellectual Property can be found here

Pharmacovigilance ensures the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines and healthcare products. The Scottish Executive Health Department Research Governance Framework for Health and Community Care (Second Edition, 2006) further defines the responsibilities in clinical trials and in other research carried out in Scotland. In CTIMPs sponsored by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde or co-sponsored with the University of Glasgow, the delivery of pharmacovigilance activity within the CTIMP is delegated to the Chief Investigator (CI). However, the ultimate responsibility and accountability for pharmacovigilance remains with the sponsor.  The Pharmacovigilance Office facilitates and ensures compliance with this responsibility and provides central coordination of pharmacovigilance activity within the Glasgow Clinical Trials Unit.

Pharmacovigilance Office

Glasgow Clinical Trials Unit Robertson

Centre for Biostatistics

Boyd Orr Building

University of Glasgow

Glasgow G12 8QQ

Tel:      +44(0)141 330 4744

Fax:     +44(0)141 357 5588

Web:   Can be accessed here

Pharmacovigilance Enquiries: pharmacovig@glasgowctu.org

A useful guide to research in a Primary Care setting is available here. 

All researchers are required to adhere to the relevant legislation, frameworks and principles and take responsibility for ensuring any staff and students involved in research are familiar with the appropriate requirements.  To achieve working to this level, the Good Clinical Practice Training for Staff Involved in Clinical Research policy outlines the expectation for staff and students to attend Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training, which is integral to the research experience and culture within NHS GG&C.  Each person involved in a clinical trial must receive training in GCP appropriate to their roles and responsibilities.

The NHS GG&C Good Clinical Practice Training for Staff Involved in Clinical Research policy document is available here.

To book a GCP course (1/2 day or full day) please follow the links below: 

• Full day: https://www.nhsresearchscotland.org.uk/research-in-scotland/facilities/clinical-research-facilities/glasgow-research-facility/training-and-courses/browse/20577
• Half day: https://www.nhsresearchscotland.org.uk/research-in-scotland/facilities/clinical-research-facilities/glasgow-research-facility/training-and-courses/browse/16491

Document is available here

We wanted to inform you that all Scottish recruitment data relating to your study/studies from the 1st April 2019 onwards is now visible on the UK Central Portfolio Management System (CPMS).

A National process is currently underway to identify interventional, multi-site clinical research studies that are both urgent and should benefit from the support of NIHR CRN, NHS research Scotland, and R&I to fully recruit and/or close in the next year.  Chief Investigators will be contacted directly if their projects have been selected by the funder for the managed recovery process.  There is no intention that this process will result in any pause or withdrawal of support for studies active within NHS GG&C.

(https://www.nihr.ac.uk/documents/guidance-on-the-managed-recovery-of-the-uk-clinical-research-portfolio/27749 _

Since July 2020, NHS GG&C have initiated a local process for restarting all studies paused due to COVID-19. Locally, work continues to ensure that all studies are able to return to normal recruitment activities.  In addition to local efforts and participating in the UK Managed Recovery Process we will continue to prioritise (please note the order does not indicate priority levels):

• NHS GGC locally sponsored/co-sponsored studies and in particular those involving early career researchers who have limited time to complete their funded clinical research.
• Studies that include routine standard of care as an option
• On going “urgent public health COVID-19” studies (e.g., Oxford-Astra/Zeneca, Novavax, Valneva and COV-BOOST vaccine trials; OCTAVE and SIREN etc)

‘A multidisciplinary team promoting, co-ordinating and facilitating all aspects of high quality research within NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde’

The R&I Management office acts as a catalyst for discovery and innovation within NHSGGC. We have a ‘can-do’ attitude, striving to support both experienced and new researchers in the design and execution of high quality research studies and ensure compliance to all regulatory requirements.

As the busiest R&I office in Scotland, we received in excess of 640 new research applications in 2024 and have approximately 1000 studies ongoing at any one time. To ensure consistency of contact, and to help develop an in-depth understanding of therapy area-specific research projects, the NHSGGC R&I Management office has adopted a ‘portfolio-team’ structure. The portfolio teams form the functional core of R&I and are comprised of Research Co-ordinators, Research Facilitators, Research Administrators and clerical support staff.

The teams work together to support and encourage investigators and manage the R&I process from concept to approval and final report. Specifically, Research Co-ordinators and Facilitators act as an ‘advocate’ for the researcher and balance the administrative burden associated with clinical research against regulatory requirements.

The R&I Management office is situated at Dykebar Hospital, Paisley.

Our postal address is:

Research and Innovation Department

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde

Admin Building – Level 2

Gartnavel Royal Hospital

1053 Great Western Road

Glasgow

G12 0YN

Portfolio 1

Dr George Bakirtzis Commercial Research Coordinator (Line Manager – Dr Melissa Robert) 0141 314 0225 Randdsystems.PF1@ggc.scot.nhs.uk 

Ms Sandi Conway Research Facilitator (Line Manager – Dr George Bakirtzis) 0141 314 0221 Randdsystems.PF1@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Ms Kelly Cochrane Research Administrator (Line Manager – Dr George Bakirtzis) 0141 314 0229

Portfolio 2 

Mr Ross Nicol Commercial Research Coordinator (Line Manager – Dr Melissa Robert) 0141 314 0221

Mrs Karen Puglisevich Chase Research Facilitator (Line Manager – Mr Ross Nicol) 0141 314 0222

Ms Oumaima Abakar Ismail Research Administrator (NHS GG&C Hosted & Commercial studies) (Line Manager – Mr Ross Nicol) 0141 314 0217

Portfolio 3

Mrs Ruth Pink Commercial Research Coordinator (Line Manager – Dr Melissa Robert) 0141 314 0217

Ms Natalie Phillips Research Administrator (Line manager – Mrs Ruth Pink) 0141 314 0216

Low Risk Non Commercial NHSGGC Hosted

Ms Rozanne Suarez Senior Research Administrator (Line manager – Mrs Ruth Pink)

Mr Euan Rennie Senior Research Administrator (Line Manager – Mr Ross Nicol)

Sponsor Portfolio

Position Vacant (please contact Kirsty Theron) Academic Research Co-ordinator 0141 314 4001

Mrs Louise Ner Academic Research Co-ordinator (Line Manager – Dr Melissa Robert) 0141 314 4011

Dr Maureen Travers Academic Research Coordinator (Line Manager – Dr Melissa Robert) 0141 314 4012

Ms Heather Flanagan Academic Research Co-ordinator (Line Manager – Dr Melissa Robert) 0141 314 4414

Ms Shanice Thomas Senior Research Administrator (Line Manager – Dr Maureen Travers) 0141 314 4011

Mrs Kirsty Theron Senior Research Administrator (Line Manager – Dr Maureen Travers) 0141 314 4011

Mr Adam Wade Research Facilitator (Line Manager – Dr Maureen Travers) 0141 314 4172

Audit & Monitoring

Mrs Eileen McCafferty Audit Facilitator 0141 314 4429 

Dr Sheila McGowan Lead Clinical Trials Monitor 0141 314 4414 

Emma Moody Clinical Trials Monitor 0141 314 4485

Amanda Lynch Clinical Trials Monitor 0141 314 4414

Emma Whitelaw Governance Research Facilitator 0141 314 4429

Paul Gribbon Quality Assurance Manager

Research Pharmacy

Dr Samantha Carmichael Lead Pharmacist 0141 314 0232

Dr. Elizabeth Douglas Clinical Trials Pharmacist 0141 314 4073

Ms Paula Morrison Senior Pharmacist Clinical Trials – Oncology 0141 314 4019

Mrs. Pamela Surtees Lead Pharmacy Technician Clinical Trials 0141 314 4083

Ms Angela Carruth Pharmacy Facilitator 0141 314 4081 / 0141 211 3319

Pharmacovigilance Office

Dr Marc Jones Trial Safety Manager 0141 314 4434

Admin Pharmacovigilance Administrator     

R&I Director

Prof Jesse Dawson R&I Director 0141 314 0233

R&I Managers

Ms Chloe Cowan Senior R&I Manager 0141 314 0233

Dr Caroline Watson Research Governance Manager 07899 595 682

Dr Melissa Robert R&I Systems Manager 0141 314 4125

Dr Samantha Carmichael Lead Pharmacist 0141 314 0232

Ms Michelle McDermott Management Secretary 0141 314 0327

R&I Information Officer

Mr Radek Penar Information Officer (Line Manager Mr Graeme Piper) 0141 314 0226

NRS Performance Manager

Mr Graeme Piper NRS Performance Manager (Line Manager – Dr Melissa Robert) 0141 314 0230

Ms Islay Morrison Research Administrator (Line Manager Mr Graeme Piper)  0141 314 0230

R&I approval provides permission for a study to commence within NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (NHSGGC) and is required for all research studies involving NHS patients, their tissues or information, or studies involving NHS staff participating by virtue of their profession. 

R&I approval ensures that the legal obligations of the board, outlined in the Research Governance Framework (2nd edition, 2006), are met and is issued following a formal review of the project by designated staff. In addition, R&I approval provides insurance/indemnity for research projects under the Clinical Negligence and Other Risks Indemnity Scheme (CNORIS) and is a condition of ethical favourable opinion. The Research Governance Framework can be found here

The R&I approval process ensures:

• An appropriate study sponsor is identified
• The scientific quality of the proposal (as required)
• That there is a favourable ethical opinion from an appropriate REC
• Appropriate regulatory authorisations are in place
• Appropriate risk/benefit analysis
• Provisions for appropriate insurance/indemnity
• The financial and resource implications of the study are assessed
• Appropriate trial registration
• All researchers have substantive or honorary NHS GG&C contracts
• All researchers are adequately qualified
• Support department approval
• Formal agreements or contracts with external bodies meet the requirements of the Board.

All research conducted within the NHS must have R&I Management Approval

Commercial

Commercial research is defined as research that is funded and sponsored by a commercial organisation.  A study is defined as industry sponsored and funded if a commercial company has developed the study protocol and is fully funding the additional costs of hosting the trial within the NHS. These trials must be supported by a Clinical Trials Agreement and appropriate indemnification.  

The Co-ordinators for Commercial research in NHSGGC are:

• Portfolio 1: Dr George Bakirtzis Commercial Research Coordinator (Line Manager – Dr Melissa Robert)
• Portfolio 2: Mr Ross Nicol Commercial Research Coordinator (Line Manager – Dr Melissa Robert)
• Portfolio 3: Mrs Ruth Pink Commercial Research Coordinator (Line Manager – Dr Melissa Robert)

Click here for further information on Commercial Research, including details on the specific therapy areas covered by each Portfolio Team

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Non Commercial NHSGGC Sponsored 

A ‘sponsor’ is defined as – an individual or organisation that takes on responsibility for confirming there are proper arrangements in place to initiate, manage, monitor and finance a study. Sponsors must also ensure that appropriate indemnity is in place before research begins. 

The Co-ordinators for Non Commercial research Sponsored by NHSGGC are:

• Mrs Louise Ner Academic Research Coordinator (Line Manager – Dr Melissa Robert)
• Position Vacant (please contact Kirsty Theron) Academic Research Coordinator
• Dr Maureen Travers Academic Research Coordinator (Line Manager – Dr Melissa Robert)
• Ms Heather Flanagan Academic Research Coordinator (Line Manager – Dr Melissa Robert)

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Low Risk Non Commercial NHSGGC Sponsored

We have deemed “low risk” studies to be all Study Types from the IRAS Form that are: 

1. Study administering questionnaires/interviews for quantitative analysis, or using mixed quantitative/qualitative methodology
2. Study involving qualitative methods only
3. Study limited to working with human tissue samples (or other biological samples) and data (specific project only)
4. Study limited to working with data (specific project only)
5. Research tissue bank or Research database
6. Patient Information Centres (PIC)
7. Basic Science Study involving procedures with human participants

• Mr Adam Wade Research Facilitator (Line Manager – Dr Maureen Travers)

Click here for further information on NHS GG&C Sponsored Research, including details on the specific therapy areas covered by each Portfolio Team

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Non Commercial NHSGGC Hosted

For all Non Commercial studies that aren’t Sponsored by NHSGGC, the Research Facilitators will be: 

• Portfolio 1: Ms Sandi Conway Research Facilitator (Line Manager – Dr George Bakirtzis)
• Portfolio 2: Mrs Karen Puglisevich Chase Research Facilitator (Line Manager – Mr Ross Nicol)

Click here for further information on NHS GG&C Hosted Research, including details on the specific therapy areas covered by each Portfolio Team

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Low Risk Non Commercial NHSGGC Hosted

We have deemed “low risk” studies to be all Study Types from the IRAS Form that are: 

1. Study administering questionnaires/interviews for quantitative analysis, or using mixed quantitative/qualitative methodology
2. Study involving qualitative methods only
3. Study limited to working with human tissue samples (or other biological samples) and data (specific project only)
4. Study limited to working with data (specific project only)
5. Research tissue bank or Research database
6. Patient Information Centres (PIC)
7. Basic Science Study involving procedures with human participants

Ms Rozanne Suarez Senior Research Administrator (Line manager – Mrs Ruth Pink)

Mr Euan Rennie Senior Research Administrator (Line Manager – Mr Ross Nicol)

Portfolio 1

Co-ordinator: Dr George Bakirtzis (Line Manager – Dr Melissa Robert)

• Haematology (Oncology only)
• Medical Genetics
• Oncology
• Pathology

Network: Cancer

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Portfolio 2

Co-ordinator: Mr Ross Nicol (Line Manager – Dr Melissa Robert)

• Cardiology
• Cardiovascular & Exercise Medicine
• Diabetes
• Gastroenterology
• Haematology (Non Oncology)
• Heath Services and Delivery Research (Includes Biochemistry, Immunology, Clinical and Medical Physics, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Homeopathy)
• Haepatology
• Infectious Diseases (Includes Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, Virology and Bacteriology)
• Metabolic and Endocrine (Includes Dietetics, Metabolic Disease and Human Nutrition)
• Orthopaedics
• Public Health (Includes Occupational Health, Sexual Health and Family Planning)
• Physiotherapy
• Renal and Urology
• Rheumatology
• Respiratory Medicine
• Surgery (Includes Burns, Plastic Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Vascular Surgery)

Networks: Cardiovascular; Diabetes; Infectious Diseases; Stroke; Musculoskeletal Health;

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Portfolio 3

Co-ordinator: Mrs Ruth Pink (Line Manager – Dr Melissa Robert)

• A&E, Injuries and Emergencies
• Anaesthetics
• Critical Care
• Dermatology
• Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)
• Mental Health (Includes Adolescent Psychiatry, Alcohol/Drugs Misuse, Adult Mental Health, Psychological Medicine/ Clinical Psychology, Family Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry and Learning Disability)
• Neurology (Non Stroke) (Includes Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Migraine & Headache)
• Paediatrics
• Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Midwifery
• Ophthalmology
• Oral and Dental Health (Includes Oral Medicine, Dentistry/Community Dentistry and Dentistry – Restorative)
• Stroke

Networks: DEnDRON; Mental Health; Children’s Research Network 

Sponsor Co-ordinator: Position Vacant (please contact Kirsty Theron) (for ALL Oncology and CRUK co-ordinated Oncology studies)

Networks: Cancer; NRS Non- Malignant Haematology

• Haematology
• Ophthalmology
• Oncology

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Sponsor Co-ordinator: Ms Heather Flanagan (Line Manager – Dr Melissa Robert)

Networks / Speciality Group: Stroke; NRS Renal Speciality Group; Cardiovascular;

• Renal and Urology
• Cardiology (Colin Berry and John McMurray team led)
• Cardiovascular & Exercise Medicine
• Metabolic and Endocrine (Includes Dietetics, Metabolic Disease and Human Nutrition)
• Stroke

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Sponsor Co-ordinator: Dr Maureen Travers (Line Manager – Dr Melissa Robert)

Networks: Dental; NRS Oral & Dental Specialty Group; ENT; Cardiovascular Diabetes; Musculoskeletal Health; 

• Anaesthetics
• Dermatology
• Diabetes
• Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)
• Gastroenterology
• Medical Genetics 
• Oral and Dental Health* (Includes Oral Medicine, Dentistry/Community Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry and Paediatric Dentistry)
• Orthopaedics
• Public Health (Includes Occupational Health, Sexual Health, Reproductive Health and Family Planning)
• Rheumatology
• Respiratory Medicine

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Sponsor Co-ordinator: Mrs Louise Ner (Line Manager – Dr Melissa Robert)

Networks: NRS Trauma and Emergencies; Infectious Diseases; Mental Health; Children’s Research Network;

• A & E, Trauma and Emergencies
• Critical Care
• Heath Services and Delivery Research (Includes Biochemistry, Immunology, Clinical and Medical Physics, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Homeopathy)
• Haepatology
• Infectious Diseases (Includes Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, Virology and Bacteriology)
• Mental Health (Includes Adolescent Psychiatry, Alcohol/Drugs Misuse, Adult Mental Health, Psychological Medicine/ Clinical Psychology, Family Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry and Learning Disability)
• Neurology (Non Stroke) (Includes Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Migraine & Headache)
• Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Midwifery
• Paediatrics and Neonatal
• Physiotherapy
• Surgery (Includes Burns, Plastic Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Vascular Surgery)

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Based on disease area for:

• Palliative Care

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Low Risk Non Commercial NHSGGC Sponsored

Research Facilitator: Mr Adam Wade (Line Manager – Dr Maureen Travers)

We have deemed “low risk” studies to be all Study Types from the IRAS Form that are: 

1. Study administering questionnaires/interviews for quantitative analysis, or using mixed quantitative/qualitative methodology
2. Study involving qualitative methods only
3. Study limited to working with human tissue samples (or other biological samples) and data (specific project only)
4. Study limited to working with data (specific project only)
5. Research tissue bank or Research database
6. Patient Information Centres (PIC)
7. Basic Science Study involving procedures with human participants

Networks: 

Portfolio 1

Research Facilitator: Ms Sandi Conway (Line Manager – Dr George Bakirtzis)

• A & E, Injuries and Emergencies
• Critical Care
• Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)
• Haematology (Oncology only)
• Medical Genetics
• Mental Health (Includes Adolescent Psychiatry, Alcohol/Drugs Misuse, Adult Mental Health, Psychological Medicine/ Clinical Psychology, Family Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry and Learning Disability)
• Neurology (Non Stroke) (Includes Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Migraine & Headache)
• Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Midwifery
• Oncology
• Ophthalmology
• Oral and Dental Health (Includes Oral Medicine, Dentistry/Community Dentistry and Dentistry – Restorative)
• Pathology

Network: Cancer; DEnDRON; Mental Health; Children’s Research Network

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Portfolio 2

Research Facilitator: Mrs Karen Puglisevich Chase (Line Manager – Mr Ross Nicol)

• Anaesthetics
• Cardiology
• Cardiovascular & Exercise Medicine
• Dermatology
• Diabetes
• Gastroenterology
• Haematology (Non Oncology)
• Heath Services and Delivery Research (Includes Biochemistry, Immunology, Clinical and Medical Physics, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Homeopathy)
• Haepatology
• Infectious Diseases Includes Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, Virology and Bacteriology)
• Metabolic and Endocrine) (Includes Dietetics, Metabolic Disease and Human Nutrition)
• Orthopaedics
• Public Health (Includes Occupational Health, Sexual Health, Reproductive Health and Family Planning)
• Physiotherapy
• Renal and Urology
• Rheumatology
• Respiratory Medicine
• Stroke
• Surgery (Includes Burns, Plastic Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Vascular Surgery)

Networks: Cardiovascular; Diabetes; Infectious Diseases; Stroke; Children’s Research Network; Musculoskeletal Health

More information coming soon…

Data Protection & Privacy

More information coming soon…

Right Care, Right Place

Freedom Of Information

Head of Service for Laboratory Genetics

Paul Westwood, Consultant Clinical Scientist

Tel: 0141 354 9312

Email: paul.westwood@nhs.scot

Deputy Head of Service for Laboratory Genetics

Rachael Ellis, Consultant Clinical Scientist

Tel: 0141 354 9331

Email: rachael.ellis@nhs.scot

Germline Programme Manager

Therese Bradley, Principal Clinical Scientist

Tel: 0141 354 9311

Email: therese.bradley@nhs.scot

Senior Scientific Staff

Vera Cerqueira, Principal Clinical Scientist

Tel: 0141 354 9287

Email: vera.cerqueira@nhs.scot

Jonathan Grant, Principal Clinical Scientist

Tel: 0141 354 9316

Email: jonathan.grant2@nhs.scot

Somatic Programme Manager

Claire McKeeve, Principal Clinical Scientist

Tel: 0141 354 9288

Email: claire.mckeeve3@nhs.scot

Senior Scientific Staff

Sandra Chudleigh, Principal Clinical Scientist

Tel: 0141 354 9110

Email: sandra.chudleigh@nhs.scot

Avril Morris, Principal Clinical Scientist

Tel: 0141 354 9324

Email: avril.morris@nhs.scot

Technical Programme Manager

Fiona Morgan, Principal Clinical Scientist

Tel: 0141 354 9408

Email: fiona.morgan3@nhs.scot

Laboratory Manager

Donna Reid

Tel: 0141 232 7978

Email: donna.reid2@nhs.scot

Development Manager

Niamh Mannion

Tel: 0141 354 9323

Email: niamh.mannion@nhs.scot

Compliance Manager

Caroline Devlin

Tel: 0141 354 9299

Email: caroline.devlin3@nhs.scot

Quality Manager

Edwin Yip

Tel: 0141 354 9293

Email: edwin.yip2@nhs.scot

Training Officers

Lorna Crawford,

Tel: 0141 354 9289

Email: lorna.crawford3@nhs.scot

Suzanne Myles

Tel: 0141 354 9262

Email: suzanne.myles@nhs.scot

We are committed to continual improvement and value your feedback. If you have any positive or negative experiences you want to share, please contact our Compliance and Resource Programme Manager or Quality Manager.

To log a formal complaint, please refer to the NHS Scotland complaints procedure.

Monday 8th September – 11th Thursday September 2025

Course Director: Mr T Reekie, FRCS Consultant Plastic Surgeon

The course is aimed at the intermediate and advanced trainee and will cover all aspects of free, pedicled and perforator flaps. It is also relevant to consultants as it will cover more advanced flaps. Flaps covered will include basic workhorse free and pedicle flaps, but also include more advanced and topical flaps such as toe transfer, vascularized joint transfer and medial sural artery perforator flaps. 

The course aims to provide as much hands on cadaveric dissection as possible, with guidance by internationally recognized microsurgeons. The course teaching should cover the essential aspects of flap anatomy, dissection and utilization.

The teaching faculty will consist of several Consultant Plastic Surgeons from the Canniesburn Plastic Surgery unit, who will aid the trainees during the cadaveric dissection. Each Consultant has a sub-specialty microsurgical interest.

 Local Facility Please see our website for a list of our consultants and their specialties.

Queries about cost, booking and accommodation, please contact dorothy.stobie@nhs.scot

 There are many small guest houses within the area of The University of Glasgow. Also some larger hotels, and is really dependant on your own budget and preferences.

 The course fee is £1,500

 Confirmation of a place on the course is secured only on receipt of the fee and early payment is therefore advised.  

 Payment can be made by bank transfer – detail available on request