R&I Management Office

‘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 560 new research applications in 2023 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 & Innovation

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde

Ward 11, Dykebar Hospital

Grahamston Road

Paisley

PA2 7DE

Portfolio 1

Dr George Bakirtzis Commercial Research Coordinator 0141 314 0225  Randdsystems.PF1@ggc.scot.nhs.uk 

Ms Sandi Conway Research Facilitator 0141 314 0221 Randdsystems.PF1@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Ms Kelly Cochrane Research Administrator 0141 314 0229

Portfolio 2 

Mr Ross Nicol Commercial Research Coordinator 0141 314 0221

Mrs Karen Puglisevich Chase Research Facilitator 0141 314 0222

Ms Oumaima Abakar Ismail Research Administrator (NHS GG&C Hosted & Commercial studies) 0141 314 0217

Portfolio 3

Mrs Ruth Pink Commercial Research Coordinator 0141 314 0217

Ms Natalie Phillips Research Administrator 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

Ms Joanne McGarry Academic Research Co-ordinator 0141 314 4001 (Ms Nicola Jensen will be the new contact from mid April)

Mrs Louise McGrath Academic Research Co-ordinator 0141 314 4011

Dr Maureen Travers Academic Research Coordinator 0141 314 4012

Dr Alison Hamilton Academic Research Co-ordinator 0141 314 4414

Ms Shanice Thomas Senior Research Administrator 0141 314 4011

Mrs Kirsty Theron Senior Research Administrator 0141 314 4011

Mr Adam Wade Research Facilitator 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 Julie Brittenden R&I Director 0141 314 0327

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 0141 314 0226

NRS Performance Manager

Mr Graeme Piper NRS Performance Manager 0141 314 0230

Ms Islay Morrison Research Administrator 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
• Portfolio 2: Mr Ross Nicol Commercial Research Coordinator
• Portfolio 3: Mrs Ruth Pink Commercial Research Coordinator

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 McGrath Academic Research Coordinator
• Ms Joanne McGarry Academic Research Coordinator (Ms Nicola Jensen will be the new contact from mid April)
• Dr Maureen Travers Academic Research Coordinator
• Dr Alison Hamilton Academic Research Coordinator

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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

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
• Portfolio 2: Mrs Karen Puglisevich Chase Research Facilitator

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

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

Network: Cancer

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Portfolio 2

Co-ordinator: Mr Ross Nicol

• 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

• 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: Ms Nicola Jensen (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: Dr Alison Hamilton

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

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 McGrath

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

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

• 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

• 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