Welcome to the NHS Research Scotland Permissions Coordinating Centre (NRS Permissions CC) website!

NRS Permissions CC manages the process of obtaining R&D NHS management permission for multicentre research projects in Scotland, commercial and non-commercial. We can also facilitate feasibility assessments on behalf of commercial companies.

As a single and centralised point of contact for researchers and companies wishing to conduct multicentre clinical research in Scotland, NRS Permissions CC liaises directly with our NHS Board R&D offices to help streamline the Scottish R&D permission process.

The Permissions CC officially opened for commercial and non-commercial business in April and May 2009, respectively. Thus far, we have successfully coordinated around 21 commercial and 70 non-commercial projects to completion, with an additional 14 and 132 in progress, respectively.

With a dedicated Permissions CC team now in place, consisting of a Director, National Coordinator, two Senior Administrators and an Administrator, our current focus includes:

• Coordinating NRS project R&D permissions to meet national targets
• Establishing Best Practice procedures across NRS
• Working to improve R&D permission times
• Performance monitoring and analysis
• Obtaining and acting on customer feedback
• Promoting our achievements, services and benefits
• Forging links with equivalent centralised offices in England and Wales to streamline the R&D permission process for UK- wide projects

• Maintaining a register of clinical researchers in Scotland

Researchers (commercial and non-commercial) wishing to undertake multicentre research in Scotland are encouraged to contact us at the Permissions CC directly. Alternatively, contact one of the R&D offices within any of the Health Boards in Scotland where the research is planned to take place.