What is the CRP Directory?

The Clinical Research Practitioner Directory was established to help create a community of practice for Clinical Research Practitioners (CRPs) and lay the foundation for defining professional identity and establishing an accredited register for this diverse group.

CRPs work in research delivery roles that involve direct contact with patients, or other study participants, in a clinical environment or another health and social care setting. They bring a wealth of research knowledge and expertise to research delivery teams, working alongside nurses and others to deliver safe, ethical and high quality clinical research care.

The CRP role has developed in recent years in response to a changing research landscape and the growth of clinical research activity. The CRP Directory sits within the regulatory framework, administrative functions and oversight of the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS). A proposal to seek accreditation for a CRP register  has been  submitted to the Professional Standards Authority and is currently under review

Who is the CRP Directory aimed at and why?

The CRP Directory is aimed at CRPs who are not registered to a healthcare profession and working in a research delivery role that involves direct contact with patients or other study participants and is the point of entry for CRPs shaping their profession. The term CRP is an umbrella title for the family of roles in research delivery that have a patient/participant-facing element within clinical environments and other health and social care settings. These roles include Clinical Studies Officer, Research Practitioner, Clinical Trials Practitioner, Clinical Trials Officer, among others.