Northamptonshire primary care research hub expands access to clinical research for more than 200,000 patients

The Primary Care Research Hub (PCRH), based at Danes Camp Medical Centre in Northampton, provides the central coordinating infrastructure for collaborative research activity across general practices throughout the county. Through this expanding partnership, the network now serves a combined patient population of more than 200,000 people, enabling research participation to be embedded directly within community healthcare.

The hub functions as the Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC) spoke site for Northamptonshire, operating within the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) CRDC network and covering primary care research activity across the county. Through this structure, the Primary Care Research Hub works in close partnership with Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust (NGH) and Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (KGH). This collaborative framework enables seamless integration between primary care and hospital-based research, creating a coordinated research ecosystem that spans both community practices and secondary care institutions across Northamptonshire.

Across the county, the network brings together a consortium of general practices working collectively through the Primary Care Research Hub. Participating practices include The Mounts Medical Centre, Maple Access Partnership, Mayfield Surgery, Queensview Medical Centre, The Parks Medical Practice, Green Norton and Weedon Medical Practice, Saxon Spires Practice, Favell Plus Surgery, and Albany House Medical Practice, among others. Operating as a unified research network, these practices collectively provide a substantial platform for the delivery of both commercial and non-commercial clinical studies, significantly expanding opportunities for patients to participate in research within their local communities.

The programme is led by Professor Azhar Zafar, Visiting Professor of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Northampton and Senior Partner at Danes Camp Medical Centre, assisted by Carina Scarlata, who oversees the operational management and coordination of the research programme across the network.

Professor Zafar has an established academic and clinical portfolio in diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic medicine and population health, with numerous peer-reviewed publications and longstanding collaborations across the NHS and academic institutions.

The research hub has already established partnerships with pharmaceutical and life sciences industry sponsors, enabling the delivery of clinical trials within primary care environments. Current and planned research programmes place particular emphasis on obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other long-term metabolic conditions, reflecting the growing importance of translational research in addressing the burden of chronic illness within communities.

Professor Zafar said: "The expansion of the Primary Care Research Hub represents an important step forward for clinical research within Northamptonshire. By embedding research within general practice and connecting it closely with hospital and academic partners, we are creating an integrated research environment capable of delivering high-quality studies within routine NHS care. Our ambition is to ensure that patients across the county can participate in innovative clinical research close to home, while contributing to advances that will shape the future of healthcare."

Carina Scarlata added: "Northamptonshire already possesses a strong foundation for delivering research within primary care. This expansion allows us to strengthen collaboration between practices, hospitals and industry partners while widening opportunities for patients to take part in studies that may ultimately transform the prevention and treatment of long-term conditions."

Looking ahead, the network aims to expand its portfolio of national and international studies, deepen collaboration with universities and NHS partners, and attract further investment from the life sciences sector. The long-term ambition is to establish Northamptonshire as a leading national model for community-based clinical research, demonstrating how innovation can be embedded within everyday NHS primary care.

By bringing research directly into general practice, the initiative reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that clinical discovery and patient care progress together, delivering tangible benefits both for local communities and for the wider NHS.