About us

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Delivery Network (RDN) is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to enable the health and care system to attract, optimise and deliver research across England. 

We consist of 12 Regional Research Delivery Networks (RRDNs) and a Coordinating Centre (RDNCC), working together as one organisation with joint leadership.

We contribute to NIHR’s mission to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research.

Our vision, mission and purpose

The RDN will build on the success of the Clinical Research Network (CRN). Our vision is for the UK to be a global leader in the delivery of high quality research that is inclusive, accessible, and improves health and care.

Our mission is to enable the health and care system to attract, optimise and deliver research across England. 

We have two primary purposes:

  • to support the successful delivery of high quality research, as an active partner in the research system 
  • to increase capacity and capability of the research delivery infrastructure for the future

This will:

  • enable more people to access health and social care research where they live
  • support changing population needs by delivering a wider range of research and deliver research in areas of most need
  • provide support to the health and care system through research
  • encourage research to become a routine part of care
  • support economic growth by attracting investment to the UK economy

Why we are changing from the CRN to the RDN

The research needs of the UK health and care system have evolved, and will continue to do so. Building on the successes of the CRN, we now need to enable more types of research to happen across a wider range of health and care settings, and to provide consistent services and support. 

To enable this, we operate as a single organisation, with shared responsibility for delivering consistent, collegiate and customer focused services across the RRDNs and RDNCC. 

This will:

  • ensure greater consistency across organisation structures including job roles 
  • provide new ways of working to ensure we maximise opportunities for people working across the RDN to contribute their expertise and experience

We focus on effective support for the whole RDN Portfolio, rather than individual studies. Our support includes building strategic capacity and capability to ensure the health and care system is able to deliver all types of research now and in the future. 

We will put a stronger emphasis on continuous improvement, learning and value for money in every part of RDN. This will ensure our services continue to meet the changing needs of our customers and the UK health and care system over time. 

We will build a sustainable, adaptable organisation that is fit for the future and well placed to deliver on the vision for the UK to be a global leader in the delivery of high quality research. We will ensure our research is inclusive, accessible, and improves the health and care for people across England and the UK.

Our leadership team

The RDN Board was established in April 2024 to lead the RDN. We operate a joint leadership model consisting of the RDN Coordinating Centre Directors, the Network Director from each of the 12 RRDNs, and representatives from DHSC.

Our Board sets the Network's direction, develops strategies and plans and ensures consistency in their implementation at both a national and regional level.

  • John Sitzia, RDN Executive Director
  • Andy Ustianowski, Network Director, North West RRDN (currently RDN Executive Director for an interim period)
  • Nick Lemoine, RDN Strategic Development Director
  • Kate Jones, RDN Research Delivery Director
  • Imogen Shillito, RDN Public Engagement Director
  • Emma Lowe,  RDN Transformation Director
  • Ann Wieland, RDN Corporate Operations Director
  • Sarah Fallon, RDN Network Operations Director
  • Joanna Sugden, RDN Workforce & Organisational Development Director
  • Vacancy - RDN Life Sciences Director

  • Morag Burton, Network Director, North East and North Cumbria
  • Amber O'Malley, Network Director, Yorkshire and Humber
  • Andy Ustianowski, Network Director, North West (Andy Ustianowski is RDN Executive Director for an interim period. Martin Gibson is acting Network Director, North West RRDN)
  • Elizabeth Moss, Network Director, East Midlands
  • Matt Brookes, Network Director, West Midlands
  • Helen Macdonald, Network Director, East of England
  • Sharon Barrett,  Network Director, North London
  • James Lyddiard, Network Director, South London
  • Clare Rook, Network Director, South Central
  • Stephen Barnett, Network Director, South East
  • Kyla Thomas, Network Director, South West Central
  • Jo Davis, Network Director, South West Peninsula

  • Alice Mortlock, Deputy Director Research Capacity and Growth
  • Natalie Owen, Head of NIHR Research Infrastructure
  • Vacancy, Head of Clinical Research Delivery
     

Our host organisations

The 12 RRDN regions (pictured above) are:

  • A - North East and North Cumbria - hosted by The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

  • B - Yorkshire and Humber - hosted by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

  • C - North West - hosted by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

  • D - East Midlands - hosted by University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

  • E - West Midlands - hosted by The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

  • F - East of England - hosted by Norfolk and Norwich University NHS Foundation Trust

  • G - North London - hosted by Barts Health NHS Trust

  • H - South London - hosted by Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

  • I - South Central - hosted by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

  • J - South East - hosted by Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

  • K - South West Central - hosted by University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust

  • L - South West Peninsula - hosted by Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust