The Central South Coast Cancer Research Network (CSCCRN) was established in 2002 as one of 34 cancer research networks set up across England with the aim of doubling the number of cancer patients entering clinical trials. The network serves a population of around 2.3 million with over 10,000 new cancer cases presenting each year. It includes the following hospital trusts:
- University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
- Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
- Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, Chichester
- Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust
- Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust
- Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
The CSCCRN is managed by a central secretariat based at Southampton General Hospital who also coordinate and monitor trial activities.
The network employs a large team of clinical trial practitioners and assistants (CTPs and CTAs), including research nurses, physiotherapists and radiographers. CTPs and CTAs are based at hospitals around the network and are responsible for the day to day running of clinical trials, working closely with both local cancer care staff and patients.
The portfolio of trials currently available in the network is broad and covers not only the common tumour sites, breast, bowel and lung, but less common areas such as brain, head and neck, lymphoma and sarcoma. The majority are trials of new chemotherapy treatments but the portfolio also includes trials of new surgical methods and techniques and radiotherapy regimens, as well as studies investigating the psychosocial impact of cancer and quality of life studies.