LHP SPARK, The Single Point of Access to Research and Knowledge, continued to have a positive impact on our partners’ research functions in 2022/23.

SPARK is our joint research service bringing together our partners’ research functions to facilitate and deliver world-class health research and support investigators and research teams.

LHP SPARK provides support and guidance for grant applications and works in close collaboration with LHP member organisations, NIHR Clinical Research Network North-West Coast (CRN NWC), NIHR Research Design Service North West (RDS), NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast (ARC), Liverpool Clinical Trials Centre (LCTC) and Innovation Agency North West Coast (IA).

In 2022/23, SPARK provided facilitated setup support with:

• 247 Studies Registered
• 179 studies setup by SPARK (DSC)
  • 57 Interventional Studies, 122 Observational
  • 47 commercial contracts (26%)
• 80% meeting 40 day setup target (DSS-DSC)
• SPARK median set up: 5.5 days (DSS-DSC)

In the grant support function, the following was reported at the end of 2022/23:

• 101 SPARK supported Grant applications, 11 successful, 34 pending outcome
  • 16% Success rate
• £69,979,872.94 applied for through Grant Applications
  • 12% return of £ applied for
• 19 first time Chief Investigators supported

Dr Seema Chauhan, Head of LHP SPARK, said: “We are very proud of the work we carried out in 2022/23 to support the research function of our NHS and HEI partners.

“These results are a demonstration of collaborative working at its best and we hope this work will continue into the current year to assist our research colleagues in their achievements.”