Research teams across Greater Manchester are invited to express interest in utilising a new state-of-the-art Research Van.

The one-stop mobile facility, only the second of its kind in the UK, has been designed to deliver care and widen opportunities to be part of research in communities across the area.

It can visit easy-to-reach locations such as community centres and supermarket car parks.

The purpose-built vehicle has been initially funded with a £200,000 grant from the UK government Vaccine Task Force following a successful bid from NIHR Clinical Research Network Greater Manchester.

It is being operationally managed by the NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility (CRF), based at Wythenshawe Hospital, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT).

However, it is a resource designed to be utilised by research partner organisations across Greater Manchester, East Cheshire and East Lancashire.

Internally, the Research Van includes a pharmacy and clinical area containing all equipment necessary to run clinical trials and bespoke clinical projects out in the community, along with a patient waiting area and disabled toilet facilities.

Its pharmacy has capacity to dispense Investigational Medicinal Products (IMPs), including vaccines and gene therapies, stored at a -80°C, -20°C, 2-8°C and room temperature.

Medicines storage areas are safe, secure, and lockable, and are all temperature monitored, with space to accommodate a bio-safety cabinet.

The built-in ward is a fully functional outpatient clinic and includes an electrically adjustable phlebotomy couch for taking bloods and the ability to spin and store patient samples.

For more information on the Research Van and how it can help you deliver your next research study please contact: ResearchVan@mft.nhs.uk