STRATEGY
IDENTIFYING PATIENTS
RECRUITMENT TOOLS
RECRUITMENT CONSIDERATIONS
STUDY PORTFOLIO
FACILITIES & INFRASTRUCTURE
MEET THE TEAM
RECRUITING PATIENTS
FOR SPONSORS AND CRO'S
Participant Identification AND Recruitment Strategy
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about K&W Healthcare GP Network.
We are a collaborative group of 24 GP practices across North West London, serving a diverse patient population of over 220,000 people. Over the past years, we have developed a dedicated research unit and infrastructure to support high quality commercial and noncommercial studies within primary care.
Our focus is on integrating research seamlessly into routine patient care, enabling efficient study delivery and broad participant access. We provide equitable access to research participation through trusted primary care settings and primary care has an important role to play in improving health outcomes through research.
K&W Healthcare has an experienced team of GPs, research nurses, pharmacists, and support staff trained in Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and committed to delivering studies safely and efficiently. We have a proven track record across the NIHR portfolio and are actively expanding our commercial study collaborations, leveraging our strong reputation for rapid recruitment, pristine data quality, and operational reliability.
Talita Refosco – Research Operational Lead
Network Access
Targeted Outreach
Efficient Enrollment
Compliant Processes
Where and How Are Participants Identified?
Efficient, Scalable, and Targeted Recruitment across our Primary Care Network
At K&W, we combine digital tools, clinical expertise, and network-wide integration to ensure timely and effective participant identification and recruitment for clinical studies.
Network-Wide Access
Recruitment can be conducted at individual Practice level or collectively across our integrated Network of 24 GP Practices, serving a diverse patient population of over 220,000 individuals.
Bespoke EMIS Searches
Customised patient searches can be run across the entire network or tailored to specific sites, ensuring efficient targeting based on study criteria.
NWL WSIC Dashboard
Utilised as a secondary platform to identify patients requiring targeted care, particularly for complex inclusion/exclusion criteria or at-risk cohorts.
Opportunistic Recruitment
Participants may be approached during routine appointments, health checks, or interventions conducted within Practices.
Existing Service Touchpoints
Recruitment is also embedded into high-traffic services such as:
- Phlebotomy
- Clinical hubs
- Multi-disciplinary team reviews
- Diabetes and cardiac clinics
- Out-of-hours and vaccination services
Engagement via Network Teams
Specialist Nurses and clinical teams actively identify eligible participants through ongoing patient group engagement and chronic disease management.
Scalable Recruitment Tools
Ethically Approved SMS Campaigns
Rapid, compliant outreach to identified patients via text messaging, enabling swift initial engagement and consent.
Docmail
Enables large-scale postal invitations with pre-approved study materials for patient information and opt-in.
Targeted Phone Campaigns
Direct, personalised contact by trained staff for initial outreach, follow-up, and consent coordination.
Recruitment Considerations and Mitigations
- No major barriers expected
- Plan for rare/stringent criteria using broader search, cross‑Practice referrals, or community outreach
RANKED TOP 10 RECRUITING NETWORK
Study Portfolio
Research Capability and Delivery Highlights
Study |
Type |
Recruitment / Delivery Performance |
| Virus Watch | Observational | 500+ participants recruited in 2 weeks |
| Discover Me | Genetic Research | 3,000+ participants in 2 weeks |
| Panoramic | COVID-19 antiviral trial | 120+ participants in 3 months |
| ELSA | Early autoimmune diabetes surveillance | 420+ children enrolled |
| SAFE-D | Pancreatic health after diabetes diagnosis (Pilot) | 800 planned; 9+ recruitment ongoing |
| LILAC-TIMI 76 | Phase 3, atrial fibrillation trial (AF) (Abelacimab) | Site initiated May 2025, hub visits from Sept 2025 |
| DARE-2-THINK | Phase III clinical trial in atrial fibrillation (AF) | Site initiated March 2025 |
Partner with Us for Effective Recruitment
Please fill out your enquiry below.
Our Facilities and Research Infrastructure
At K&W, we offer a robust, purpose-built research environment designed to support high-quality, efficient clinical trial delivery. From state-of-the-art equipment to a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team, we provide everything needed to conduct complex studies across multiple therapeutic areas.
Infrastructure
- Dedicated IMP and laboratory rooms
- Refrigerated Centrifuge (Sigma 16K)
- ECG – Mortara ELI230 (wireless)
- Cold-Chain Storage (-80°C to 2-8°C)
- Phlebotomy & Centrifugation
- Remote/Digital Trial Delivery
- Advanced first aid response equipment
- Calibrated weight, height, and vital signs monitors
- Fully accessible, child-friendly, and Wi-Fi-enabled clinical space
- Weekend and out-of-hours research access
- Centralised data systems via EMIS Web, WSIC, and Accurx for patient contact and data management
Research Staffing
Our research delivery team includes:
- Principal Investigator (GP)
- Clinical Research Nurse
- Clinical Pharmacist
- Phlebotomist and Healthcare Assistants
- Dedicated Research Project Manager
- Diabetes Specialist Nurse and Cardiovascular Nurse Consultant
- Data Management and Administrative Support Team
All staff are GCP trained and experienced in study delivery, participant safety, and data quality assurance.
Data and Digital Capabilities
- EMIS Web clinical system integration
- WSIC Dashboard access for patient identification and risk stratification
- Centralised access to 220,000 patient records across the network
- Rapid patient communication via Accurx and other secure platforms
- Dedicated Data Team supporting reporting and analysis
- Home visit support through active community-based clinical teams
Network-Wide Support
- Support from 24 GP Practices within the K&W Network
- Longstanding research-active GP Network
- Full collaboration across Network, PCN, Practice levels and community centres
- Additional research workforce available through the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN)
COLLABORATIONS
a message from our research programme manager
ANDY MOORE
Research is central to K&W Healthcare’s vision of delivering high-quality, forward-thinking care for our patients and the communities we serve. By embedding research within primary care, we create opportunities for people to participate in studies that advance medical knowledge, improve access to innovation, and help shape the future of healthcare. Through close collaboration with the NIHR and other research partners, we support the delivery of studies that generate meaningful evidence and contribute to improved health outcomes both locally and nationally.
Our research journey began nine years ago through a partnership with the NIHR, introducing clinical research into our member practices and laying the foundations for a sustainable research culture. While early engagement presented challenges within busy primary care settings, the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the strength and capability of our network. A dedicated team successfully delivered large-scale studies at pace, reaching diverse patient populations and contributing to nationally significant research efforts.
Building on this success, we established a central research team that now delivers a diverse portfolio of commercial and non-commercial studies. Through consistently strong recruitment, high-quality study delivery, and meaningful patient engagement, we have developed a reputation as a trusted research partner. We continue to expand our capability and welcome opportunities to collaborate with life sciences organisations, academic institutions, and healthcare partners to bring innovative research and new treatments closer to the communities we serve.
Our progress would not have been possible without the ongoing support of the NIHR, the Research Delivery Network, and our valued research partners. Their commitment has enabled us to establish a strong and sustainable primary care research infrastructure that benefits patients, practices, and communities. Looking ahead, we remain committed to increasing access to research opportunities, expanding our research portfolio, and developing productive partnerships that enable the delivery of high-quality research at scale.
meet the team
nigel de kare-silver
Principal Investigator / GP Partner
Provides strategic leadership and clinical
oversight for all research activity within
K&W Healthcare Research Unit. As
Principal Investigator, ensures the highest standards of scientific integrity,
participant safety, and regulatory
compliance across NIHR portfolio and
commercial clinical trials.
talita refosco
Research Operational Lead
Provides operational leadership and
strategic coordination for research activity across K&W Healthcare Research Unit. Oversees study delivery, sponsor engagement, participant recruitment, and data quality, ensuring compliance with governance frameworks, study protocols, and regulatory requirements across NIHR portfolio and commercial clinical trials.
andy moore
Research Programme Manager
Leads research governance, contracting, and study coordination across the GP Research Network’s 24 practices. Supports the successful set-up and delivery of commercial and non-commercial studies through practice engagement, EMIS-based participant identification, and recruitment oversight. Works closely with sponsors and study teams to ensure efficient, compliant study delivery.