Involving service users, carers and the public in research is important to us. We want  the public to help design and shape studies, as well as take part in them. We believe that all research is improved by working with people who have experienced the subject being studied.

“At CNTW we want to be a leader in research, because this enables us to make services better and to understand where we are making a difference to people's lives. To do this we need to work with and involve people who use our services, their carers and families in our research work. We value everyone's contribution, and it makes a real difference."

James Duncan, Chief Executive

Studies at CNTW currently looking for people to take part

We usually have a range of different studies taking place which people in our region can sign up to. (You can also speak to the staff who are supporting you / your loved one, to find out about any trials which may be a good fit.)

Browse a list of studies open at CNTW

Sign up to Be Part of Research

NIHR_Be Part Of Research_Logo_stacked_RGB.pngBe Part of Research is a UK-wide service helping people find and take part in health and care research across nearly every health condition. It is run by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), in collaboration with the NHS and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Find out more on the Be Part of Research website

Our Research Involvement Hub (also known as the Ri Hub) helps people with autism, a learning disability, mental distress, or neurodegeneration – and their carers – to:

  • Shape and design research and innovation projects.
  • Receive training to support their personal development and skills.
  • Get paid roles in research.
  • Become peer researchers, or researchers in their own right.

When you join the Research Involvement Hub, you can select areas you’re interested in. You can also provide some information about yourself.

We’ll use this information to contact you about research projects you might be interested in. You’ll also receive a regular newsletter from us, celebrating the impact of involvement and peer research at CNTW.

Sign up to the Research Involvement Hub.

If you have any questions about the Ri Hub, please contact ResearchInvolvement@cntw.nhs.uk.

We work with Northumbria University to deliver free training to help people with lived experience of mental distress develop their research skills. The course is called ‘Public Involvement and Co-production in Research’.

There are no entry requirements for this training. You don’t need any other qualifications or experience.

The course is free to the learner. Places are currently paid for through funded research or other organisations.

Teaching takes place in person at Northumbria University in Newcastle. (We are hoping to launch online training soon.)

The training is in two modules. It offers up to 60 credits towards a Level 4 qualification. (A Level 4 qualification is equivalent to the first year of a university degree in the UK. A typical first year of full-time university has 120 credits.)

For more information about the course, please email ResearchInvolvement@cntw.nhs.uk.

On our Research Registers and Research Involvement Hub

We will store your information on our secure servers. Only authorised staff can access this information. Your personal information will be held in an electronic folder and excel database. The database helps us search all our volunteers at once to match them to study criteria more easily.

We will only share your information with your consent.

You can ask us to remove your data at any time by emailing:

When you agree to take part in a specific research study

If you join a research study, we will use your data as needed for the research. The people running the study will tell you more about this before you sign up.

Once you agree to take part in a study, your rights to access, change, or move your information are limited. We need to manage your information carefully to ensure the research is reliable and accurate. If you leave the study, we will keep the information about you that we have already gathered.

We will use the least amount of personally identifiable information possible, to protect your rights.

All your data is stored in line with the General Data Protection Regulation 2018. Find out more about the personal data we process and collect.

Using de-identified data for research

Our organisation is helping to improve access to anonymised medical records for healthcare researchers and planners.

Giving researchers and planners access to this information can help find new treatments and improve care for everyone.

Your name and any personal details are removed or replaced with a code before anyone can access the record.

Researchers are only allowed access if they meet strict security and ethical standards. Their research must be in the public interest.

Your health records will stay within the NHS, and researchers will only be allowed to view the parts of your record that they have permission to access.

We are part of two databases of de-identified records:

Opting out

You can opt out of your records being included in these databases.