TITLE:

UKSCIRN Terms of Reference 2013

Purpose:

To promote and facilitate multicentre clinical research in England to improve clinical outcomes in Spinal Cord Injury.

Reporting:

The Board reports to the NHS Trust who host the Network.

Membership

The executive shall comprise of:

BASCIS: 6 nominated members with demonstrable experience in clinical research.

MASCIP: 4 nominated members.

Academic: The Board should include four academic members who hold University appointments; at least two to serve on the Scientific Committee.

SIA: A nominated member to represent patient’s interests.

SIT: A nominated member to represent UK Charities.

Spinal Research: 1 member at Director or Executive level with up to two additional members who may be appointed by the Chair subject to ratification by the Board

Commissioner: A member with commitment at national level.

The Board may seek to co-op up to two other members with relevant experience.

The Board should nominate the Clinical Director (Chair) and the Chair of the Scientific Committee. Members of the Scientific Committee need not be members of the Executive Board but the Clinical Director (Chair) should be an existing member.

Quorum:

Over half the     Over half the membership to include a minimum of two BASCIS and one MASCIP membership, Chair or deputy.

Management:

The Board should include a Finance Director and Programme Manager.

Members should serve a term of four years and a maximum of two terms except for the membership of academic members which may be reviewed after 2 terms.

The Chair should write to the Chair of representative bodies and ask that membership be renewed through the body after 4 years.

A Chair should be elected by the committee and serve for a maximum of two terms.

Frequency of Meetings

A minimum of three times a year. At least one of these meetings should be face to face.

Functions:

To decide on research priorities in spinal cord injury.

To catalyse collaborative research bids to funding bodies.

To increase funding into the area of spinal cord injury.

To promote high standards of clinical research and of research governance.

To review and advise on potential multicentre research projects.

To conduct calls for proposals where funding allows.

To facilitate contact between researchers.