Who are we?

SCReN Platform

It is a collaborative, non-profit, national network structure, funded by the Institute de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) and co-financed by the European Structural Development Funds (ERDF). (ERDF). It is currently is currently made up of research units clinic distributed throughout the national territory whose objective is to promote and cover the needs of independent clinical research.

Mission

To ensure the provision of transversal support services to the R&D&I system for the realisation of an carrying out the highest quality Clinical Research (CR) of the highest quality, which enables the generation and transfer of knowledge.

Vision

  • To provide the scientific community with a support structure that facilitates the development of projects of scientific, technological and innovative projects for the NHS with the highest methodological and technical rigour.
  • To provide a coordinated and immediate response at the national level to health emergencies or situations of public interest for the national health system.
  • Optimisation of NHS resources for efficient research.
  • Strengthening the international competitiveness of R&D&I in the Spanish NHS and the internationalisation of the the Platform.
  • To develop new methodological approaches in Clinical Research.
  • Design a plan for the long-term sustainability of the Platform's activities.

Values

  • Commitment to the patient and the scientific community
  • Unit
  • Transparency and integrity
  • Quality
  • Sustainability

Structure and Governance

The ISCIII Platform for Clinical Research Support is composed of Clinical Research Units (UICs) and their capacity to provide scientific-technical services through infrastructures and professionals belonging to different institutions.

The structure is designed for global management in a participatory, dynamic, and efficient way, in accordance with ISCIII requirements. This Platform is based on the following fundamental principles:

  1. The participation of all Clinical Research Support Units (UICs) in the operation and activities of the Platform, taking on responsibilities in decision-making and activity coordination through the General Assembly, the Steering Committee, Working Groups (WGs), the Project Evaluation Committee, and the Project Management Teams.
  2. The need to maximize resources across the different UICs to meet the demand for collaborative and high-quality clinical research.
  3. Maximum transparency in decision-making processes.

The platform is structured around the following elements and bodies:

Governance and Participation Bodies

  1. ISCIII Steering and Monitoring Committee for Platforms supporting R&D&I in Biomedicine and Health Sciences. Pending establishment.
  2. General Assembly (GA): composed of the principal investigators of the different UICs and members of the Coordination Team.
  3. Steering Committee (SC): chaired by the Platform Coordinator and composed of the sub-coordinators plus six representatives from the UICs elected by the GA.

Platform Coordination (PC)

Body responsible for coordinating and monitoring the implementation of strategic plans and actions approved by the ISCIII Platform Steering and Monitoring Committee and the Steering Committee. It reports to the Steering Committee, the GA, and the ISCIII Platform Steering and Monitoring Committee. Internally, it consists of:

  1. Platform Coordinator: Ultimately responsible for the general coordination and control of Platform activities, and directly accountable to the ISCIII Platform Steering and Monitoring Committee.
  2. Three sub-coordinators delegated by the Platform Coordinator to carry out and coordinate Coordination and WG activities.
  3. Technical Secretariat: Provides strategic support in managing available human and technological resources to implement decisions made by the Governance Bodies.

Management and Activity Monitoring Bodies

  1. Working Groups (WGs): composed of a coordinator, a sub-coordinator for each WG, and a variable number of members depending on the interests and capabilities of each unit. The WGs must operate in close connection with the Coordination.
  2. Project Evaluation Committee (PEC): its role is to assess the feasibility and implementation of each project by the Platform. It consists of four Coordination members and one representative from each WG. Reports to the Steering Committee.
  3. Project Management Teams (PMTs): made up of UIC personnel working directly on each project. They report to the Project Evaluation and Monitoring Committee.