In recognition of the immediate and growing importance of diabetes to public health in the UK, the Department of Health launched the National Institute for Health Research Diabetes Research Network (NIHR DRN) in July 2005.
The DRN is a network of primary and secondary care centres throughout the UK supported by the Department of Health for the purpose of conducting high-quality clinical research in both the commercial and academic sectors.
This network provides an opportunity for research into risk factors, and new strategies for the treatment and prevention of diabetes and its complications. Importantly, it also provides a way to distribute these strategies into clinical practice. The DRN intends to provide a world-class health service infrastructure to support clinical research in diabetes.