Research practice

Central Clinic is a research active practice linked to the Clinical Research Network (West Midlands), which is part of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). We have been accredited by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) as a research ready practice.

We work in close collaboration with our GPs, research nurses and facilitators based at the University of Birmingham. If a patient is eligible to join a research study running in our practice, a GP or other healthcare professional will provide written information. Taking part in a research study is voluntary and can be beneficial to patients who participate in them. Examples of research projects include:

  • Investigating respiratory infections.
  • Management of heart failure.
  • How to increase physical activity.
  • Finding out whether low dose aspirin helps people with Type 2 diabetes.
  • Ways to help people stop smoking.
  • The use of self-monitoring of blood pressure.
  • Investigating timing of taking blood pressure medication.

If you would like to know more about research taking place locally, visit:

Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC)

This practice is one of over 260 practices in England contributing pseudonymised data for national research and surveillance.

These data enable continuous monitoring of infections and diseases in the community and is used in ethically approved research. The RCGP RSC is the main source of information for Public Health England (PHE) and helps with prediction and management of flu outbreaks and pandemics.

Providing pseudonymised data does not affect patients, their care or privacy, however if you no longer wish to allow your information to be used, please speak to your GP.

For further information please visit or contact: