The foundations of the Network were laid down in 1998 when the MRC established the MRC Trial Managers' Network (MRC TMN), to bring together Trial Managers working on MRC grants; many of whom were working in isolation, rather than in Clinical Trials Units (CTUs).

In 2003, the MRC TMN changed its name to UK Trial Managers' Network (UKTMN)  to acknowledge the financial support from the Department of Health.

UKTMN succeeded in continuing to facilitate the development of a well trained, highly motivated, effective workforce of Trial Managers within the UK health research system and helped ensure  that publicly funded clinical trials undertaken in academic and clinical settings were effectively delivered on time and within budget. The Network also provided a forum for peer support allowing Trial Managers to share best practice and exchange information.

The UKTMN was influential in establishing high quality training and support for Trial Managers, its main achievements include:

• The Guide to Efficient Trial Management
• The UKTMN website
• The UKTMN Mailing list
• The UKTMN Annual Meetings
• The UKTMN Training Programme, delivering a range of relevant workshops and study days
• Contributed to the curriculum of the MSc in Clinical Trials run by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• Development of uniformed job description specific to Trial Managers for employing academic and clinical institutions.

In 2011, the UKTMN was renamed to NIHR TMN to acknowledge changes in funding arrangements for the Network, now fully funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and hosted by  Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU) University of Leeds.

Last Reviewed: November 2012