UK Sarcoma Clinical Research Network

The overarching objective of the UK Sarcoma Clinical Research Network is to improve outcomes for people with sarcoma by strengthening clinical research across the UK.

The Network aims to:

• Increase the number of UK sites participating in international sarcoma trials
• Drive and enable more UK-led sarcoma clinical trials
• Improve coordination, quality and patient-centred design of sarcoma clinical research
• Strengthen clinical research capacity, including support for early career researchers and allied health professionals

The Network brings together multidisciplinary expertise and ensures that patient representatives are involved as equal partners in shaping research priorities and delivery.

The Network is structured around three Working Groups:

• Bone Sarcoma Working Group
  Delivered in collaboration with the Bone Cancer Research Trust.
• Soft Tissue Sarcoma Working Group
• Young Onset Soft Tissue Sarcoma (YOSS) Working Group

Each Working Group provides strategic oversight of its clinical research portfolio and acts as a supportive leadership forum to advance UK clinical trials in sarcoma.

The Groups work to:

• Identify research priority areas
• Coordinate funding opportunities and applications
• Support the planning and delivery of clinical trials
• Optimise study design and execution
• Strengthen collaboration across UK and international partners
• Ensure patient perspectives are meaningfully integrated

The Young Onset Soft Tissue Sarcoma Working Group particularly welcomes applications from allied health professionals, early-career researchers, MDT coordinators and translational research experts.

There is no limit to the number of members who may join a Working Group. While the Groups collectively provide strategic oversight, individual members are expected to contribute actively to specific projects, proposals or pieces of work aligned with agreed priorities.

Working Groups meet between two and four times per year.

Members are expected to:

• Attend meetings and review papers in advance
• Engage constructively in discussions
• Contribute to the development of proposals or projects
• Support collaboration across the UK sarcoma research community

Members work alongside clinicians, researchers and patient representatives in a multidisciplinary environment.

Each Working Group is led by a Chair and may include a Vice-Chair. Chairs and Vice-Chairs provide leadership to the Group, support delivery of agreed priorities and work with the Secretariat to ensure meetings and outputs are purposeful and productive.

Applicants who wish to be considered for a Chair or Vice-Chair position should indicate this in their application and outline relevant leadership experience.

We welcome applications from across the UK sarcoma community, including:

• Clinicians
• Basic scientists
• Allied health professionals
• Research nurses
• Pathologists
• MDT coordinators

We are keen to ensure a broad mix of professional backgrounds, career stages and geographical representation across the UK.

Membership is for a three-year term. This may be extended for up to a further three years by agreement with Sarcoma UK and, where relevant, the Bone Cancer Research Trust, to ensure appropriate continuity and turnover of members.

Following resignation after two consecutive terms, individuals may reapply after a period of three years.

Sarcoma UK hosts the UK Sarcoma Clinical Research Network and provides Secretariat support.

The Bone Sarcoma Working Group operates in collaboration with the Bone Cancer Research Trust.

The Bone Cancer Research Trust and Sarcoma UK are member aof the Association of Medical Research Charities and the Network operates in line with recognised research governance standards.