Pioneering Dementia Research Site Recognised with Global Site Certification

Pioneering Dementia Research Site Recognised with Global Site Certification

Southampton and Maidenhead, UK – 31 July 2025 — The Memory Assessment and Research Centre (MARC), part of the Academy of Research and Improvement within Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, has joined an elite group of clinical research sites having achieved certification with GCSA – The Global Quality Standard for Clinical Research Sites, awarded by the International Accrediting Organisation for Clinical Research (IAOCR). MARC is the latest in a growing number of sites worldwide to meet the GCSA standard, a rigorous benchmark developed to promote global consistency and quality in clinical research delivery.

This internationally recognised certification highlights MARC’s commitment to delivering high-quality, ethical, and patient-centred dementia research. It reflects the centre’s professionalism, strong research culture, and contribution to improving clinical outcomes through research excellence.

“The team at MARC are absolutely delighted to have achieved our GCSA Certification. As an experienced research team our department has evolved over the years. It is lovely to have an external organisation give objective feedback that is so constructive and brings confidence to the team in the way that we are working,” explains Suzanne Dodge, MARC Manager. “The certification process allowed our team to showcase the exciting dementia research we are so proud to be involved in. The achievement of this global quality standard is fantastic recognition for not only MARC but also the wider Academy of Research and Improvement of which we are a part of, and Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Most of all credit must go to our amazing volunteers without whom there would be no research and to whom we are hugely grateful.”

GCSA is the only independent, internationally recognised certification which has been built specifically for clinical research sites. It provides a robust, standardised framework for evaluating site capabilities and operations, enabling research centres to demonstrate their capacity to deliver high-quality clinical trials on a global scale.

The IAOCR assessment team praised MARC’s strong internal culture and commitment to quality, highlighting the professionalism and transparency of staff throughout the process. “There is a real focus on ensuring everyone in the team feels valued and recognised, which is very positive,” noted the final report. The GCSA assessors also commended MARC’s robust governance processes, patient-centred approach, and efforts to support workplace wellbeing – particularly in the context of recent organisational changes.

“Achieving GCSA Certification is a clear demonstration of MARC’s commitment to quality, people, and patients,” said Sarah Everitt, Chief Client and Quality Officer at IAOCR. “The assessment team were particularly impressed by the strength of the research culture, the professionalism of staff, and the site’s dedication to continuous improvement. MARC is setting a benchmark for dementia research delivery, and we are proud to formally recognise their excellence through this certification.”

The GCSA certification process is based on a comprehensive assessment framework that has been developed with and ratified by global industry experts and opinion leaders. The GCSA Quality Standard for Clinical Research Sites was developed by IAOCR in close consultation with a Global Advisory Board of key stakeholders and leaders from across the industry. This Standard assesses the following seven core business operational areas identified by Sponsors and CROs as being critical to the delivery of high-quality clinical trials: Patient Engagement; Feasibility; Study Start-up & Initiation; and Study Management, Operations & Close Down; Governance; Site Business Strategy and Workforce Quality;

To learn more about IAOCR, the GCSA standard, and how we can support your organisation please visit iaocr.com and/or email info@iaocr.com. Alternatively, you can call:

• International: +44 1628 784906
• US Toll Free: +1 855 209-2335
• UK: 01628 784906

For further press information please contact: pr@iaocr.com

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Notes to editors

About IAOCR

IAOCR is the International Accrediting Organisation for Clinical Research. Established in 2011, IAOCR works collaboratively with key industry stakeholders across the clinical research landscape to pioneer global best practice standards for sites, organisations and clinical research professionals. IAOCR’s portfolio of global quality standards, certifications and accreditations have been developed specifically for the clinical research industry and are valued and adopted by sponsors, CROs, commercial and NHS sites, supply chain organisations and clinical research professionals worldwide.

Through robustly verifying competence of clinical research workforce and quality assuring clinical research business processes, IAOCR works with organisations to reduce risk to patients, clinical research and reputations, improve compliance and bring valuable new treatments to market more quickly and safely.

All IAOCR’s quality standards and assessment frameworks have been built in close collaboration with industry experts globally. Sites, companies, charities and professionals achieving IAOCR certification and accreditation standards are provided with distinctive certification marks, formally demonstrating organisations that are committed to globally consistent and high-quality clinical research.

We believe that clinical trial patients anywhere in the world deserve the best protection in terms of rights and wellbeing. Therefore, in addition to providing certification, accreditation, training and consultancy services, IAOCR works with industry leaders and regulators around the globe to raise standards and improve the clinical research landscape. To find out more visit: iaocr.com

About GCSA

GCSA is a global quality standard for clinical research sites set across seven key business operational areas. It ensures clinical trial sites are working to robust and effective business operational processes across the end-to end clinical trial pathway, so that they can deliver best-in-class services to patients and sponsors/CROs. The GCSA framework was developed over 4 years with industry research and engagement. It has been ratified by a Global Advisory Board of leading industry representatives from the not-for-profit and commercial sector, including leading global Sponsors and CROs, the NHS and other leading healthcare organisations.

The standard has been built to address key industry challenges and facilitate synergistic working between sites and sponsors to enable better patient outcomes. It provides potential sponsors with an assurance of capability through passing independent assessment based on standards and expectations specified by sponsors. Furthermore, GCSA aims to increase clinical research through alignment with commercial requirements. To find out more visit: iaocr.com

About MARC

Based in Southampton, UK the Memory Assessment and Research Centre (MARC) are a multidisciplinary NHS team, led by Dr. Brady McFarlane, Director or MARC and Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry. The team work as part of a larger Academy of Research and Improvement within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. MARC have specialised in dementia research since 1987 and have conducted over 300 clinical trials in Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, Vascular Dementia and Dementia with Lewy Bodies over that time. MARC has strong links with the University of Southampton and take pride in delivering cutting edge academic and commercial research whilst trialling the latest medications for dementia in partnership with many different pharmaceutical companies globally.