MARC Achieves Global Quality Certification for Clinical Research

Hampshire, UK – July 2025 — The Memory Assessment and Research Centre (MARC), part of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, has successfully achieved GCSA Site Certification, the internationally recognised Global Quality Standard for Clinical Research Sites, awarded by the International Accrediting Organisation for Clinical Research (IAOCR).

This prestigious, industry-endorsed certification formally recognises MARC’s commitment to delivering high-quality, ethical, and patient-centred dementia research to global best-practice standards. The GCSA accreditation is the only internationally recognised certification developed specifically for clinical research sites and is ratified by sponsors, Contract Research Organisations (CROs), NHS and commercial research organisations worldwide.

During the independent assessment process, the IAOCR evaluation team commended MARC for its strong research infrastructure, collaborative culture, and clear commitment to continuous improvement across the end-to-end clinical trial pathway.

Suzanne Dodge, Research Manager at MARC, said:

“The team at MARC are absolutely delighted to have achieved our GCSA accreditation. As an experienced research team our department has evolved over the years, and it is hugely valuable to receive objective, constructive feedback from an external organisation. The accreditation process allowed our team to showcase the exciting dementia research we are so proud to be involved in. This recognition reflects not only MARC’s work, but also the wider Academy of Research and Improvement 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 enormously grateful.”

GCSA certification is awarded following a rigorous, evidence-based assessment across seven high-impact operational areas, confirming that a research site meets globally endorsed quality standards and operates as a Trusted Global Partner for clinical research.

By achieving GCSA certification, MARC strengthens its position as a leader in dementia research, reinforcing confidence among sponsors, collaborators, participants, and their families, while supporting the delivery of safe, effective, and innovative clinical studies.