The UK clinical research environment in the NHS is going from strength to strength with year-on-year growth in terms of numbers of participants recruited into clinical research studies and the number of studies being supported each year.
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is one of the UK’s leading bodies responsible for driving this engine of activity through the NHS and this year reported record breaking figures with more than 725,000 people taking part in more than 5800 clinical research studies across England.
A large proportion of the NIHR’s research is funded by organisations such as medical charities, research councils, the government and the NIHR itself. There’s also a growing portfolio of research that’s sponsored by the life sciences industry, such as pharmaceutical companies and contract research organisations (CROs), which brings a wide range of benefits to patients, the NHS and UK plc.
During 2017/18 more people than ever before took part in NHS clinical research studies sponsored by the life sciences industry. The NIHR helped to recruit 50,112 participants into commercial research studies - up 45% on the previous year and bringing the five year total to almost 180,000. Whilst the numbers are impressive, it’s important not to overlook what this actually means for patients, the benefits to the NHS of having access to life sciences studies and trials and the positive future for clinical research in the UK with Brexit on the horizon.
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