Patients across the UK will benefit from a supercharged clinical research system, backed by £175 million of dedicated investment, which will save lives across the country.
The UK-wide plan will enable innovative research to be carried out more quickly, helping patients access cutting-edge treatments sooner, speeding up diagnosis and helping to bust the COVID-19 backlogs. It will:
- increase the amount of research and the size of the workforce putting the UK at the centre of cutting edge and global clinical studies
- improve the quality of research by broadening responsibility and accountability for studies across the NHS
- ensure studies address the needs and challenges facing the NHS, including improving inclusivity and accessibility
- take advantage of opportunities outside the EU to reduce regulations allowing for safe, speedy and flexible research
- improve participation in research across the UK by investment in digitally focused trials
This will further cement the UK’s position as a world leader in life sciences and the delivery of clinical research, and follows the country’s successful development and rollout out of COVID-19 vaccinations.
The plan – which sets out the second phase of work through 2022 to 2025 to achieve the vision for The Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery – includes £150 million of additional funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and £25 million additional funding from other delivery partners in the UK Clinical Research Recovery, Resilience and Growth Programme.
The second phase will build on work already done, including halving the approval times for new clinical trials. The £175 million investment is on top of up to £200 million funding announced earlier this year to strengthen the data infrastructure in the devolved administrations to enable better research and cement the UK’s status as a global life sciences superpower.
The continued investment means clinical trials can take place more quickly with a strengthened workforce and improved technology, helping patients take part virtually, which is already benefiting the whole of the UK, with examples including the delivery of antiviral treatments to protect vulnerable people from COVID.
The Health and Social Care Secretary said: "We are bolstering clinical research to improve healthcare for patients across the UK, by providing our world-leading experts with the tools needed to deliver cutting edge scientific developments, grow the workforce and harness digital innovations.
"As a global life sciences superpower, we have led the world on vaccines and antiviral treatments and today’s plan will ensure we continue to be at the forefront of clinical research to save lives and bust the COVID-19 backlog.
Minister for Technology, Innovation and Life Sciences Lord Kamall said: "Our world leading scientists and clinicians proved time and again during the COVID-19 pandemic they are at the cutting edge of innovation and scientific advancement.
"We will continue to support them by providing the funding, infrastructure and workforce required for state-of-the-art clinical research which ultimately saves lives. By working together we can protect the NHS, slash the backlog and ensure patients benefit from speedy and safe clinical research.
Significant strides to bolster research already include:
- halving the approval times for new clinical trials, enabling them to start faster and innovative new research to be discovered more quickly
- launching a new UK-wide professional accreditation scheme for clinical research practitioners to help double the size of this important workforce and enable more research to take place
- providing a £200 million investment in health data infrastructure in England to strengthen the data infrastructure in the devolved administrations to enable better research
Improving the UK’s ability to harness technology and conduct studies virtually and in the community, such as the PANORAMIC trial of antiviral treatments for COVID and the RELIEVE IBS-D virtual trial designed to help people with IBS-D manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
