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Study shows that clinical research in England is ‘thriving’

Research shows that the NHS continues to provide the optimum environment for the life sciences industry to deliver research.

The study, by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and covering the period April 2018 to March 2019, shows that across the board, clinical research in England is thriving.

The number of new commercial studies set up across the year reached record levels – with 740 new studies sponsored by the life sciences industry registered on the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) portfolio in 2018/19, bringing the total number of studies being delivered in partnership with commercial organisations to 1,523.

“Despite the changing healthcare environment, clinical research in England is thriving – with record numbers taking part in studies supported by the NIHR over the last year,” said Dr Jonathan Sheffield OBE, Chief Executive of NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN). “As an organisation, we remain primed to provide high quality support and expertise that enables the life sciences industry to access key infrastructure and deliver research within the NHS and social care.

“Clinical research is vital for the UK economy and the NHS. More research being delivered within the UK by the life sciences industry, including global pharmaceutical companies, ultimately means more inward investment to the UK – aiding the economy by bringing in both jobs and services to the country while boosting NHS finances. We are pleased to see that the NHS continues to be seen as one of the very best places in the world in order to conduct high quality clinical research.”

The key areas of research were:

  • Children’s research studies 
  • Studies delivered in primary care settings
  • Childbirth and reproductive health research 
  • Cancer research 
  • Mental health research.

There were a record number of new studies (2,194) supported by the NIHR over the year, bringing the total number of ongoing studies across England to 6,106 – the largest number yet.

For the first time since 2015/16, every NHS trust across the country also supported clinical research by recruiting their patients into NIHR studies.