NIHR has awarded £47.8 million to pay for equipment that will increase the ability of the NHS to deliver high-quality commercial research, as part of the Government’s aim to turbocharge clinical trials.
The award is funded by a partnership between the Government and the pharmaceutical industry, called the Voluntary Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) Investment Programme.
The VPAG programme is designed to boost the global competitiveness of the UK life sciences sector and stimulate economic growth by accelerating commercial clinical trials, boosting NHS research capacity, and supporting sustainable, innovative medicine manufacturing.
Where the funding will go
This funding will provide essential equipment to 51 NHS Trusts and 79 primary care organisations across England. The equipment - which includes a range of items, from diagnostic kit such as spirometers and ECG machines to high-tech scanners and mobile research vans - will help to streamline the delivery of innovative clinical trials.
The majority of this investment - 60% of all successful awards - has been secured by primary care organisations to bring commercial clinical trials directly to local communities. This will make it easier for people from all backgrounds to take part in life-changing research and get early access to innovative treatments.
Dr Zubir Ahmed, Health Innovation and Safety Minister, said: "As a practising surgeon, I know first-hand the difference access to innovation can make – and this investment will strengthen the NHS's ability to deliver groundbreaking clinical trials – not just in hospitals, but crucially in communities across the country.
“For too long, access to innovative treatments has been unequal. By targeting primary care, we are changing that – giving patients everywhere the chance to benefit from the latest medical breakthroughs on their doorstep, regardless of where they live or their background.
“This is how we will build an NHS fit for the future, keep the UK at the cutting-edge of global life sciences, and drive the economic growth our country needs.”
Now in its third successful year, the NIHR’s Capital Investment Funding competition expanded its scope this time. Eligibility extended beyond NHS Trusts to include all non-commercial NHS providers, with a focus on addressing bottlenecks in research delivery and ensuring organisations across diverse settings are equipped to meet the needs of industry.
Eligible applicants included NHS Trusts, Primary Care Networks, Integrated Care Boards, GP practices, GP federations, and Community Interest Companies providing NHS primary care.
As well as providing cutting-edge equipment, the funding will also modernise research spaces through building refurbishments and new modular facilities.
This project helps more communities take part in life-saving research. It targets local health centres that are ready to expand, making it easier for patients everywhere to get involved.
As a result, primary care providers had access to new funding - with the majority of awards going to organisations outside the Greater South East.
Funded equipment and refurbishments include:
• Mobile research vans equipped for screening and diagnostics to increase patient recruitment and reduce geographic inequalities in locations including Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.
• Diagnostic infrastructure including fibroscanners, Accuvein scanners and ultrasound scanners to address imaging needs for trial set-up and delivery.
• Speciality pharmacy refurbishments to unblock challenges in responding to industry needs for commercial clinical trials, including in York and Scarborough, Sheffield and the North Midlands.
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Chief Executive Officer of the NIHR, said: “This significant investment will provide the NHS with the high-quality equipment and facilities it needs to deliver cutting-edge commercial research that benefits the public.
“With more than half of the funding this time going to primary care providers, the NIHR is once again showing its commitment to shifting research out of hospitals and into local communities, giving patients direct access to innovative treatments, and making it easier for everyone to take part in research.
“This helps to make research more equitable, enhances the UK’s reputation for delivering world-class commercial research, and helps position the country as an attractive place for companies to invest.”
Dr Janet Valentine, executive director of Innovation and Research Policy at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said: “Access to the right equipment across the NHS is essential to ensure that industry-sponsored clinical trials can run efficiently and that more patients have the opportunity to take part in studies of the latest treatments. This welcome new investment through the NIHR and the pharmaceutical industry’s VPAG Investment Programme will help address equipment shortages that can create bottlenecks in hospital-based research.
“Funding for research equipment in primary care will also expand the ability of GP practices and community providers to offer research opportunities closer to where people live. Importantly, investment in mobile research units will help extend the reach of clinical trials into underserved communities, ensuring more people can benefit from taking part in research.” |