Minister for Health Safety and Innovation (Dr ): Today I am pleased to
announce that DHSC, through the National Institute for Health and
Care Research (NIHR), is awarding £47.8 million to fund equipment
that will help the NHS to deliver high quality commercial
research. This investment includes funding from the Voluntary
Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) Investment
Programme.
This funding is being awarded to 51 NHS Trusts and 79 Primary
Care Organisations across England to pay for cutting-edge
equipment, building refurbishments and modular buildings
essential for delivering research within the NHS and primary care
settings. This investment will allow the NHS to expand its
capacity for commercial clinical trials, helping patients access
new medicines through research and strengthening the UK's
reputation as a global leader for delivering world-class clinical
trials.
In this 2025 award, eligibility was expanded beyond NHS Trusts to
include Primary Care Organisations, ensuring that providers
across the NHS are equipped to deliver commercial research.
Funding has been allocated to organisations across England, from
Cornwall to Cumbria, with the majority of awards going to
organisations outside the Greater South-East. The deployment of
mobile research vans in Leicestershire, Essex and Norfolk will
enhance access to research for patients in underserved areas.
Refurbishment of existing, underutilised spaces in Primary Care
Organisation across Devon, South Yorkshire and the East Midlands
will improve clinical research capacity in the community. These
investments support the NHS 10-Year Health Plan's goals of
shifting care from hospitals into communities and improving
equitable access to the latest health and care innovations,
through research.
The awards will address current barriers to delivering commercial
clinical trials, including limited access to equipment, support
services such as imaging and pharmacies, and space constraints.
Funding is being awarded for specialty pharmacy facilities,
including in Norwich, Plymouth and London will enable the
delivery of innovative treatments.
There is also funding for cutting-edge equipment and technology.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust were successful in their
application for equipment to deliver non-invasive
ultrasound-based therapy to destroy tumours without surgery or
radiation. Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is receiving
funding for imaging and diagnostic equipment for sleep, dementia
and depression research. Primary Care Organisations in Dunstable,
Wigan, and Birmingham were successful in their application for
essential monitoring equipment to support research in respiratory
diseases. Funding for this specialist equipment enables
development of novel treatments through innovative research and
supports the UK's position as an attractive place for innovative
companies to invest in research.
While the equipment and increased capacity for clinical trials
funded by this award is primarily for commercial research, when
not in use in this way, equipment such as ultrasound and MRI
Scanners may be used for routine clinical care and to help cut
waiting lists. This will ensure there is enhanced capacity in our
NHS to perform more procedures and diagnostic tests, speeding up
treatment times and ensuring the benefit from this funding award
is felt across the board.
