The investment is part of the £400 million VPAG Investment Programme, a government-pharmaceutical industry partnership to enhance the UK's life sciences competitiveness
The government has announced a £100 million public-private investment to establish 20 new commercial research delivery centres (CRDCs) across the UK, aimed at increasing access to innovative treatments and clinical trials in underserved communities.
These centres will be set up in all four nations: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, acting as regional hubs for pioneering clinical trials.
These trials will span various conditions, including cancer, obesity, and infectious diseases like flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The hubs will facilitate the swift launch of commercial studies, ensuring that patients can access experimental treatments as soon as possible.
Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron hailed the investment as “a powerful vote of confidence in the UK’s leading research and life sciences sector.”
She noted that the new hubs will shift research into smaller communities, allowing more people to access cutting-edge treatments faster.
“Prevention is better than cure - these trials will help unlock the next generation of treatments, boost economic growth and build an NHS fit for the future,” she added.
The £100 million funding is part of a broader £400 million joint public-private investment scheme —the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicine Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) Investment Programme—designed to enhance the global competitiveness of the UK’s life sciences sector and stimulate economic growth.
Richard Torbett, chief executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), highlighted the significant economic benefits of industry clinical trials, which generate revenue for the NHS and improve patient outcomes in research-active hospitals.
The CRDCs are geared to support industry clinical trials across many different care settings in the four UK nations.
“We look forward to the network of new CRDCs working closely with industry to offer more patients across the UK the opportunity to participate in studies of the latest cutting-edge treatments,” he added.
