Complete guide to NHS research and innovation in the UK — clinical trial management, NIHR funding, research governance, innovation adoption, AHSN partnerships, and research software.
The NHS runs 5,000+ clinical trials per year with £1 billion NIHR investment. Research-active trusts have better patient outcomes and higher CQC ratings. This guide covers research and innovation management.
NHS Research Infrastructure
| Component | Description | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| NIHR BRCs | Biomedical Research Centres (11 centres) | £800M over 5 years |
| NIHR CRF | Clinical Research Facilities (28 facilities) | £100M+ |
| NIHR CRN | Clinical Research Network (recruitment support) | £300M/year |
| NIHR HTA | Health Technology Assessment programme | £100M/year |
| AHSNs | 15 Academic Health Science Networks | £70M over 5 years |
| Health Innovation Network | London AHSN (specialist) | £10M/year |
Clinical Trial Management
- Protocol development: Design trial protocol with statistical analysis plan
- Ethics approval: REC (Research Ethics Committee) approval required
- HRA approval: Health Research Authority approval for all UK research
- Site setup: Train staff, set up systems, confirm capacity and capability
- Patient recruitment: Identify, consent, and enrol eligible patients
- Data collection: Collect trial data per protocol using EDC system
- Safety monitoring: Report SAEs (Serious Adverse Events) within 24h
- Trial closure: Data lock, analysis, publication, archiving
Innovation Adoption in the NHS
- NHS Innovation Accelerator (NIA): Supports innovators to scale in NHS
- NHSX AI in Health and Care Award: £123M for AI adoption
- Innovation Exchange: Online platform for NHS to find innovations
- NICE Evidence Standards: Framework for evaluating digital health
- DTAC (Digital Technology Assessment Criteria): Criteria for digital health adoption
- SBRI Healthcare: Competitions for SMEs to develop NHS solutions
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the NIHR and how does it fund NHS research?
- The NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) is the UK's largest funder of health research, investing £1 billion annually. NIHR funds: Biomedical Research Centres (£800M), Clinical Research Facilities, Research Professorships, and Programme Grants. NHS trusts can apply for NIHR funding to support clinical research.
- How many clinical trials run in the NHS?
- The NHS runs 5,000+ clinical trials per year, recruiting 1 million+ participants. The NHS is a world leader in clinical research, with 40% of trials delivering results within 3 years. NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) supports recruitment across all NHS trusts.
- What are AHSNs and how do they help NHS innovation?
- AHSNs (Academic Health Science Networks) are 15 regional networks that accelerate innovation adoption in the NHS. They connect NHS trusts with industry, academia, and patients to spread proven innovations. AHSNs have adopted 200+ innovations across the NHS, benefiting 10 million patients.