Faster, smarter, more inclusive: The UK roadmap for cutting-edge clinical research

The government update of August 2025 presents an ambitious and detailed plan to fundamentally transform the UK system for clinical research — supported by significant investments and structural reforms.

The focus is on three key changes:

• the transfer of research from hospital to outpatient community
• the consistent use of digital innovations
• the greater prioritization of prevention over treatment

Four strategic pillars guide these reforms:

• faster access to clinical trials
• tackling major health challenges
• reducing inequalities through inclusive research
• creating a world-class environment for life sciences

Special features of the roadmap include the annual investment of £1.6 billion for research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), with the NHS benefiting from significant financial returns, particularly in subsequent intervention studies. The new UK Clinical Research Delivery (UKCRD) program focuses on cross-sector collaboration, accelerated study setups (maximum 150 days) and promotes research offerings in primary and community care for wider participation.

A key part of the strategy is the Voluntary Branded Drug Pricing, Accessibility, and Growth Program (VPAG), which expands staffing capacity and creates new commercial research centres.

The following initiatives are particularly noteworthy:

• Improved study set-up plan: This “digital-first” approach removes unnecessary bureaucracy when approving studies; the results of the first two phases were already published in 2025. The results are continuously monitored.
• “Right Research, Right Setting” initiative: Research is located where patients receive their regular care — particularly in the community and primary care — to enable wider participation and more relevant insights.
• Proactive portfolio management: The active involvement of NIHR in industry (advisory group, optimised contract drafting) shows the shift towards partnership and early problem solving.

The update also describes progress beyond Lord O'Shaughnessy's recommendations: such as faster national contract value reviews (NCVR) for commercial studies, compliance with 60-day deadlines for regulatory approvals, the introduction of a clinical trial accelerator, and the publication of transparency data at site level.

In addition, the NHS consistently integrates research implementation into everyday working life — with new guidelines, targeted promotion of personnel development and initiatives to expand digital volunteer registers. As part of the “Be Part of Research” campaign, the government has set the new goal of reaching 2 million volunteer registrations by March 2026. Innovations in confidentiality agreements, pharmacy guidelines and optimised contracts are already reducing negotiation times and regulatory hurdles.