UK Clinical Research Delivery
A cross-sector programme

UKCRD replaces the UK Clinical Research Recovery, Resilience and Growth (RRG) Programme, as the sector is no longer in recovery, given huge progress with:  

• Global and European ‘Firsts’ provide an indication of an agile and efficiently running clinical trials system characterised by streamlined set-up and recruitment processes. In 2023/24, the UK achieved 2.5 times more ‘First Global/European Patients’ than the year before.  

• Studies are back on track. The proportion of studies on the NIHR portfolio delivering to time and target is in line with our performance indicator target of 80%.  

• Recruitment is buoyant. Overall recruitment, and recruitment into commercial contract studies on the NIHR Portfolio continues to exceed pre-COVID-19 levels.   

• NHS Contracting has been standardised. UK-wide introduction of the National Contract Value Review (NCVR) which standardised processes for costing and contracting. 100% of NHS trusts in England accept the local price generated as part of the NCVR process for late-phase studies without further negotiation following agreement of the resource required by the lead site. 

• Regulators are on target. The Medical and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Health Research Authority (HRA) are broadly delivering combined review within the 60 day target set out in the UK Clinical Research Delivery Performance Indicators Report and backlogs have been cleared. 

Looking ahead

Partners of the UKCRD programme are working to develop an ambitious strategy to support and deliver the Government plans, including the forthcoming 10-Year Health Plan, to reform the health and care system and make it fit for the future.  The plan will set out a bold agenda for clinical research to align delivery with the three big reform shifts needed to move healthcare from hospital to the community, analogue to digital and sickness to prevention.