UK Clinical Research Delivery
A cross-sector programme

To date, the UKCRD programme has seen huge success, including, but not limited to: 

• The completion of the Study Set-Up Plan. The Study Set-Up Plan was developed to take rapid action to achieve system level improvements to streamline and reform the set-up and delivery of clinical trials ahead of the publication the 10 Year Health Plan.  

• In 2024/2025, 16 people in England were the first participants in global trials, and 37 were the first participants in European trials – an indication of an agile and efficient clinical trials system. In 2024-2025, 516 commercial international, multi-site studies were opened to recruitment, 53 of which (10.1%) recruited a Global or European First in England to a commercial contract study.  

• 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 stable. 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 Medicines 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

Through the UKCRD programme, continued efforts are underway to accelerate the delivery of clinical trials. 

By fostering cutting-edge research and innovation to encourage breakthroughs in life sciences, we will aim to ensure a healthier population, allowing patients to access novel treatments and ensure a health system that is more accessible, efficient and sustainable to build an NHS fit for the future, as recently set out in Fit for the future: 10 Year Health Plan for England, the Plan for Change and the Life Sciences Sector Plan. This includes the Prime Minister’s commitment to help strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in clinical trials and medical research, setting ambitions for clinical trials - ensuring the system is going further and faster by cutting study set-up times to 150 days or less.