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Central and North West Midlands Awarded Prestigious NIHR Commercial Research Delivery Centre  

Posted by: Ryan Miller - Posted on:

East Staffordshire Primary Care Network has successfully supported a bid to establish one of the UK’s new National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Commercial Research Delivery Centres (CRDCs) to expand access to innovative clinical trials and deliver life-changing treatments to some of the UK’s most underserved communities. 

This transformative £7m investment will establish the Central and North West Midlands (C&NWM) Commercial Research Delivery, hosted by Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust (BWC), working closely with regional partners Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust – host of Staffordshire and Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Health Research Partnership (SSHERPA) – and the Black Country Provider Collaborative.  

The new CRDC will make it easier for individuals across the C&NWM region to take part in research trials for cutting-edge healthcare treatments, partnering with drug companies to deliver treatment trials in a safe and responsible way. The new centre will also work closely with local businesses, patient groups and charities to help it reach a broad range of communities, including those that haven’t taken part in research before.  

The C&NWM region, home to 4.2 million people, includes many of the UK’s most economically deprived communities who face significant health inequalities and higher rates of serious illness. The CRDC will focus on addressing these inequities by increasing access to clinical trials for patients who have the greatest need – dovetailing with BHP’s strategic focus on addressing health inequalities and giving greater opportunities for residents to participate in research. 

Professor Lorraine Harper, Managing Director of Birmingham Health Partners and Director of the C&NWM CRDC, said: “This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to transform the health outcomes of our communities through world-class clinical research.  

“By bringing together the expertise, resources, and passion of over 25 clinical and academic partners from across our region, we will create a thriving research ecosystem that not only delivers cutting-edge treatments but also makes clinical trials more accessible to all, including those in underserved populations. The NIHR’s investment will enable us to innovate and collaborate to improve healthcare in the Central and North West Midlands.” 

Rachael Brown, Research Manager for East Staffordshire Primary Care Network said:  

“We are proud to play a pivotal role in the establishment of the Central and North West Midlands Commercial Research Delivery Centre. This initiative represents a significant step forward in addressing health inequalities and ensuring our communities have greater access to innovative clinical trials. By bringing research closer to general practice and collaborating with a wide network of partners, we are committed to empowering patients with opportunities to participate in groundbreaking treatments that can improve health outcomes locally and beyond. 

We look forward to building our relationships with such dedicated partners working together to bring life changing clinical trials closer to home.” 

Innovative approaches such as community-based trial locations, mobile research units, and digital technologies will ensure the CRDC reaches individuals who have never previously participated in research. Public involvement will be central to every stage of the Centre’s work, ensuring that its methods are inclusive, supportive, and effective in addressing local healthcare challenges. 

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Executive Officer of the NIHR and Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care, said: “Clinical trials help improve lives. Boosting the NHS’s capacity to deliver commercial clinical research through these new Commercial Research Delivery Centres will support recruitment across all communities and bring innovative treatments to patients.  

“The effects of these centres will be felt right across the four nations, bringing investment into the UK’s life sciences sector.” 

£72 million investment 

A total of 20 CRDCs are being established across the UK. In addition to the CRDCs in England, there will be four in Scotland, and a one nation approach in Wales and Northern Ireland. As part of the 10 Year Health Plan, the centres will shift clinical trials beyond large hospital trusts and into community settings, meaning those in underserved regions will now be able to participate in research, boosting access to new treatments in the trial stage. 

This £72 million investment over seven years, beginning in April 2025, is awarded from the £400 million Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicine Pricing, Access, and Growth (VPAG) Investment Programme and partly from NIHR in England.  

The VPAG programme is a unique partnership between the UK Government and the pharmaceutical industry to boost the global competitiveness of the UK life science sector and stimulate economic growth. It will invest up to £300 million to bolster commercial clinical trial activity and help advance the delivery of new medicines and vaccines to patients. 

The full list of partners is as follows (BHP members highlighted bold) 

  • HOST: Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust 
  • Aston University 
  • Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust 
  • Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 
  • Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 
  • Dudley Integrated Health and Care NHS Trust 
  • East Staffordshire PCN 
  • Keele University 
  • Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 
  • Modality Partnership Limited 
  • NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board 
  • NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board 
  • NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board 
  • NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board 
  • North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust 
  • Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust  
  • Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust 
  • Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust 
  • Solihull Healthcare Partnership 
  • The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust 
  • The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 
  • The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust 
  • University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust 
  • University of Birmingham 
  • Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust 

Ends 

For further information please contact Louise Stanley, Birmingham Health Partners Communications Manager – l.s.stanley@bham.ac.uk