Advancing Clinical Trials Report 2023
Clinical trials, regulations & IPAn expert review of how the UK can improve clinical trial delivery, with insights on workforce, regulation and innovation adoption.
Overview
The Advancing Clinical Trials Report, published in 2024 by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine in partnership with ICH and the NIHR’s NHST1 programme, evaluates how the UK can strengthen clinical trial design and delivery. It outlines challenges in regulatory consistency, workforce capacity and data infrastructure, and identifies actions to improve patient participation and trial speed. The report emphasises London’s contribution as a hub for complex and early-phase research, supported by leading hospitals, academic centres and data assets. It concludes that collaborative reform, investment in workforce skills and streamlined governance will be key to maintaining the UK’s position as a world leader in clinical research.
Key takeaways
- Regulation and reform are centralThe report calls for continued alignment between regulators, research sponsors and clinical sites to simplify approvals and improve efficiency across the UK.
- Workforce capacity drives performanceInvestment in training, skills and retention across research delivery teams is essential to sustain trial quality and capacity, particularly for complex studies.
- Collaboration accelerates innovationCross-sector collaboration between industry, academia and the NHS enables faster adoption of new trial methods and strengthens the UK’s global competitiveness.
