Expanded Participation in Clinical Tests for Medication and Medical Equipment Involves Millions More Individuals
The National Health Service (NHS) has unveiled an ambitious 10-year plan to revolutionize the clinical trial landscape in the UK. The primary goal is to reduce commercial clinical trial set-up times to 150 days or less by March 2026, a milestone that is said to be the most ambitious in British history [1].
To achieve this, the NHS will upgrade the NHS App, enabling it to match patients with clinical trials based on their health data and interests. This groundbreaking development is expected to make the process more efficient, accessible, and personalized for millions of people across the UK.
The transformation will occur through a multi-step process. First, the NHS App will integrate with the NIHR Be Part of Research platform, allowing it to access and utilize patient health data. This data will include information about a patient's health condition, treatment history, and other relevant medical details [2].
Once integrated, the app will use this data to deliver personalized push notifications to patients about clinical trials that align with their health profiles and interests. This means that patients will receive tailored suggestions for trials based on their specific health needs [2].
Patients will also be able to browse and register for trials directly through the app, enhancing accessibility and transparency in the clinical trial process. The app will provide a user-friendly interface for patients to explore available trials and apply to participate [2].
The long-term goal is to automate this process further, allowing the app to automatically match patients with relevant trials based on their health data, ensuring that patients receive timely updates about new trials that might be beneficial for them [3].
The NIHR has launched a UK-wide recruitment drive for clinical trials, which is the biggest ever health research campaign. Adults across the UK are being urged to register for clinical trials, with underrepresented groups, including young people, Black people, and people of South Asian heritage, particularly encouraged to sign up [1].
The Government aims to harness the economic benefits of positioning the UK as a hotbed of innovation through clinical trials. Chris Whitehouse, a political consultant and expert on medical technology policy and regulation, supports this initiative. As an advisor to MedTech suppliers and the chair of the Urology Trade Association, Whitehouse emphasizes the potential for the UK to regain its status as a global destination for clinical trials [1].
However, the UK has fallen behind in this area, with Spain, for example, managing to set up trials in around 100 days, compared to the current average of around 250 days in the NHS [1]. The plan to reduce trial set-up times is part of a larger effort to position the UK as a hotbed of innovation.
Sources: [1] BBC News, "NHS App to match patients with clinical trials", 28th April 2021,
The integration of the NHS App with the NIHR Be Part of Research platform will enable science to match patients with clinical trials based on their medical-conditions and interests, making health-and-wellness information more accessible and personalized. This expansion in the clinical trials process aims to significantly shorten the setup times in line with the proposed 10-year plan by the NHS, eventually automating the system for increased efficiency.
