The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has awarded £47.8 million to fund equipment that will strengthen the NHS’s capacity to deliver high-quality commercial clinical trials while expanding research access in communities across England.
The funding comes from the Voluntary Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) Investment Programme, a partnership between the government and the pharmaceutical industry. The programme aims to enhance the competitiveness of the UK life sciences sector, drive economic growth, accelerate commercial clinical trials, increase NHS research capacity, and support sustainable innovative medicine manufacturing.
This latest allocation will supply equipment to 51 NHS Trusts and 79 primary care organisations across England. Items funded include diagnostic tools such as spirometers and ECG machines, advanced scanners, and mobile research vans. The equipment is intended to streamline the setup and delivery of innovative clinical trials and support the objectives of the Life Sciences Sector Plan.
A significant share of the investment is directed to primary care organisations, which received 60% of successful awards. The shift is designed to bring commercial clinical trials closer to local communities and enable broader participation in research, allowing patients earlier access to cutting-edge treatments.
Dr Zubir Ahmed, health innovation and safety minister, said: “As a practising surgeon, I know first-hand the difference access to innovation can make and this investment will strengthen the NHS’s ability to deliver groundbreaking clinical trials not just in hospitals, but crucially in communities across the country.”
“For too long, access to innovative treatments has been unequal. By targeting primary care, we are changing that giving patients everywhere the chance to benefit from the latest medical breakthroughs on their doorstep, regardless of where they live or their background.”
“This is how we will build an NHS fit for the future, keep the UK at the cutting-edge of global life sciences, and drive the economic growth our country needs.”
Now in its third year, the NIHR’s Capital Investment Funding competition has broadened its eligibility to include all non-commercial NHS providers. The initiative focuses on tackling bottlenecks in research delivery and equipping organisations across different healthcare settings to meet industry requirements.
Eligible applicants include NHS trusts, primary care networks, integrated care boards, GP practices, GP federations, and community interest companies providing NHS primary care. The funding also supports modernisation of research spaces through building refurbishments and new modular facilities.
Examples of funded equipment and upgrades include:
- Mobile research vans, equipped for screening and diagnostics to boost patient recruitment and reduce geographic inequalities in areas such as Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.
- Diagnostic infrastructure, including fibroscanners, Accuvein scanners, and ultrasound scanners used to meet imaging requirements for clinical trial setup and delivery.
- Speciality pharmacy refurbishments to address challenges in meeting industry requirements for commercial clinical trials, including sites in York and Scarborough, Sheffield and the North Midlands.
Professor Lucy Chappell, chief scientific adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care and chief executive officer of the NIHR, said:
“This significant investment will provide the NHS with the high-quality equipment and facilities it needs to deliver cutting-edge commercial research that benefits the public.”
“With more than half of the funding this time going to primary care providers, the NIHR is once again showing its commitment to shifting research out of hospitals and into local communities, giving patients direct access to innovative treatments, and making it easier for everyone to take part in research.”
“This helps to make research more equitable, enhances the UK’s reputation for delivering world-class commercial research, and helps position the country as an attractive place for companies to invest.”
Dr Janet Valentine, executive director of innovation and research policy at the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said: “Access to the right equipment across the NHS is essential to ensure that industry-sponsored clinical trials can run efficiently and that more patients have the opportunity to take part in studies of the latest treatments. This welcome new investment through the NIHR and the pharmaceutical industry’s VPAG Investment Programme will help address equipment shortages that can create bottlenecks in hospital-based research.”
“Funding for research equipment in primary care will also expand the ability of GP practices and community providers to offer research opportunities closer to where people live. Importantly, investment in mobile research units will help extend the reach of clinical trials into underserved communities, ensuring more people can benefit from taking part in research.”
The announcement, made on 4th March 2026, forms part of ongoing efforts to address equipment shortages and improve equitable participation in research across England.