Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is awarded £3.5million to deliver cutting-edge research

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) has been awarded £3.5 million over seven years by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to establish a Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC) for Cornwall.  

This award is the first investment of its kind into research in the county. It is expected to at least double the number of opportunities for the local population to participate in healthcare research studies.  

RCHT was selected as one of only 21 Trusts across the UK to establish new research hubs, with the goal of accelerating research into next-generation treatments for patients. It will provide patients in Cornwall with greater access to pioneering clinical trials, which were traditionally limited to large hospital trust.

This investment will provide our local underserved communities with greater opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research using the latest equipment and technology. 

Steve Williamson Chief Executive, RCHT said:

“We are incredibly proud to be selected by the NIHR as one of a handful of clinical research hubs across the UK. This new initiative will allow us to deliver cutting-edge trials to our patients faster than ever before, boosting our research capacity and helping Cornwall play a vital role in the UK’s growing life sciences sector. For RCHT to be named as a CRDC is also a significant boost for our ambition to become a University Hospitals trust.” 

Bianca Mills, Head of Research and Development, RCHT said:

“Having a CRDC at RCHT will be a transformative step forward for our research in Cornwall, enabling us to drive innovation and deliver world-class research that directly benefits our communities. The CRDC will serve as a cornerstone for collaboration across the region, uniting healthcare, academia, and industry to address some of the most pressing health challenges. We are deeply grateful to our partners and supporters who have helped bring this vision to life, and we look forward to continuing our work together to ensure its success.” 

Dr Dave Tucker, Nominated CRDC Director and Consultant Haematologist, RCHT said:

“This investment will catalyse the development of healthcare research in Cornwall, giving us the tools to work with more researchers – not just in hospitals but also with GP practices and beyond.  It will empower us to offer pioneering research where it is really needed and massively enhance the reputation of Cornwall as a thriving research environment.” 

Ella Stracey, Chief Performance and Transformation Officer, RCHT added: 

“This is a fantastic investment that will drive the next generation of medical innovation. By providing patients in Cornwall and beyond with access to the latest clinical trials, we are playing our part in making sure that the UK remains at the forefront of medical research while boosting the economy through private sector collaboration. This is a truly exciting development for the Cornish Health System.” 

Dr Jon Clarke, deputy chief medical officer for NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said:

“Cornwall has a proud history of innovation and research, and this great news will continue this work. The grant will offer many more of our population the chance to be part of cutting-edge research that will shape the future of healthcare.”