RCHT celebrates transformative year in Research and Development
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is proud to share its Research and Development Annual Report for 2024–25, marking a landmark year of innovation, investment, and impact for clinical research across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
This year, we were selected as one of only 21 NHS Trusts nationwide to host a new NIHR Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC), a first for Cornwall, securing £3.5 million over seven years to expand access to cutting-edge clinical trials. We also pioneered a mobile research unit, bringing research opportunities directly to rural and coastal communities.
Despite national workforce pressures, RCHT delivered exceptional performance, recruiting 4,394 participants across 124 studies, ranking first in the South West Peninsula. We forged seven new industry partnerships, supported multiple successful NIHR grant applications, and saw four consultants appointed as Specialty Research Leads under the new NIHR Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN) structure—demonstrating growing national influence.
Key strategic achievements included:
- Launching multi-site sponsored studies
- Generating a record 32 new research ideas (up from 9 in 2023–24)
- Securing competitive grants, including NIHR RfPB and i4i awards
- Strengthening system-wide collaboration through the Cornwall One Research (CORe) Meeting
Research at RCHT continues to deliver real-world patient benefit. Landmark studies such as SaMueL-2 (stroke), SHED (subarachnoid haemorrhage), and SUPERNOVA have led to measurable improvements in clinical outcomes and evidence-based practice.
Patient engagement remains a cornerstone, with 98% of participants feeling valued, according to the latest Participant in Research Experience Survey (PRES) results. RCHT achieved the highest number of responses in the South West with 279 returns in 2024/25, reflecting its strong commitment to improving research experiences. Conducted nationally by the NIHR, PRES gathers anonymous feedback from research participants to identify what works well and where improvements are needed. Feedback at RCHT was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting professional and caring staff, clear communication, feeling valued and supported, responsive services, and the meaningful impact of participation, often described as life-changing. These insights will help shape future studies to ensure they are accessible, inclusive, and focused on participant wellbeing.
RCHT also advanced research governance and workforce development, introducing the Nursing Associate role, enhancing clinical research training, and embedding research into undergraduate medical education. We hosted major events including the Cornwall Research Charity Spring Ball and the Southwest Emerging HealthCare Technologies Symposium, further raising the profile of research in the region.
Financially, R and D generated over £4 million in income, primarily from commercial research, achieving a surplus that supported the Trust’s control total and mitigated deferred income pressures.
The focus in is 2025–26 is on:
- Embedding the CRDC and meeting new national Research Delivery Network metrics
- Expanding commercial research and academic leadership
- Advancing digital and AI-driven research
- Strengthening financial sustainability and research culture
These initiatives support RCHT’s ambition to achieve University Hospital status, ensuring that patients in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly continue to benefit from world-class clinical research.