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Scotland to open four new commercial research hubs |
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Four new regional hubs to help patients access innovative new treatments and clinical trials as early as possible are to be set up across Scotland.
NHS Lothian, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Grampian and NHS Tayside will each host one of the Commercial Research Delivery Centres (CRDCs), with the aim of delivering innovative new treatments with the latest equipment and technology.
Their work will build upon UK research leadership in a range of conditions, including cancer, obesity and infectious diseases like flu.
Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray, said:
“I am thrilled Scotland will be home to four new Commercial Research Delivery Centres, strengthening our existing clinical research infrastructure and maximising collaboration with partners across the UK.
“It shows our continued commitment to supporting our NHS to deliver clinical research most effectively, improving research inclusion and fast-tracking the development of new medicines to patients.”
The Scottish centres will be designed to create opportunities for patients to access ‘cutting-edge’ treatments and clinical trials across Scotland.
Once established, they will aim to help shift clinical trials into the community, allowing those in under-served areas to participate in research.
The centres will be funded as part of the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicine Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG), which will see £400m invested in total into the UK’s life sciences sector over the next five years.
Three-quarters of the fund will be used to support the set up of the research centres across the UK, while the rest will go towards new sustainable manufacturing initiatives and updating processes that assess the costs and clinical effectiveness of new medicines.
Richard Torbett, Chief Executive, The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), said:
“The injection of funds from industry into this programme is an excellent example of industry and government working in partnership to improve health and drive growth.
“We know that industry clinical trials bring enormous benefits to the UK economy, generate revenue for the NHS and lead to improved patient outcomes in research-active hospitals.
“The CRDCs are geared to support industry clinical trials across many different care settings in the four UK nations.
“We look forward to the network of new CRDCs working closely with industry to offer more patients across the UK the opportunity to participate in studies of the latest cutting-edge treatments.”
The sister company of Healthcare News Scotland, Ettrickburn, is pleased to support ABPI’s work in Scotland.
Read more: Watchdog: action needed now on NHS reform; Partnership working for Scotland's population health; Government promises to up NHS activity; Chief medic: Innovate to tackle health & planet crises; New fund for home healthcare tech innovators
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