Today I am pleased to announce that DHSC, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is awarding £47.8 million to fund equipment that will help the NHS to deliver high quality commercial research. This investment includes funding from the Voluntary Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) Investment Programme.

This funding is being awarded to 51 NHS Trusts and 79 Primary Care Organisations across England to pay for cutting-edge equipment, building refurbishments and modular buildings essential for delivering research within the NHS and primary care settings. This investment will allow the NHS to expand its capacity for commercial clinical trials, helping patients access new medicines through research and strengthening the UK's reputation as a global leader for delivering world-class clinical trials.

In this 2025 award, eligibility was expanded beyond NHS Trusts to include Primary Care Organisations, ensuring that providers across the NHS are equipped to deliver commercial research.

Funding has been allocated to organisations across England, from Cornwall to Cumbria, with the Majority of awards going to organisations outside the Greater South-East. The deployment of mobile research vans in Leicestershire, Essex and Norfolk will enhance access to research for patients in underserved areas. Refurbishment of existing, underutilised spaces in Primary Care Organisation across Devon, South Yorkshire and the East Midlands will improve clinical research capacity in the community. These investments support the NHS 10-Year Health Plan’s goals of shifting care from hospitals into communities and improving equitable access to the latest health and care innovations, through research.

The awards will address current barriers to delivering commercial clinical trials, including limited access to equipment, support services such as imaging and pharmacies, and space constraints. Funding is being awarded for specialty pharmacy facilities, including in Norwich, Plymouth and London will enable the delivery of innovative treatments.

There is also funding for cutting-edge equipment and technology. Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust were successful in their application for equipment to deliver non-invasive ultrasound-based therapy to destroy tumours without surgery or radiation. Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is receiving funding for imaging and diagnostic equipment for sleep, dementia and depression research. Primary Care Organisations in Dunstable, Wigan, and Birmingham were successful in their application for essential monitoring equipment to support research in respiratory diseases. Funding for this specialist equipment enables development of novel treatments through innovative research and supports the UK’s position as an attractive place for innovative companies to invest in research.

While the equipment and increased capacity for clinical trials funded by this award is primarily for commercial research, when not in use in this way, equipment such as ultrasound and MRI Scanners may be used for routine clinical care and to help cut waiting lists. This will ensure there is enhanced capacity in our NHS to perform more procedures and diagnostic tests, speeding up treatment times and ensuring the benefit from this funding award is felt across the board.