Following the government’s announcement of a joint public-private investment programme worth up to £400million to strengthen clinical trials and improve medicines manufacturing in the UK, the NHSA’s Chief Executive, Hannah Davies, has welcomed the ‘much-needed’ investment.

Hannah said: “We are delighted to see the importance of health research recognised with this much-needed investment, which will not only help to improve patient care and health outcomes but also bring economic benefits to the UK health and life sciences sector.

“Our analysis of health research spending exposed the persisting regional imbalance in health research funding, with the North losing out on millions of pounds compared to the Greater South East. We hope that this new investment will be spread fairly across the UK so the North’s health research excellence, and proven capabilities in delivering clinical trials, have the opportunity to thrive and compete on a global scale.”