Figures released by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Local Clinical Research Network on 27th June 2019, show that there has been a significant increase in the number of people taking part in NIHR-backed research over the past year.
In 2018/19, Oxford University Hospitals recruited 32,285 participants to 534 NIHR-supported studies, up from 20,937 in 517 studies the previous year. This means our Trust ranks second in England for the number of participants and research studies across all NHS trusts.
The research conducted at our hospitals – often with the University of Oxford, the NIHR or commercial partners - covers a wide range of specialities and health conditions, and this has helped to ensure that many Oxfordshire residents have had the chance to take part.
Oxford is rightly seen as being at the forefront of global medical research, and our relationship with the community we serve is a vital component of this excellence. Many of the medical breakthroughs for which Oxford is famous would not have been possible without the participation of patients or members of the public in clinical trials. It is well established that hospitals that encourage patients to get involved in research show an improvement in patient outcomes.
I would like to say thank you for the part you play in achieving this success.
Professor Meghana Pandit
Chief Medical Officer