Immediate release: 17 November 2003

National agency for clinical research

Britain's biggest biomedical research charity, the Wellcome Trust, has backed a recommendation to government to establish a national agency to support excellence in clinical research and trials in the UK.

But the Trust, which has invested more than £20 million to set-up Clinical Research Facilities around the country, believes the Medical Research Council should take a major role in any such new initiative.

A report published today by the Bioscience Innovation and Growth Team (BIGT) outlines a series of recommendations to form a strategic approach to the future of the UK's bioscience industry.

Among these is a call for a National Clinical Trials Agency to be sponsored by the Department of Health in collaboration with Research Councils UK.

Responding to the report, Dr Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust, said: "The Medical Research Council has a strong tradition of excellence in clinical trials therefore it makes sense it should be involved at a high level if a national agency is formed.

"Clinical research in this country has been in serious decline for too long. Hopefully this report will breathe new life into this area of medical science which can help in the treatment of many serious diseases.

"With the collaboration of the National Health Service the Wellcome Trust has opened state-of-the-art Clinical Research Facilities in Birmingham, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Manchester and Southampton. We have also invested heavily in research training for clinicians.

"This and the work of other funders has established solid foundations but there is still a lot of work to be done to revitalise clinical research. This will bring huge health benefits to patients through scientific discovery.

"We welcome the opportunity to be involved in the working group led by Sir John Pattison to move this vital work forward."

Ends

Media contacts:

Barry Gardner
Wellcome Trust Media Office
Tel: 020 7611 7329
E-mail: b.gardner@wellcome.ac.uk

Notes to editors

• The Wellcome Trust is an independent research-funding charity established in 1936 under the will of tropical medicine pioneer Sir Henry Wellcome. The Trust's mission is to promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health and spends more £400 million p.a.

• BIGT: The Bioscience Innovation and Growth Team is led by the BioIndustry Association, supported by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Health.
www.dti.gov.uk/sectors_biotechnology.html

• The Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facilities were launched in 1997 and are based at:

o Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

o Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.

o Western General Hospital, Edinburgh.

o Southampton General Hospital.

o Manchester Royal Infirmary.