Mid Yorkshire to receive share of £100 million investment to fund research into ground-breaking treatments

In a collaboration led by Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust and Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, will receive nearly £7 million to set up one of 20 new research hubs.

The Bradford Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC) will act as a regional hub for pioneering clinical trials, creating opportunities to test innovative new treatments with the latest equipment and technology.

These trials will build on research into cancer and obesity, as well as infectious diseases such as flu and respiratory syntactical virus (RSV). The CRDCs will support the rapid set-up of commercial studies so patients can start accessing treatments undergoing trials as early as possible.

The Mid Yorkshire ‘spoke’ of the centre will be run from the Trust’s Clinical Research and Innovation Building (CRIB). The stand-alone building on the Pinderfields Hospital site boasts three clinic rooms, two consulting rooms, space for post treatment observation, as well as a welcoming waiting area and dedicated patient parking. It also houses a dedicated pharmacy and pathology room with temperature monitored fridges and secure storage.

Dr John Ashcroft, Director of Research at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust and Deputy Director of the Bradford CRDC, said: “Clinical trials improve health outcomes for our communities. They provide access to new treatments and therapies that can be life-changing or even lifesaving. As a research active trust, research is already at the heart of what we do, and this collaboration will enable us to take this to the next level.

“We are thrilled our bid was successful, and the team is excited to work in partnership to deliver a high-quality and excellently performing Commercial Research Delivery Centre for the people of West Yorkshire.”

Professor Dinesh Saralaya, Clinical Director NIHR Commercial Research Delivery Centre and Consultant Respiratory Physician said: “We are delighted that Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been selected as one of 20 Commercial Research Delivery Centres in the UK from the 1 April 2025.

“This award is a testament to the previous 5 years of hard work and dedication from the staff at the Patient Recruitment Centre Bradford, delivering a large number of clinical trials at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

“It enables people of Bradford, Mid Yorkshire, Calderdale & Huddersfield to access cutting edge technology before their peers across the world. This seven years of funding means that we will be able to carry out clinical trials in several new disease areas not available in the past, enabling better care for our patients and population”

Mr Neeraj Bhasin, Executive Medial Director Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust said: “I am delighted we have been successful in the process to form a Commercial Research Delivery Centre through collaborating with two of our neighbouring NHS trusts. This means we can conduct clinical trials on a wider scale to offer the patients we care for a potentially broader range of treatments, where appropriate.

This also means we can contribute to the development of future, novel treatments with a much larger geographical impact. This is a very positive development for CHFT, the wider NHS, but most importantly, our current and future patients.”

The funding is part of a wider £400 million joint public-private investment scheme - the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicine Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) Investment Programme. It is a unique partnership between the government and the pharmaceutical industry to boost the global competitiveness of the UK life science sector and stimulate economic growth.