The North Midlands Commercial Research Delivery Centre
What is a CRDC?
Commercial Research Delivery Centres (CRDCs) were established in April 2025 to boost the speed, efficiency, and accessibility of commercial clinical research in the UK, strengthening the nation’s global competitiveness in life sciences while improving health outcomes. There are 21 CRDCs across the UK, 15 managed by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in England, alongside four in Scotland and one in Wales and Northern Ireland.
In December 2024 it was announced that UHNM will receive £3.1 million in government funding to help accelerate medical research and provide cutting-edge technology and equipment to support the testing of innovative treatments, offering patients greater access to treatments still in trial phases through the establishment of the North Midlands CRDC.
The North Midlands CRDC
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) is home to a dedicated Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC), working with industry partners to deliver high-quality commercial studies.
This centre strengthens our reputation as a research-active Trust and brings cutting-edge treatments to our patients faster.
What will the North Midlands CRDC do?
- Expand access for people across the North Midlands to take part in important research that advances healthcare
- Bring clinical trials beyond large hospital trusts into community settings, improving access for underserved areas
- Support more GP practices to become research active, making trials more accessible close to home
- Increase opportunities to participate in clinical trials, including those for mental health conditions
- Work with our Research Engagement Network to strengthen local community links and improve the diversity of recruitment
- Broaden the range of research to include trials for both healthy volunteers and patients, increasing access to innovative treatments and interventions
- Provide access to a network of commercially active sites with gold-standard set-up times and performance
- Develop our commercial research delivery workforce
- Build partnerships with industry, driving inward investment into the North Midlands and across the UK