Introduction

“A partnership working to establish the UK as a world leader in clinical research, by harnessing the power of the NHS
 
UKCRC's aim is to re-engineer the environment in which clinical research is conducted in the UK, to benefit the public and patients by improving national health and increasing national wealth. The UKCRC’s strength is that it brings together the major stakeholders that influence clinical research in the UK and particularly in the NHS. The Collaboration includes the main UK research funding bodies; academia; the NHS; regulatory bodies; the bioscience, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries; and patients.
 
The UKCRC also represents a new way of working in which complex long-standing issues are tackled by key stakeholders working together.
 
The UKCRC Partners are working in collaboration and engaging with other stakeholders to enhance the clinical research environment by:
 

Developing a comprehensive infrastructure to underpin clinical research

Building up an expert research workforce to support clinical research

Developing incentives for research in the NHS

Streamlining the regulatory and governance environment

Developing a coordinated approach to research funding