Explore our services and support for the life sciences industry
This page summarises the different services and support we provide for the life science industry, most of which are free. Learn why our support is free.
Life Sciences Industry Information Service
Arrange a free consultation with our Life Sciences Industry Information Service to help you explore how the NIHR can support your research and evidence-generation needs.
Learn more about our Industry Information Service or
Contact the Industry team and request your consultation call now.
Expertise Partnering Service - connect with experts
We can help you to find expert collaborators to support you to develop your innovation. Use our Expertise Partnering Service at any stage of your research journey to connect with relevant researchers and other experts across the UK research and health ecosystem.
More about our Expertise Partnering Service
Funding opportunities for the life sciences industry
Discover which NIHR funding programmes are available to life sciences companies and how we can support you to apply.
More about funding opportunities for industry
Access patient samples and health data to conduct your research
Access research-ready patient samples and anonymised health data sets to conduct your research quicker. We can also support you to curate data and develop machine learning models.
Use our research activity data to plan your trial
Use our national research activity data to: understand the existing research landscape; inform your feasibility decisions; and help you decide how, where and when to conduct your trial.
More about research activity data
Ask patients and the public to help improve your research design
Our Patient Engagement in Clinical Development Service helps life science companies to connect and collaborate with patients and the public to get feedback on your research plans and design participant-friendly clinical trials.
More about our Patient Engagement in Clinical Development Service
Feasibility: Ask NHS clinical experts to review your protocol
Access relevant clinical, care and research delivery experts to check your research is compatible with the UK health and care system and to get advice on how to optimise your protocol for fast and efficient delivery.
More about our protocol review and feasibility service
Identify investigators and sites for your research
Find the right sites for your research. Use our UK-wide service to rapidly gather expressions of interest to deliver your study from investigators and sites throughout the NHS, general practice, social care and beyond.
More about identifying investigators and sites
Costing and contracting using National Contract Value Review
Essential information on the UK-wide standardised, national approach to costing and contracting for commercial contract research; National Contract Value Review (NCVR), and the tools you will need to use to complete the process.
More about NCVR and the interactive Costing Tool
Recruit participants using digital engagement tools
Explore how our research registries and other digital tools can support your feasibility process and directly support recruitment.
More about digital engagement tools
Streamline your study set-up and monitor its progress
Discover how we help commercial sponsors to coordinate start-up activities across multiple sites and then support you to regularly assess your study’s progress.
More about study start-up and progress monitoring support
Biomedical Research Centres - expertise in translational research
Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) are centres of expertise that support the advancement of early-stage research and lab-based breakthroughs. They offer opportunities to collaborate with UK clinical academics and access specialised research facilities.
HealthTech Research Centres - support to develop medical technology
HealthTech Research Centres (HRCs) help medical device, diagnostic, healthtech, software and digital companies to develop, evaluate and validate new healthcare solutions, technologies and In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) tests.
Translational Research Collaborations - networks of experts
Access our Translational Research Collaborations (TRCs) to accelerate development of your early-phase, translational research ideas. These ready-formed networks of UK experts in predefined therapeutic areas are based within our NHS, universities and renowned research centres.
Clinical Research Facilities - specialist early-phase research centres
Clinical Research Facilities (CRFs) are state-of-the-art, purpose built facilities based in NHS hospitals that specialise in designing and delivering early phase and high-risk studies.
Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres - translational oncology support
Work with the UK’s leading cancer researchers to deliver your early phase or complex oncology study. Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres (ECMCs) are a network of experts based in specialist centres dedicated to accelerating the development of new cancer treatments.
Patient Recruitment Centres - dedicated to delivering commercially-sponsored research
Our Patient Recruitment Centres (PRCs) are purpose-designed to deliver late-phase and large-scale commercial clinical research in the NHS and wider health and care environment. They are 100% dedicated to delivering commercial research.
Clinical Research Network (Research Delivery Network from 1 April 2024)
Our Research Delivery Network (RDN) is divided into regions covering the whole of England. Through this network structure we organise and deploy day-to-day research delivery support. Our research workforce engages with sites, healthcare professionals, patients and the public at a local level to encourage participation in research and drive research delivery.
Training collaborations - invest in the researchers of the future
We work in partnership with the life sciences industry, including SMEs, to build research expertise, capacity and capability in areas of shared interest. We do this by co-funding research career development opportunities, such as research awards and fellowships.
More about collaboration opportunities
Useful articles and guides
In our Insights for Industry section you will find helpful information such as:
- Our guide to the UK research ecosystem
- Why you should bring your research to the UK
- Is your research inclusive?
UK research delivery strengths
Explore our spotlights on research delivery strengths which showcase UK research expertise, capacity and capabilities in areas of interest and innovation such as:
- The UK Vaccine Innovation Pathway
- Complex Innovative Trials
- Delivering research beyond the hospital clinic
- Decentralised clinical trials