Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has officially launched the NIHR Bradford and West Yorkshire Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC), marking a significant advancement for clinical research in the region.
The centre, unveiled at a special event on 26th March 2025, is one of just 21 specialist research hubs established nationwide with significant investment over seven years. It aims to transform how clinical trials are delivered across West Yorkshire.
Professor Dinesh Saralaya, CRDC Director at the Bradford Institute for Health Research, told attendees:
“This represents a tremendous opportunity to expand access to cutting-edge clinical trials beyond large hospital settings into communities that have traditionally been underserved by medical research.”
The CRDC will operate as a hub connecting Bradford Teaching Hospitals with partner “spoke” sites at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust and Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, creating a powerful network for delivering commercial research across the region.
Dr John Ashcroft, Director of Research at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust and Deputy Director of the Bradford and West Yorkshire CRDC, said:
“Patients involved in commercial research often have the opportunity to access new and innovative treatments or therapies that are not yet widely available to the public. This can be especially important for those with conditions that are hard to treat with existing options.
“Clinical trials associated with commercial research help advance medical knowledge and technology, which can lead to better, more effective treatments in the future. As these treatments are rigorously tested, they have the potential to be safer and more effective.”
Dr Julie O’Riordan Deputy Medical Director and Director of Research and Development at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust said:
“We are delighted to be part of this collaboration with Bradford and Mid Yorkshire. Commercial research can help to advance medical knowledge and lead to more effective treatments for the future. This expansion will ensure that our patients have an opportunity to take part in vital research that will drive meaningful improvements locally and regionally.”
Industry partners including AstraZeneca, Sanofi, PPD and IQVIA attended the launch, highlighting their commitment to the centre. Kim Scully from AstraZeneca noted that their partnership with Bradford has already delivered impressive results, including recruiting Europe’s First participant in several respiratory trials.
The NIHR CRDC Bradford and West Yorkshire will focus on disease areas particularly relevant to West Yorkshire communities, including respiratory conditions, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and oncology, while pioneering innovative approaches to patient recruitment and trial management.
Dr Anja Henning and Pepper Wood showcased Bradford’s patient-centred research approach, which includes flexible clinic hours and inviting patients back to learn about study findings once complete.
Treating patients and providing them with opportunities to take part in cutting-edge trials is our core focus, with each of our NIHR Bradford and West Yorkshire CRDC sites receiving amazing feedback:
A participant’s carer in Bradford commented:
“Everyone should be given the opportunity to take part in research. Our consultant told us about the trial, and I am pleased we went ahead. More professionals should offer research opportunities to patients and families, because before now I was not aware of clinical trials and how they can help. My son loves coming to the department and always asks how long until his next visit. So far, I have found the trial beneficial for my child.”
One Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust patient who has already benefitted from being involved in a commercial trial is Liz Morgan, from Featherstone. Liz was the first patient in the UK to take part in an international clinical trial examining different treatments for venous leg ulcers.
She said:
“I was under the care of the community nurses, and they mentioned I may be suitable to take part in an upcoming clinical trial. I was keen to try anything that may improve my condition – I didn’t have any reservations at all.
“It’s been a great experience and it’s also rewarding to be able to play a small part in helping find better treatments for others in the future. I would encourage anyone given the opportunity to take part in a clinical trial to give it go.”
In 2019 a patient at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, aged 26, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. He experienced bloody loose stools up to 10 times a day, which negatively impacted his sleep, work, social life, and relationships. By January 2020, he had received three types of standard treatment, which slowed his symptoms slightly, but caused side effects. His symptoms soon returned, and he was considering leaving his job and having surgery.
He was given the opportunity to participate in a new commercial clinical trial at CHFT.
Four years on, he has control of his symptoms, is sleeping better, kept his job, had a son, and got married. Due to the results of the trial, the novel treatment (Upacitinib) became licensed for use within the NHS, and patients now receive the treatment as standard care. By taking part in the trial, he avoided surgery and received four years treatment.
The patient said:
“I 100% believe that research is important and that patients must have opportunities to take part in research and try new treatments. Without research, nothing would move forward.”
With this launch, West Yorkshire strengthens its position as a premier location for clinical research in the UK, promising faster access to innovative treatments for patients while contributing to medical advances that benefit people worldwide. This International Clinical Trials Day on May 20th, 2025, as well as the launch, the NIHR CRDC Bradford and West Yorkshire is celebrating the transformative power of clinical research and highlighting the importance of community participation in advancing healthcare.
Hear more about the NIHR Bradford and West Yorkshire CRDC here:
X account: https://twitter.com/crdc_bradfordWY
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