A CENTRE is to be set up in Bradford to boost research into new cures for illnesses as part of a £100 million investment.
The Government has confirmed Commercial Research Delivery Centres (CRDCs) will be established at 20 NHS organisations across the UK, including at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from next April.
Bradford will receive nearly £7m to set up its CRDC, which will act as a hub for testing new treatments for conditions such as cancer, obesity and respiratory disorders, as well as infectious diseases like flu and respiratory syncytial virus.
Professor Dinesh Saralaya, consultant respiratory physician at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are delighted that Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been selected as one of 20 CRDCs in the UK from April 1, 2025.
"This award is a testament to the previous five years of hard work and dedication from the staff at the Patient Recruitment Centre in Bradford, delivering a large number of clinical trials at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust."
He said the CRDC would enable the trust to "carry out clinical trials in several new disease areas not available in the past, enabling better care for our patients and population".
Dr John Ashcroft, deputy director of the Bradford CRDC, added: "Clinical trials improve health outcomes for our communities.
"They provide access to new treatments and therapies that can be life-changing or even life-saving.
"We are thrilled our bid was successful, and the team is excited to work in partnership to deliver a high-quality and excellently performing CRDC for the people of West Yorkshire."
The £100m funding for the CRDCs across the UK is part of a wider £400m joint public-private investment project - the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicine Pricing, Access and Growth Investment Programme.
According to the Department of Health and Social Care, this is a "unique partnership between the Government and the pharmaceutical industry to boost the global competitiveness of the UK life sciences sector and stimulate economic growth".
Health Minister, Baroness Gillian Merron, said: "This significant private investment in health research is a powerful vote of confidence in the UK’s leading research and life sciences sector.
"The new hubs will help shift research into smaller communities, allowing more people to access cutting-edge treatments faster.
"Prevention is better than cure - these trials will help unlock the next generation of treatments, boost economic growth and build an NHS fit for the future."
