Trust secures funding boost for research

09 April 2026

The Trust has secured more than £595,000 to invest in new research equipment that will help expand commercial clinical trials and improve access to research for patients across the region.

The funding, awarded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), will strengthen the Trust’s ability to deliver high-quality commercial research, bringing innovative studies and treatments closer to local communities.

The investment will fund a range of equipment to support research activity across the Trust. This includes cutting-edge dermatology technology, enhanced facilities for research into head and neck cancers, and specialist operating equipment to support surgical studies.

The funding will also support the refurbishment of the Trust’s Pharmacy Clinical Trials Unit. This will increase capacity through new specialised storage units and modular facilities. This approach will make the Trust more attractive to sponsors and allow clinical trials to be delivered flexibly across Trust sites and into community settings.

By strengthening research infrastructure, the investment will help address research inequality and improve opportunities for people living in coastal and rural communities to take part in clinical trials.

Dr Karen Stone, Medical Director at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted to receive this funding, which will make a real difference to the research we can deliver for our patients and communities. It will enable us to invest in modern equipment and strengthen our pharmacy clinical trials facilities, helping more people take part in high-quality research closer to home.

“Expanding our research capability is particularly important for coastal and rural communities, where opportunities to participate in clinical trials have historically been more limited. This investment will help us bring innovative studies and new treatments to more patients across our region.”

Stuart Parkes, Chief Pharmacist at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, added: “This funding will help us increase our capacity to deliver clinical trials for innovative and advanced medicines. This is an important step in improving access to new treatments and supporting better outcomes for patients across our area.”

The award is funded through the Voluntary Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) Investment Programme – a partnership between the Government and the pharmaceutical industry designed to boost the UK’s global competitiveness in life sciences.