Skip to main content

Industry partnerships

Grounded Research’s partnerships with clinical research organisations (CROs) and pharmaceutical companies are not just about advancing science, they are about making research inclusive, equitable, and impactful for all communities. By combining the NHS’s reach with industry expertise, these collaborations accelerate discovery, reduce inequalities, and ensure patients are at the heart of innovation.

Why industry partnerships matter

  • Shared expertise: the NHS brings unparalleled access to diverse patient populations, while clinical research organisations and pharmaceutical companies contribute specialist knowledge, funding, and global research infrastructure.
  • Triple win approach: collaborations are designed to benefit patients (better treatments), the NHS (improved efficiency and innovation), and industry (robust research outcomes).
  • National strategy alignment: The UK government’s Life Science Sector Plan and NHS England’s research commitments emphasise partnerships as central to building a thriving life sciences ecosystem.

How Grounded Research partners with clinical research organisations

  • Clinical trial delivery: clinical research organisations help design, manage, and monitor trials, while the NHS provides access to patients and clinical settings. This ensures trials are conducted safely and efficiently.
  • Reducing setup times: recent reforms aim to cut trial setup times to 150 days or less, making research more agile and responsive to patient needs.
  • Inclusive recruitment: NHS sites are chosen to reflect diverse communities, ensuring that underrepresented groups have opportunities to participate in research.
  • Data and digital innovation: clinical research organisations support the NHS in adopting digital tools for recruitment, monitoring, and reporting, which enhances transparency and patient engagement.

Benefits for patients and communities

  • Access to cutting-edge treatments: patients can receive new therapies years before they are widely available.
  • Improved health equity: by embedding research in community and hospital settings, the NHS ensures participation is not limited to certain demographics.
  • Trust and transparency: NHS oversight reassures patients that trials meet strict ethical and safety standards.
  • Economic and social value: partnerships strengthen the UK’s life sciences sector, creating jobs and boosting innovation that directly benefits communities.

Example initiatives

  • Cross-sector collaborations: NHS Confederation and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) have published guidance on building effective partnerships, highlighting case studies where joint projects improved patient outcomes.
  • Case studies in practice: The King’s Fund has documented NHS-industry collaborations that brought new cancer therapies and digital health solutions to patients faster.
  • Health Research Authority oversight: ensures both commercially and non-commercially sponsored research meets ethical standards, protecting patients while enabling innovation.

Page last reviewed: November 25, 2025
Next review due: November 25, 2026