More than two million take part in health research in London, figures show

New figures released today by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) show that more than two million participants across London and parts of Essex, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire have taken part in research to help improve the nation's health and wealth over the last ten years.

Since 2014, when the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) was founded, 2,096,103 people have taken part in research in the capital and parts of the neighbouring counties. Nearly 9 million people (8,896,938) have taken part nationally.

In 2023/24, nearly a quarter of a million participants in the capital (226,736) took part in CRN-supported research. They got involved in research on a number of conditions, including depression, cancer, and dementia.

Over the last year, 1,045,282 people across England took part in health and care research. This is the fourth year in a row that around a million people have been involved in research supported by the NIHR CRN.

The data says that 1 in 4 people who participated in research in England in 2023-24 were recruited via primary care, including GP practices.

It’s a decade since the formation of the NIHR Clinical Research Network, which supports the delivery of research in the NHS and other settings across England. The Department of Health and Social Care-funded organisation was founded in 2006, with the Clinical Research Network founded in April 2014.

One person who benefited from research in London was Gemma Dean, whose daughter Hope took part in the NIHR-supported HARMONIE immunisation trial on Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV. The trial took place at Barts Health NHS Trust.

RSV is one of the leading causes of hospitalisation in infants worldwide and affects 90% of children before the age of two. It often causes only mild illnesses, like a cold. However, for some babies, it can cause more severe illnesses, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia, resulting in hospital admission.

Babies up to 12 months old took part in the trial. Half the babies received a vaccination using a monoclonal antibody called Nirsevimab, and the other half did not receive a vaccination. The trial found that a new antibody treatment to protect against RSV could reduce hospitalisations by more than 80%.

Gemma said: “The COVID-19 pandemic raised awareness of research because it helped people understand research processes and the importance of it.

“Even if it is found as part of a trial that something does not work, that information is valuable and improves healthcare across the board.”

Another research participant is Mike Samson.

A former immigration officer, he thanked researchers at Kingston Hospital for saving his life after he became seriously unwell from COVID-19.

The 53-year-old from Thames Ditton was their first COVID-19 case. He was put into a coma and admitted to the intensive care unit at Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in March 2020. During his 14-week stay in hospital, he was enrolled into the NIHR-supported RECOVERY trial.

The trial examined multiple drugs and their effects on people hospitalised with COVID-19. Researchers discovered that the steroid dexamethasone and the arthritis treatment tocilizumab dramatically reduced the risk of death. These drugs went on to save the lives of millions of people worldwide during the pandemic.

Mike said: “I regard the research team at Kingston Hospital as my lifesavers and angels. I have so much respect and admiration for them all. I didn’t realise how ill I was, as my health deteriorated very quickly. However, the care I received was fantastic, and their support took me from being in a very dark place to seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.

“I’m very proud to have survived COVID-19 despite the odds being hugely stacked against me. I’m also pleased that I could play a small part in helping researchers find treatments that work against COVID-19. The RECOVERY trial has improved my life, and I would take part in another research trial without question.

“The virus has affected every major organ in my body and left its long-term permanent mark on me. However, I take each day as it comes, good days and those not-so-good. The research team at Kingston Hospital deserves as much praise and recognition as they can get.”

John Sitzia, Executive Director of the NIHR Research Delivery Network, said:

“Whether it’s taking part in a drug trial at a local hospital, completing an online survey, or being interviewed for research on adult social care, every contribution helps improve our understanding of how to deliver good care and ultimately helps to improve health and wellbeing in the UK and beyond.

“So, we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has taken part in a health and care study last year. I hope that everyone who participated feels a sense of pride for their contribution.”

For more information on taking part in research, visit the NIHR’s Be Part of Research website.