Medical research is vital if the UK is going to enjoy continued improvements to health. Research allows us to understand diseases better, diagnose earlier, and deliver improved outcomes with fewer side effects from treatment.
Clinical research, including trials, plays a critical role in translating scientific discoveries into safer, kinder, and more effective cancer diagnostics and treatments. As a research funder and an advocate for cancer patients, Cancer Research UK has a strong interest in ensuring that clinical research has the conditions to thrive.
To achieve this, our policy team work closely with patients, health service staff, researchers, and other organisations to raise the profile of clinical research within the UK and devolved governments and develop policies to help make the UK a more attractive place to conduct and take part in research.
No time to waste - starting cancer clinical trials faster - (July 2025)(PDF, 711 KB)
2023 Survey of the UK Clinical Research Workforce - Full Report (February 2024)(PDF, 1.93 MB)
Our response to a Lords Science and Technology Committee Inquiry into Clinical Academics in the NHS (December 2022)(PDF, 305 KB)
Beyond recovery - The case for transforming UK clinical cancer research (February 2022)(PDF, 466 KB)
State of the cancer research workforce survey (February 2022)(PDF, 242 KB)
Creating Time for Research full report(PDF, 2.91 MB) and the supplementary survey (February 2021)(PDF, 535 KB)
CRUK supporting statement for RCP case for research (December 2019)(PDF, 120 KB)
Cancer Research UK’s response to the MHRA No Deal consultation (November 2018)(PDF, 287 KB)
Cancer Research UK’s policy statement on clinical trials as the UK exits the EU (August 2018)(PDF, 294 KB)
The Future of Clinical Trials After Brexit report (August 2018)(PDF, 1.1 MB)
The Future of Clinical Trials After Brexit slide deck (August 2018)(PDF, 682 KB)
Response to House of Commons Science and Technology Inquiry: Brexit, Science and Innovation Summit (February 2018)(PDF, 591 KB)
Cancer Research UK’s policy statement on alignment with the EU Clinical Trial Regulation (December 2017)(PDF, 423 KB)
Response to House of Commons Health Select Committee Brexit Inquiry (October 2017)(PDF, 626 KB)
Response to Consultation on Expansion of Undergraduate Medical Education (June 2017)(PDF, 326 KB)
Regulation and governance of health research: five years on - full report (June 2017)(PDF, 668 KB)
Response to EU consultation on Paediatric Medicines Regulation (February 2017)(PDF, 439 KB)
Response to EMA consultation on Good Pharmacogenomic Practice Guidance (August 2016) (PDF, 482 KB)
Response to EU consultation on Risk proportionate approaches in clinical trials (August 2016)(PDF, 402 KB)
Response to EU consultation on Summary of clinical trial results for laypersons (August 2016)(PDF, 377 KB)
Response to MHRA consultation on Guidance for companion in-vitro diagnostic tests (July 2016)(PDF, 461 KB)
Every patient a research patient? (May 2015)(PDF, 620 KB)
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