Professor Matt Sydes explains how we’re semi-automating the data provenance process to ease the admin burden on researchers and speed up clinical trials.

A hard truth is that we need to improve the delivery of clinical trials. They are often large and time consuming for good reason. We need reliable findings and must protect against false positives and false negatives.

If patients are already expected to do well or the treatment is only expected to make a modest improvement or we need to have greater certainty of the results, the trial will need to be larger and longer. And more time inevitably means more money.

Tanja Galloway talks about the work of the NHS App user research team – and the challenges of supporting a fast-moving, inclusive national service. 

The NHS App recently achieved a significant milestone: most adults in England (34 million people) have now registered to use it.

Adam Hollings and Humaira Hussein talk about how NHS England Secure Data Environment service is powering life-saving research and treatments across the UK. 

NHS England Secure Data Environment service is part of the Secure Data Environment network which is powering life-saving research and treatments across the UK. 

Claire Dellar talks about her experience of using assistive technology and explains how other people’s choices not to prioritise accessibility affect her.

I spend a lot of time in conversations that start something like this:

“I’m really sorry I can’t fill in that report, it’s not accessible to me. Can you send it in another format?”

In March 2024, the Westminster Health Forum policy conference on "Next steps for clinical research in the UK" brought together stakeholders from across the research industry. Heather Pinches shares her insights from the event.

I was delighted to be invited to represent NHS DigiTrials at the Westminster Health Forum policy conference. The event was chaired by The Rt Hon Baroness Neville-Jones DCMG, setting the stage for discussions on priorities for diversity, trust, transparency and public involvement in clinical trials.