Royal Surrey and ASPH Trusts secure funding boost for clinical research | News

Royal Surrey and Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts are set to benefit from new funding aimed at supporting clinicians to carry out potentially life-saving research.

The Trusts, which formed a Group model in 2025, are now part of the South West London Regional Accounts for Clinical Researchers (RACR) pilot consortium, which will receive up to £350,000 a year over the next four years from the Medical Research Council (MRC) to support clinical research activity.

The funding will support clinicians at key stages in their research careers, helping them remain involved in research alongside clinical practice. The goal of the pilot initiative is to strengthen the UK’s clinical research workforce, which plays a vital role in driving innovation, improving patient care and delivering better health outcomes for NHS patients.

Chris Attoe, Group Director of Strategy for Royal Surrey and Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts, said: “This is great news for research in our area. The funding will help clinical researchers turn new scientific discoveries into better care for patients.

“Hospitals involved in research are known to achieve better results for patients, introduce new ideas and treatments more quickly, and attract and keep skilled staff.

“Giving clinicians the time and support to carry out research alongside their day-to-day roles is important for helping the NHS continue to improve and develop new treatments.”

Many clinicians face barriers to starting and sustaining research careers, including pressures on time and funding, as well as limited access to mentorship and training opportunities.

These challenges are particularly acute at career pinch points, such as the transition from doctoral (PhD) to postdoctoral research, or the move towards research independence.

The funding may support initiatives including:

• protected research time
• bridge funding
• mentoring
• skills development
• access to facilities and networks
• support for clinicians returning to research after time away 

The four-year RACR pilot will generate valuable evidence on how best to support clinical researchers in different settings.

Insights from the programme will help inform future approaches to strengthening the UK’s clinical research workforce and ensuring research continues to benefit patients and the NHS nationwide.