Multi-million pound drive to revolutionise healthcare in the East
Researchers at our hospitals and regional partners will help transform the region’s health thanks to a multi‑million pound investment from the Medical Research Council (MRC).
In a major new drive, nearly £10m is being invested in clinical research careers across the UK – with a significant share of £1.4m flowing directly into the Eastern region.
The initiative will bring together top universities, NHS trusts and cutting‑edge science institutes in a push to bring faster, better treatments to patients.
It will see a powerful new regional partnership uniting the Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group (NWUHG) and University of East Anglia (UEA) with the University of Cambridge, Anglia Ruskin University, the Quadram Institute and the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
Crucially, the scheme is designed to reflect the unique needs of each region – and the East of England will benefit from a tailored approach. From rural healthcare challenges to areas of deprivation, local research leads will be able to channel funding where it is needed most – ensuring no community is left behind.
Project co-lead Prof Vassilios Vassiliou, from the UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: “This investment will enable researchers across the region to dedicate protected time to developing innovative, high-impact research and securing future competitive funding. This would include medical practitioners, but also nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. By prioritising work focused on health inequalities in underserved communities, including areas of rural and urban deprivation such as North Norfolk and Great Yarmouth, the programme aims to deliver research that improves health outcomes and access to care for people across the region.”
The Eastern programme is part of a wider UK scheme supporting almost 200 frontline clinicians – including doctors, nurses and therapists – to carry out vital research alongside their day jobs. The four‑year pilot will test new ways of supporting clinicians – with the goal of building a stronger, more resilient research workforce. It will support clinicians at critical stages in their research careers to stay involved in research alongside clinical practice.
The funding will help protect research time and nurture the next generation of experts with mentoring and training. It will also support clinicians returning to research after time away. By keeping skilled professionals in research, it is hoped that the region can continue to develop the treatments of tomorrow – while improving care today.
Dr Rob Sherwin, Group Chief Medical Officer for NWUHG, said: “We are delighted to be working with institutes and universities across the East, alongside NHS partners to prioritise researchers working in areas that have historically received less research investment across the region. By strengthening research capacity in underserved communities, we will improve access to high-quality clinical research, recognising that research-active organisations consistently achieve better patient outcomes.”
Prof Patrick Chinnery, Executive Chair of the Medical Research Council, said: “Clinicians play a vital role in turning discovery research into better treatments for patients, but too many face barriers to sustaining research alongside demanding clinical roles. These challenges vary across the UK, which is why a regional approach is so important to building strong partnerships between universities and NHS trusts. Through Regional Accounts for Clinical Researchers, we are investing in locally led solutions that support clinicians at critical points in their careers, strengthen research environments, and help improve patient outcomes while accelerating life sciences innovation to support economic growth and a stronger NHS.”
Dr Antonietta Hayhoe, Head of the Human Studies Team at the Quadram Institute, added: “‘We’re delighted to be joining other centres of excellence in clinical research across the east of England through this partnership. At the Quadram Institute, we have seen how supporting clinicians to build their research skills and careers is essential for turning scientific breakthroughs into real‑world innovations that will help us achieve our mutual goal to promote people’s health.”