In the first episode of Cancer Detectives: Finding the Cures on Channel 4, we witnessed a groundbreaking moment: Professor Sarah Blagden and her team secured funding to launch the world’s first clinical trial of a vaccine designed to prevent lung cancer. 

This cancer vaccine, called “LungVax”, aims to stop cancer before it even starts. Research has shown that cancer can begin developing in our bodies decades before it’s diagnosed. So, just as traditional vaccines train our immune systems to fight infections, Sarah and her team are working to teach the body to recognise and destroy pre-cancerous lung cells before they become dangerous.

Backing the breakthroughs: why action is needed

Across the UK, researchers are working on projects that could be just as transformative as LungVax. Behind every breakthrough in cancer research are real people: scientists, nurses, and patients taking part in trials. But they can’t do it alone. 

Clinical research in the UK is facing significant challenges. Unnecessary delays in trial set-up caused by complex processes, and a perception that research is merely “nice to have” within the healthcare system, are holding back life-saving progress. 

If we want to see breakthroughs that change lives, we need to tackle these challenges head-on. That means our politicians and policymakers must play their part. We need them to take action.  

This December, Cancer Research UK will be heading to Parliament to ask MPs and key decision-makers to join us and back the breakthroughs. You can help by inviting your MP to our Parliamentary event on 9 December. It only takes a few moments, and we have provided a template you can use to tell your MP why you think they should attend. 

We want MPs and key decision-makers to understand the importance of clinical trials and how they can support research and development that can benefit their constituents. Now is the perfect moment, as the Government is implementing its 10-Year Health Plan and Life Sciences Sector Plan, and preparing the much-anticipated National Cancer Plan. 

Read on to find out why clinical research is important for us, what changes Cancer Research UK is calling for, and how MPs and key decision-makers can play their part.

Why Clinical Trials Matter 

Why is clinical research important for the UK?

After laboratory tests confirm that a drug has the potential to become a new treatment, the next step is crucial: determining whether it is safe, effective, and offers benefits beyond current options. That’s when clinical trials come in.

The essential role of non-commercial trials 

Non-commercial trials are clinical trials funded by the public sector or charities like Cancer Research UK. They recruit the majority of patients in the UK. In fact, over 95% of patients who joined a clinical trial in 2023/24 took part in a non-commercial trial.  

These trials often explore treatments that may not be commercially viable but are clinically vital. This includes trials for rare, hard-to-treat, and paediatric cancers – all of which are essential for advancing patient care. As a result, government interventions to improve clinical trials must consider both commercial and non-commercial trials. 

What needs to change? 

Cutting red tape to speed up access to clinical trials 

Setting up clinical trials in the UK takes significantly longer than in comparable countries. On average, commercial trials in the UK take 273 days to be set up, compared with 231 days in Spain, 228 days in Australia, and just 167 days in the US. This slowdown has made the UK less attractive to international research and has caused its global ranking for trial setup to fall from 4th to 8th place.  

Complicated trial set-up processes and unnecessary red tape create delays and inefficiencies for all types of clinical trials. At Cancer Research UK, we’re calling for a single, streamlined system to speed up trial approvals. This would ensure that UK patients can access innovative cancer treatments and diagnostics more quickly. 

It’s encouraging that the UK Government has committed to reducing the time it takes to start a clinical trial to under 150 days. But non-commercial trials must not be left behind. 

As well as complicated trial set-up processes, new barriers between the UK and the EU have created additional challenges when setting up trials. These barriers slow down the essential work needed to start the trial and increase overall research costs. Ultimately, any delay in opening a trial means patients have to wait longer to access potentially life-changing treatments. 

Building a research and innovation-powered NHS 

An ageing population and rising prevalence of chronic conditions are placing a growing strain on healthcare systems across the UK. Many NHS staff struggle to find time for clinical trials as research is often seen as a “nice to have” instead of a priority in the NHS.  

We believe that the total amount of time dedicated to research should be increased in NHS staff job contracts. This should also include underrepresented professions like midwives and nurses. 96% of healthcare professionals in our survey and 80% of the public agree with this. It’s something we want to see reflected in the upcoming 10-Year Workforce Plan and Clinical Research Workforce Plan. Both have faced significant delays. 

Access to health data is also vital for cancer research, yet a recent survey found that six in ten cancer researchers struggle to access NHS data. That’s why we welcomed the Government’s £500 million investment to create a new Health Data Research Service (HDRS). To make HDRS work for cancer patients and researchers, it must deliver streamlined, efficient access to data and build public trust through transparency and security. 

Supporting the broader research ecosystem 

For an innovative treatment or diagnostic test to move from the laboratory bench to a clinical trial and a patient’s bedside, it takes time and dedication. This journey often involves years of ideas, learning, experimentation and setbacks, and it depends on a strong research ecosystem and collaborative teams of dedicated scientists. 

International research talent is essential to keeping the UK’s research system healthy and attractive. However, the costs, restrictions, and complexity of the UK immigration system create barriers to attracting and retaining the best scientific minds. 

In the 2024–25 financial year, our four institutes spent £870,000 on visa fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge. This is pulling money away from crucial cancer research. These extra costs are also discouraging for talented researchers, making it increasingly difficult for recruiters to attract the best people. 

To remain competitive with other leading research nations, the Home Office should reduce immigration costs for researchers. Lowering these barriers will help the UK continue to lead in life-saving discoveries. 

Will your MP back the breakthroughs? 

The UK has the talent, expertise, and ambition to lead in cancer research — but only if decision-makers commit to cutting red tape, supporting non-commercial trials, and investing in the broader research ecosystem. 

Together, we can make the UK a world leader in life-saving innovation. That’s why Cancer Research UK is hosting an event in Parliament to show MPs why research matters, what’s needed to secure the future of our research system, and to encourage them to take action to back the breakthroughs.

You can play your part here too. We know that MPs are more likely to attend our events when invited by their constituents. It only takes a few moments to invite your MP, and we’ve provided a template you can use to tell them why you think they should attend.