A new academic paper, published in the journal Brain, explores how the National Health Service (NHS) can improve its research delivery by learning from private sector organisations.
The paper, titled “Mental health research delivery: what can the National Health Service learn from the private sector?” is available to read in full on the Oxford Academic website.
The research highlights that private clinical research organisations (CROs) are increasingly chosen by both industry and research participants for mental health clinical trials. The study identifies several reasons for this trend, including faster study set-up times, more flexible recruitment processes, and a greater focus on participant experience.
Importantly, the paper suggests that the NHS could adopt some of these practices to enhance its own research delivery. For example, simplifying administrative processes and improving communication between research teams could help the NHS attract more commercial studies and offer patients greater access to cutting-edge treatments. The paper also notes that collaboration between the NHS and private sector could lead to shared learning and improved outcomes for patients.
The study was supported by the Office for Life Sciences, NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration (MH-TRC) and the NIHR Manchester Biomedical Centre (BRC).
NIHR Oxford Health BRC Patient and Public Involvement, Engagement and Participation (PPIEP) colleagues Douglas Findlay and Cora Reilly-McGeown facilitated valuable input from the PPIEP focus group, to ensure the views of patients and the pubic were heard by researchers.
The lead author, Dr Aiste Adomaviciene, MH-TRC Mission Capacity and Development workstream Co-ordinator, based at University of Manchester said:
“This study provides actionable recommendations for the NHS, emphasising the importance of learning from private sector innovation. By adopting best practices from private research delivery organisations, the NHS can improve the speed, efficiency, and inclusivity of its research, ultimately benefiting patients and the wider public.”
To find out more about Capacity Development in the MH-TRC email: MHM-Capacity@manchester.ac.uk.
