The UK Clinical Research Facility (UKCRF) Network celebrated a milestone this July with its 20th Annual Conference, held for the first time in partnership with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs).
Hosted at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre in July, the event brought together over 900 delegates from across the UK’s experimental medicine infrastructure under the theme: “Co-create to translate: achieving impact through collaboration.”
Not only did this year’s conference celebrate two decades of CRF excellence but also launched a new era of cross-infrastructure collaboration by integrating the BRCs into the programme. The result was a dynamic, inclusive event that highlighted the power of co-creation in clinical research—from early-phase trials to real-world patient impact.
Dr Gail Marzetti, Director of Science, Research and Evidence at Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Deputy CEO of the NIHR, delivered a compelling keynote that underscored the UK Government’s commitment to research infrastructure and the critical role of CRFs and BRCs in delivering real-world impact. Her address highlighted the importance of generating robust evidence to inform health and care decisions and called for greater collaboration across research infrastructures to maximise value and inclusivity.
She outlined key priorities:
- Demonstrating the impact of research on policy and practice
- Promoting inclusive, patient-centred innovation
- Strengthening the evidence base for decision-making
- Encouraging cross-sector collaboration to drive system-wide benefit
Among the standout sessions was a compelling presentation by Professor Rachel Upthegrove, Director of the NIHR Oxford Health BRC and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford. Her plenary talk, “Experimental Medicine Studies in Mental Health’ highlighted the breadth of current studies in the UK, including those focused on novel targets for depression early psychosis immune mechanisms, and opiate dependence. Her talk highlighted the important role of Oxford Health BRC and Clinical Research Facility (OH CRF) and other CRF’s, including those based in acute hospitals in the delivery of mental health research across the country. She emphasised the importance of translational research that bridges biological discovery with clinical care.
“This conference exemplifies the collaborative spirit we need to tackle complex mental health challenges. By bringing together CRFs and BRCs, we’re building a research ecosystem that’s not only innovative but also deeply connected to patient needs,” said Professor Upthegrove.
Equally impactful was the joint contribution from Professor Apostolos Tsiachristas, Associate Professor of Health Economics at the University of Oxford’s Department of Psychiatry and Dr James Lathe, Teaching and Research Fellow at the Health Economics Research Centre at the University of Oxford. Speaking in the session “Health Economics: What it is and why it matters to your research,” they offered practical insights into embedding economic evaluation into clinical research from the outset. The session simplified key concepts and encouraged researchers to think beyond efficacy and safety to long-term value and sustainability.
“Health economics is not just about costs—it’s about making sure our research delivers value-for-money care to people in need regardless of socio-economic status, ethnicity, and geographic residence. This conference has been a brilliant platform to share that message and connect with colleagues across disciplines,” Professor Tsiachristas reflected.
The team produced a poster for the key points in their session.
The two-day programme featured a mix of plenary talks, parallel learning sessions, and poster presentations. Attendees praised the diversity of topics and speakers, with many highlighting the value of hearing directly from patients and public contributors involved in co-designing studies. Others noted how the event fostered a sense of shared purpose, with practical takeaways on how to embed patient voices more meaningfully in research design and delivery.
Next years event is due to take place in Dublin.
For more information visit the UKCRF Network website.
Contact Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (OH BRC): ohbrcenquiries@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk Contact Oxford Health Clinical Research Facility (OH CRF): oxfordhealth.CRF@nhs.net
