Future-proofing UK health research

Future-proofing UK Health Research: a people-centred, coordinated approach

At a glance

The UK is a world leader in health research, delivering discoveries that improve lives, strengthen the NHS and drive economic growth. However, this position is under threat from challenges including insecure research careers, unsustainable funding, limited cross-sector collaboration and pressures on the healthcare system. This report set out a vision for a more resilient and sustainable health research ecosystem. Since its publication, we have continued to build on its recommendations through policy development, partnerships and further research.

Published: May 2023

Summary

The UK’s health research ecosystem is internationally recognised for its excellence, bringing together universities, the NHS, industry and charities to deliver discoveries that improve health, strengthen the economy and enhance national resilience. From advances in medicine and public health to the COVID-19 response, health research has transformed lives while supporting a thriving life sciences sector and improving patient care. Its wider value is substantial: research activity supported through the system has contributed an estimated £8 billion in gross value added and 47,467 full-time equivalent jobs. Its continued success depends on the people, partnerships and systems that make research possible.

In Future-proofing UK Health Research, we highlighted that the long-term sustainability of this success is at risk. It identifies four interconnected challenges: insecure and inflexible research careers that limit diversity and talent retention; barriers to collaboration and movement between sectors; a funding model that fails to cover the full costs of research; and increasing pressures on the healthcare system that make it difficult to embed research in clinical practice. Even before the pandemic, 36% of researchers surveyed by Wellcome said they were considering leaving the sector.

Many of these issues pre-date the pandemic but have since intensified, raising concerns about the UK’s ability to maintain its global leadership in health research. Without action, there is a risk of gradual decline, with consequences for public health, patient care and economic prosperity.

The report calls for a coordinated, system-wide approach that places people at the heart of health research, supports sustainable funding, encourages collaboration across academia, the NHS, industry and charities, and better connects research, innovation and healthcare. By addressing these challenges and building on existing strengths, it argues that the UK can secure a resilient health research ecosystem that continues to deliver benefits for patients, the public and the economy.

The report has since provided the foundation for a wider programme of work exploring how the UK can build a more sustainable and people-centred health research ecosystem.

What's happened since

Since publishing the report, we have worked with partners across the sector to put its recommendations into practice through policy development, partnership working and further research.

Our work has included publishing a 2025 update following an Academy symposium, bringing leaders together to shape the future of clinical academic careers, supporting the national clinical research career pathway through the Clinical Academic Training and Careers Hub (CATCH), and encouraging greater movement and collaboration across sectors.

Alongside this, we continue to contribute to wider work on research in the NHS and to champion the practical changes needed to create a more sustainable, connected and people-centred health research ecosystem.

Video transcript

[Dr Rasha Al-Lamee] In this country the connection between all of the various people involved in research is really unique. Without people we don't have research, right, so they're vital. People for me means the patients and the public and the carers are engaged with research in terms of designing research. We also need to help researchers to have flexibility in their careers so that
they can deliver research.

[Dr Fiyyaz Ahmed-Jushuf] To have time to focus on research, which I think is vital for every good clinician, is often very difficult to get.

[Dr Brian Wang] It's not really like doing two part-time jobs it's more actually like doing two full-time jobs.

[Dr Florentina Simader] And it has been quite difficult to get the visa, waiting for things to come through, not knowing whether things will work out eventually.

[Dr Christopher Rajkumar] Climate in the NHS is increasingly difficult for us to get our sort of research protocols through.

[Dr Rasha Al-Lamee] Funders and obviously all the various stakeholders, all of those people need to understand whether it's the NHS or academia or industry or government and obviously all the various charities, that research is absolutely vital to delivering better health outcomes.

[Dr Fiyyaz Ahmed-Jushuf] Everything we do is for the betterment of our patients and to give them the best possible clinical care.

 

Explore related work

• Read the 2025 update report
• Explore initiatives supporting cross-sector collaboration:
  • cross-sector programme
  • cross-sector experience awards
  • Forum
• Learn more about the Clinical Academic Training and Careers Hub (CATCH)

Work with us

To create a sustainable health research ecosystem, there needs to be collective action. We welcome opportunities to work with policymakers, researchers, healthcare professionals, funders, charities, industry and patient groups to develop and deliver practical solutions that strengthen UK health research and innovation for the benefit of patients and the public.

About the report

The report was co-chaired by Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow FMedSci and Professor Sir Peter Mathieson FMedSci, and informed by wider input from Fellows, Council members and other experts.

Fellows in the steering group

• Professor Dame Julia Goodfellow FMedSci (Co-chair)
• Professor Sir Peter Mathieson FMedSci (Co-chair)
• Professor Frances Brodsky FMedSci
• Professor Dame Nicky Cullum FMedSci
• Professor Tim Eisen FMedSci
• Professor Ian Greer FMedSci
• Professor Jackie Hunter FMedSci
• Dr Harren Jhoti OBE FMedSci
• Professor David Lomas FMedSci
• Sir Mene Pangalos FRS FMedSci
• Professor Ruth Plummer MBE FMedSci
• Professor Caetano Reis e Sousa FRS FMedSci
• Professor Sir Nilesh Samani FMedSci
• Professor Irene Tracey FMedSci
• Professor Julie Williams FMedSci
• Professor Ele Zeggini FMedSci

Read the report