The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has awarded 36 NHS organisations £30 million to fund medical technology and research equipment.
The money will be used to pay for imaging devices, ultrasound and MRI scanners at trusts across England, as well as for mobile research vehicles that help expand capacity for, and inclusive participation in, medical trials.
It also covers investment for modular buildings that will enable smaller NHS hospitals to expand their research capabilities, particularly for those in rural or coastal areas.
Professor Lucy Chappell, chief executive of the NIHR, said: “This significant investment will provide NHS trusts in England with the high-quality equipment, technology and facilities they need to deliver cutting edge research that benefits the public.
“The NIHR is directing this funding so that it reaches the areas and people with the greatest need, giving more communities the chance to take part in life-changing clinical trials.
“This will not only benefit patients directly, but also support the economic growth of the country, helping to position the UK as an attractive place for innovative companies to invest in research.”
Trusts set to receive funding include Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.
NIHR invited NHS organisations to apply for funding between £50,000 and £1.5 million in January.. The 2024 funding competition, which runs annually, was prioritised for improving access to research and better reaching underserved communities; pharmacy, imaging and other clinical support services; expanding research capability within smaller NHS organisations in rural and coastal areas; and decentralised study delivery.
Meanwhile, in October 2024 the UK government and UK Research and Innovation announced £118 million in funding for five new health technology hubs across the UK, including projects to develop AI tools for cancer diagnosis and affordable medical scanners.
