Research and Development

We have a long tradition of making significant medical breakthroughs and developing new treatments.

With our university partner, King's College London, we are a major centre for NHS-funded research.  We are one of only five National Institute for Health Research comprehensive Biomedical Research Centres in England and one of the UK's first Academic Health Sciences Centres, known as King's Health Partners.  These pioneering collaborations bring together excellence in health care, research and education.

Benefits of research to patients

Organisations like ours that are involved in research, and offer their patients the chance to take part in clinical trials, are generally those that provide the latest and best available treatment.  There is evidence that for some conditions, patients on clinical trials have better long term outcomes and may also get earlier access to new drugs.

With a large and ethically diverse population on our doorstop, we have an exciting opportunity to lead research into a wide range of diseases. 

We depend on the willingness of patients and healthy volunteers to participate in the medical studies taking place at our hospitals.

Patient participation in research

When patients come to one of our hospitals, either as an inpatient or for an outpatient or day case appointment, they may be invited to take part in a research study.  It is entirely up to patients whether or not they wish to get involved.  If they decide not to participate, this won't affect their treatment in any way.

If you have any questions about taking part in medical part in medical research studies, download our taking part in medical research studies booklet (PDF 1.33Mb).