NHS App to Support Clinical Trial Sign-Ups in Major Research Overhaul
Patients in the UK will soon be able to register for clinical trials directly through the NHS App, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed, marking a major step in efforts to accelerate medical research nationwide.
The initiative is part of a broader push to “turbocharge” the UK’s clinical research landscape. Through integration with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)’s Be Part of Research service, app users will be able to explore and enrol in trials aligned with their personal interests and health profiles.
Eventually, the app will be upgraded to match individuals with relevant studies automatically, using their health data to deliver tailored notifications about new opportunities.
The announcement comes as NIHR launches a nationwide recruitment campaign to expand public participation in trials and support the UK’s ambition to lead in life sciences innovation.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said the NHS App will become the “digital front door” to healthcare:
“The British public stepped up during the Covid vaccine drive—now we have a chance to replicate that momentum to help cure cancer, dementia, and other major conditions.”
He added that the reforms will reduce bureaucracy, expand patient access to cutting-edge treatments, and fuel reinvestment in NHS services.
Dr Vin Diwakar, NHS England’s Director of Clinical Transformation, said the upgrade will allow patients to access new therapies sooner, improving care quality and outcomes.
DHSC acknowledged the UK has lagged in clinical trial setup, with current timelines averaging 250 days. The goal is to reduce that to under 150 by March 2026. A key part of this overhaul is the introduction of a standardised national contract, replacing the current fragmented system that requires separate agreements across NHS entities.
The department also confirmed that a 10-year health and research strategy will be published in the coming weeks.
