What plans does the Welsh Government have to deliver on the 27 recommendations set out in Lord O’Shaughnessy’s review of the clinical trials system in the UK?
I met with Lord O’Shaughnessy on the 13 July to discuss the review into the environment for conducting commercial clinical trials in the UK and he attended a round table showcase with senior colleagues from industry, universities and the NHS at our Life Sciences Hub in Cardiff.
It is vital that the UK is ambitious in its plans for commercial research to ensure all opportunities for growth and investments are maximised, as well as ensuring the UK can offer patients the access to new experimental treatments and technologies. I very much welcome the review and want Wales to play its part, working closely with the other nations, in taking bold steps to improve the UK’s commercial offer.
Since the review was published, officials in the Health and Social Services R&D Division has consulted the Welsh research community on the recommendations, including via the NHS R&D Leadership Group and the Health and Care Research Wales Industry Engagement Group. Further discussion is planned through other forthcoming meetings of national forums including the Wales Cancer Industry Forum. The Recommendations in the Review have been received positively in Wales, and are felt to be complementary to many of the activities already underway to foster a strong research environment.
Officials in the Health and Social Services R&D Division are working with the other UK nations and with Office for Life Sciences (OLS) to prepare for the full Autumn response to the Review, which is likely to be a UK response to the recommendations.