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Red4Research 2024

The Red4Research campaign, launched in 2020, was initially created to honour the remarkable contributions of the clinical research community during the early stages of the pandemic. However, clinical research plays a vital role beyond times of crisis. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has emphasized that research is the most powerful tool for advancing healthcare by identifying new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease.

We are encouraged by two government reports from the current and previous government that both highlight the importance of clinical research to the UK. In his 2023 review of clinical trials, Lord O’Shaughnessy highlighted the “success in early-stage and academic-led research [was] a strength to be celebrated”, recognizing initiatives like IMPACT and the Trials Acceleration Programme, that CTUs are involved in.

Similarly, Lord Darzi’s report on the NHS in England underscored the transformative power of research innovations to enhance treatment effectiveness and deliver solutions where they were previously unavailable. We welcome his focus on research and innovation as key drivers of improved patient care. His report also highlighted the critical role of clinical academics in bridging research and clinical practice, and stressed the need for a strong research workforce within the NHS, alongside a more prominent patient voice. A heartening recognition of the value of clinical research.

Today, Red4Research continues to serve as a platform to celebrate the work of everyone involved in clinical research, from participants to supporters and professionals. The contributions made by staff across the Network, who play a key role in world-class, practice-changing research that improves outcomes for patients and their families deserves to be loudly celebrated during this Red4Research.