16c06940-a051-4cfb-9b97-6ed2ba1e8cad_7407d5e9-c734-4dcd-9188-5661c3179619_tb2026-67-research-report-2025-26-artifacted.pdf — PaddleOCR-VL (Baidu)

studies will be taking place outside of acute Trusts, which is expected to increase demand for OUH to provide services to these studies.

4. Clinical Research Performance

Table 4. Summary of activity in 2025-26

Background

	Participants recruited	Studies open to recruitment	New studies approved to recruit
Commercial	856 (6%)	209 (22%)	110 (35%)
Non-Commercial	12683 (94%)	753 (78%)	203 (65%)
Interventional	5133 (38%)	434 (45%)	172 (55%)
Non-interventional	8406 (62%)	528 (55%)	141 (45%)
NIHR portfolio	10103 (75%)	751 (78%)	254 (81%)
Non-portfolio	3436 (25%)	211 (22%)	59 (19%)
Totals	13539	962	313

4.1. The government's target was to reduce to less than 150 days the time it takes to set up a clinical trial, by March 2026. The 150-day target applies to all clinical trials, with a focus on commercial interventional clinical trials, at study level. It comprises three stages:

Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and Research Ethics Committee combined review decision - target is 60 days.
Combined review decision to study opening - target is 60 days.
Study opening to first participant recruited - target is 30 days.

4.2. In April 2026 the DHSC announced that average set-up time for commercial clinical trials in the UK reduced to 122 days, down from 169 the previous year, surpassing the 150-day target, which is now regarded as a milestone rather than an endpoint, at a study level. This has been attributed to a combination of reduced bureaucracy, standardised processes and investment (~£137m) in research infrastructure, with 99% of studies now receiving regulatory approvals within the 60-day target.

4.3. There is an accompanying expectation that all participating trial sites (like OUH) must complete their set-up activities within 90 days, comprising two stages:

Regulatory approval (Health Research Authority) or Date Site Selected, whichever comes later, to site confirmed (i.e. contract signed) - target is 60 days. During this time the Site has to confirm feasibility (clinically and operationally); agree the budget (NCVR);