1.1. This paper was presented and discussed at TME on 9 July 2026; no questions or concerns were raised by TME members; and TME were content for the paper to proceed to Board.

1.2. Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) is one of the most research-active university hospital trusts nationally.

1.3. The Care Quality Commission (CQC includes research in its well-led inspection framework as research-active healthcare organizations tend to deliver better patient outcomes and higher-quality care. This is also recognised by professional bodies such as the Royal College of Physicians, biomedical charities like the Wellcome Trust and NHS England. The importance of commercial clinical trials to the UK economy, the NHS and the UK's research and development base is presented in a recent report for the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).

1.4. Recent UK government policy on NHS clinical research has focused on improving speed, scale and commercial attractiveness, beginning with the landmark O'Shaughnessy Review in 2023. The government's response to this review set out reforms to streamline approvals, reduce duplication and rebuild UK competitiveness. These have been translated into delivery commitments in 2025–26, notably through the Life Sciences Sector Plan and the 10 Year Health Plan for England, which position the NHS as a driver of economic growth and require research to be embedded as a core function. A central operational target is the 150-day clinical trial set-up metric supported by a detailed DHSC policy statement (October 2025) defining staged timelines and expectations for both study-level and site-level performance. This is reinforced through national oversight and incentives, including joint DHSC/NHSE communications requiring board-level accountability, alignment with national processes and adherence to standardised pathways to eliminate duplication and improve delivery. These policies establish a coherent national framework linking regulatory reform, system alignment and performance metrics to funding, reputation and the UK's global competitiveness in clinical research.

1.5. Research is included in OUH's strategy for 2020-25 )and current strategy refresh), along with the related activities of education and innovation, in the World-Class Impact strategic theme, through which OUH can continue its global impact in improving health and care.