Written question asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 June 2020, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 June 2020. It was answered by Lord Bethell (Conservative) on Monday, 15 June 2020 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Coronavirus: Clinical Trials

Question: Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure that semantic and geographical analysis of COVID-19 trials does not impact the (1) unity, and (2) informativeness, of the clinical research landscape.

Answer: The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), commissioned by the Department, conducts regular analyses of the COVID-19 and other clinical trials, including geographical analysis. This analysis enables NIHR to ensure patients and members of the public from all parts of England and in all relevant sites have access to research. In addition, it enables work to ensure a better matching of clinical trials with disease prevalence, which benefits both patients affected and researchers. The NIHR Clinical Research Network, using its 15 regional centres across the country, ensures that there is a balance between the different needs of localities based on local knowledge of disease burden and a coordinated response across England.

Secondary information