Life Sciences Industry Information Service
On this page, you will find information about our Life Sciences Industry Information Service - a free consultation to help you explore what NIHR support is available to support your research and evidence-generation needs.
What is the Life Sciences Industry Information Service?
The Life Sciences Industry Information Service is where your journey with the NIHR begins. It is the primary entry point for companies seeking NIHR support to deliver research in the UK health and care system.
It’s always helpful to talk to someone who understands the UK’s research landscape and can guide you in the right direction. Whether you are an up-and-coming start-up, an established small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), or an international corporation, our Life Sciences Industry Information Service has been designed to do exactly that, and it’s completely free of charge.
Perhaps you need to evaluate a new technology or generate evidence in an NHS or care setting. Or maybe you want to explore options for bringing a global clinical trial to the UK. Regardless of your research needs, the earlier you get in touch, the more you will benefit from our support.
All life science organisations and commercial companies are eligible to access this free consultation service which provides one-to-one, tailored guidance from our dedicated Industry team.
We have extensive experience in helping life sciences organisations to navigate and optimise the support that is available across the UK’s research ecosystem. We can advise on all the world-leading services, expertise and facilities the NIHR has to offer, at any stage of your research journey, including information about specific therapeutic areas. Once we’ve identified which NIHR services can support your needs, we’ll help you to access them.
What advice can you provide?
You can receive advice on:
- access to research activity data, intelligence and insight to support trial planning
- help to define your research methodology and design your trial
- clinical experts to ensure your research is deliverable in the UK
- guidance on patient pathways and recruitment strategies
- patient input to ensure your research is patient-centric
- advice on UK-based funding programmes
- support to find collaborators or an NHS partner to qualify for NIHR funding
- health economics and technology assessment support
- identification of regulatory bodies and guidelines
- nationwide costing tool and standardised contract terms
- NHS investigators and sites to conduct your research and recruit participants
- sites and investigators in GP practice and other care settings, such as in care homes and the community
- patient samples and health data
This is just a sample of the support we can provide. If you contact us early, we can create a bespoke service that meets your needs and adds value throughout the full life cycle of your study.
If you are ready to run your research study or clinical trial, we advise accessing our support before you seek research approvals from UK clinical trial regulators.
Further information
This is just one of the ways we help life science organisations to conduct research in the UK. Visit our NIHR support for the life sciences industry page to discover our full range of support.