Importance of clinical research for the UK's 10-year cancer plan.

Abstract

The ambition of the UK Government's 10-year cancer plan consultation document to transform cancer outcomes is highly welcome. 1 UK Department of Health and Social Care10-Year Cancer Plan: call for evidence. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/10-year-cancer-plan-call-for-evidence/10-year-cancer-plan-call-for-evidenceDate: March 31, 2022 Date accessed: May 27, 2022 Google Scholar This consultation must reflect on the extraordinary role played by the UK research community in responding to COVID-19—a response enabled by clinical research delivery infrastructure embedded within the National Health Service (NHS), which allowed rapid clinical evaluation of novel treatments and vaccines to save and transform lives. This unique national research delivery capability is the legacy of more than two decades of national clinical research networks, with co-operation between government agencies, charitable funders, and many others. This national capability started in cancer with the inception of the National Cancer Research Network and the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) in 2001. Now, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN), it extends across the full spectrum of health and social care. Cancer outcomes have been radically improved during this time, but further gains will require reinvigoration and realignment of our research capability at multiple levels, starting with the health-care workforce.