Nesta, BIT and Wellcome, in collaboration with RAND Europe, launched a report today in Westminster which presents a roadmap toward a future-proof NHS driven by research and innovation.

‘From Research to Reality’ outlines key steps needed to achieve the government's NHS 10 Year Plan. It does this by taking an evidence-led approach, combining compelling case studies, and vital stakeholder insights, including perspectives from both experts and patients. The transformative power of health research is undeniable.

From groundbreaking innovations like antibiotics, medical imaging, and keyhole surgery to the rapid development of Covid-19 vaccines, research has consistently driven improvements in patient care and life expectancy. Health research is also a critical driver of economic growth, recognised as a strategic strength for the UK.

The UK BioIndustry Association estimates that the genomics sector alone could be worth £50 billion by 2040.

However, despite its potential, research in the NHS faces systemic challenges that stifle progress, such as:

• Inflexible systems and fragmented processes that slow down innovation.
• Ring-fenced funding, limiting the scale and impact of research initiatives.
• Declining numbers of research-active NHS staff.

For the UK government to fulfil its vision for health by 2035, research and innovation must become a core function of the healthcare system.

With the right level of ambition, this could build an NHS which not only improves our health but also strengthens our economy.

There are three fundamental shifts that are already at the heart of the government’s plans for the future of the NHS: from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention.

However, this report has identified a missing fourth shift that is critical for success – from research to reality. This means embedding innovation and evidence at the heart of how healthcare works. This ‘fourth shift’ would see the health research and innovation landscape move from a traditional research system characterised by delays and inflexibility to one where everyday innovation and learning translates research into better care, at better cost, achieving better outcomes for patients.

To make this possible, the report has outlined five key transformations in how we should put research at the heart of health:

1. Moving from patchy patient engagement to citizens being proactively involved in their healthcare and in health research.
2. Moving from a culture that stifles innovation to one that fosters and sustains it.
3. Moving from isolated pockets of research to research embedded in everyday care.
4. Moving from a system limited by rigid bureaucracy to a responsive, streamlined model of innovation.
5. Moving from a landscape where innovation often fails to progress past pilot testing to one which ensures widespread adoption and scaling.

Ravi Gurumurthy, Chief Executive of Nesta and BIT said: “The NHS and healthcare looms large as a political priority and the plan for 2035 will be essential in moving us out of crisis mode towards a preventative and research-led healthcare system. As part of that focus we need to ensure the NHS is able to keep pace with rapid technological developments while also creating the culture and capabilities to innovate at speed and with rigour. This report offers a way forward to break down barriers to innovation and put research and innovation at the heart of how we do healthcare in the UK.”

John-Arne Røttingen, Chief Executive of Wellcome, said: “Now is the time to truly rethink how the UK health system works – the government is already laying out a plan for 2035, and we hope this report will help make that plan a success. We must seize this opportunity to really embed research into everyday care at every level – through active involvement from patient groups.”