NIHR Research Workforce Update for England
Published July 17, 2026
The Research Workforce Update for England has been published, it sets out how NIHR and partners are strengthening research careers to drive improvements in health and social care and deliver economic growth.
The update aligns with the ambitions of the government’s 10-Year Health Plan, the Life Sciences Sector Plan, and the recommendations of the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research (OSCHR) on strengthening clinical academic careers. Sustained investment in research infrastructure and delivery capacity underpins the UK’s attractiveness as a destination for commercial research. Our system-wide partnership ensures the research-skilled workforce is fit for the future.
The UKCRD Programme will oversee actions related to the clinical research delivery workforce and embedding research into the NHS, aligned to its health and growth mission pillars:
- improve timely access to health and care research
- support a research portfolio that tackles the major killers
- reduce inequalities through research inclusion towards a fairer Britain
- offer a world-leading environment for life sciences to undertake research