The United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea have joined forces in a fresh alliance that seeks to accelerate, optimize, and enhance the productivity of clinical trials. The objective is to establish quicker, more efficient, and fairer pathways to safe medical breakthroughs for patients in both nations.
Acknowledging the outstanding clinical research prowess and technological innovation of the UK and South Korea, mutual funding from the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) via the NIHR, and Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), will bolster collaboration in research, capacity building, and knowledge sharing on advanced clinical trials. These trials integrate cutting-edge technologies and novel methodologies, such as artificial intelligence, to boost efficacy, precision, and inclusivity in research.
Professor Lucy Chappell, chief scientific adviser at the DHSC and CEO of NIHR, remarked: “By merging our resources and expertise from the UK and South Korea, we can create an even more profound impact. This collaboration signifies a major advancement in our capacity to execute more effective, innovative, and patient-centric clinical studies. Through this partnership, we aim to transcend boundaries in clinical research to prioritize patient outcomes.”
Professor Chappell and Dr. Hyunchul Kim, the director general of KHIDI, made the joint announcement of this collaboration at a health cooperation meeting held between the UK and South Korea.
Expressing enthusiasm for the partnership, Dr. Hyunchul Kim stated: “The collaboration with NIHR, a leading European health and care research funder, is a source of great excitement. By fusing Korea’s tech innovation with the UK’s preeminence in clinical research, we are pioneering new standards in clinical trials and ready to deliver real-world benefits to patients in both countries.”
Baroness Gillian Merron, Health Minister in charge of Research, Life Sciences, and Innovation, said: “This collaboration marks an important milestone in the future of healthcare, making disease management more predictive, preventive, and personalized. As outlined in our 10 Year Health Plan, the NHS will spearhead AI and technological advancements.
“By partnering with the Republic of Korea, we can unite our renowned researchers to expedite the development and distribution of transformative treatments for major health challenges, such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases.”
The partnership will allocate £2.8 million from 2025 to 2028, with NIHR and KHIDI equally contributing, to undertake research in their respective countries. This financing aims to establish robust UK-ROK research links, pinpointing key research areas with the highest benefits for patients, and conducting preliminary feasibility and pilot studies.
Researchers eager to establish international connections in the UK or South Korea are encouraged to submit their interest ahead of the program’s initiation in January 2025.