NIHR salutes South West TrialBlazers in new campaign to take part in health and care research

44,596 participants across the South West volunteered to take part in 531 clinical research trials in 2021/22, new figures reveal, as a campaign urges people in the region to get involved in research which could one day save lives.

To coincide with International Clinical Trials Day today (May 20th), the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has launched TrialBlazers - a campaign that recognises the life-changing contribution already made to health and care research by the people of the South West.

The NIHR is calling on people to become a TrialBlazer, and help save even more lives by taking part in research trials in their local area. There are clinical research trials - on everything from COVID-19 to cancer and diabetes - in the South West in need of volunteers right now.

The treatment and support those living with a disease or a health condition receive to help manage their illness or keep them alive is made possible by research. Anyone of any age can join the TrialBlazers and learn more about a condition which may affect them or loved ones, or simply support health and care research.

TrialBlazer Jan, a retired nurse and midwife from Taunton in Somerset, took part in a trial to help with the side effects of her pain medication during cancer treatment. Read her full story and find out why she is encouraging others to get involved. 

Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid, said: “The UK is a world-leader in ground-breaking research. I’m determined to continue building on this innovation to transform our health service and ensure the NHS is able to deliver world-class care for patients.

“I am proud and grateful to every single person, who has taken part in research so far, particularly during the pandemic. Clinical research has been vital in our fight against Covid. It has saved hundreds of thousands of lives in the UK and around the world – whether through the rapid creation of vaccines or the identification of life-saving treatments like dexamethasone – and I encourage everyone to look at what role they can play in the future of health research."

How to get involved

Members of the public can support medical research for a particular condition or disease that they care about, access new treatments or learn more about a condition that affects them. They can volunteer for a trial by visiting www.bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk/trialblazers and searching by location or condition.