To ask the Minister of Health to detail any proposals he has brought forward to ensure that Northern Ireland is involved in UK-wide clinical trials.

Infrastructure to support Northern Ireland involvement in UK-wide clinical trials in funded through the HSC Research and Development Division in the Public Health Agency.

The Northern Ireland Clinical Research Network (NICRN) provides infrastructure that allows high-quality clinical research to take place across all Health and Social Care (HSC) structures, so that patients can benefit from new and better treatments. Many of the trials supported by the NICRN are UK-wide. Current and past examples include: REMAP-CAP, PANORAMIC, PHOSP-COVID.

The Northern Ireland Cancer Trials Network (NICTN) co-ordinates and promotes cancer clinical trials, and runs the full range of first-in-human phase I to phase IV trials, along with genetic epidemiology, questionnaire, quality of life, translational and other high quality studies. Many of these trials are UK-wide. The current portfolio list can be viewed at https://cancertrials.hscni.net/portfolio/portfolio-open-trials/.

The Northern Ireland Clinical Trials Unit (NICTU) is a UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) registered Clinical Trials Unit based in Belfast. The NICTU provides specialist advice, support and training for investigators undertaking research within or of value to the HSC. In particular NICTU supports and co-ordinates multi-centre UK-wide clinical trials. Their current portfolio of studies can be accessed at https://nictu.hscni.net/portfolio/.

In addition, representatives of the HSC R&D Division and the Chief Scientific Advisor participate in a wide range of UK networks and structures which support Northern Ireland participation in UK wide clinical trials.