ABSTRACT
The Department of Health (DH) is the largest non-commercial funder of medical research in England. In 2005-6 the DH spent over £650 million on health-related research in England1 via its NHS Research and Development (R&D) Programme and Policy Research Programme. In spring 2000 it published its strategy for the reform of funding and organisation of NHS R&D,2 together with a research governance framework.3 These announcements signalled an increased role for industry in NHS R&D, including identifying strategic objectives, setting priorities and delivering and exploiting clinical research. The reforms are designed to bring NHS research into line with the government’s wider objectives of a mixed economy of provision in all aspects of health care and research.
