Lack of doctors doing clinical research triggers warning in United Kingdom

Report by Medical Research Council defends coordinated action to revert declining numbers of medical professionals doing scientific research in the country

Editorial staff

A pipette drips pink liquid into one of dozens of microtubes arranged on a laboratory tray, representing the clinical research analysis process

The number of physicians, surgeons, anesthetists, and general practitioners specialized in clinical research is in decline in the UK, with the trend set to worsen in the coming years. The workforce is aging and not being renewed quickly enough.

The warning is issued in the report Clinical Researchers in the United Kingdom: Reversing the Decline to Improve Population Health and Promote Economic Growth, published at the end of January by the Medical Research Council (MRC), responsible for coordinating and funding clinical studies in the country.

According to the document, the number of physicians engaged in clinical research fell by 6% between 2012 and 2022. The decline is attributed to factors such as student debts, financial pressure on practitioners and institutions, uncertainty around career paths, demographic shifts, and changes to qualification programs.

Impacts on public health and the economy

This trend may have significant impacts on the UK National Health Service (NHS) and for the country’s economy. Clinical research is considered to be a driver of innovation, capable of refining strategies for diagnosis, treatment, and disease prevention, while improving sustainability in the NHS.

“Hospitals that invest in research post lower mortality rates,” highlights the report.

The UK has tradition and international renown in the area, and medical research contributes directly to economic growth. Each pound sterling invested in clinical research generates a return of 25p (pence) annually, according to the report. The sector also attracts investments from large global industries interested in implementing biomedical research centers in the country, and promotes startups and spinoffs in areas such as pharmaceuticals, data sciences, and technology.

Urgent measures at no extra cost

According to the MRC, reverting this trend would not require any new financial input, but rather an urgent, coordinated response between government and other healthcare and science actors.

The report proposes fifteen priority actions, including the creation of at least forty new tenured research posts per year over five years, to revert the decline in the number of posts active since 2012.

The document also recommends the creation of a common national career structure for clinical researchers, with qualification geared toward international competition. The qualification pathway, according to the report, should be faster and more flexible.

Other points of note include:

investment in leadership and mentoring to attract new talent;
more transparent, equal remuneration;
robust performance-assessment mechanisms;
ongoing monitoring of the impact of these measures

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