The Academy of Medical Sciences, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Delivery Network (RDN) have released a report on ‘Innovative clinical research: Delivering trials in the community’.
In November 2025, these organisations jointly organised a FORUM workshop focused on decentralised methods of clinical trial delivery.
Decentralised or remote methods of clinical trial delivery can make clinical trials more accessible, inclusive and patient-centred. Trials may be fully decentralised – conducted in people’s homes and/or local communities, rather than traditional research sites – or incorporate only some decentralised activities.
Understanding how we can effectively decentralise more clinical trials aligns with the UK Government’s commitment to shift care closer to the community and improve the speed and efficiency of clinical trials.
The workshop involved around 60 participants and included people with relevant lived experience alongside representatives from healthcare, academia, regulation, funding, industry and government. Participants examined the components required to facilitate decentralised trial delivery and agreed that decentralised methods could better support the needs and preferences of people taking part in clinical trials, while acknowledging the need for clearer guidance, training, and shared learnings to increase
uptake.