Over £227,000 invested in GP research across Derbyshire to improve patient care

Primary care organisations across Derbyshire have been awarded £267,500 in research funding, including £227,000 specifically for GP practices, supporting the expansion of health research within local communities.

A total of 41 GP practices across Derbyshire have received funding through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Delivery Network’s new Wider Care Settings Funding Model, which launches nationally from April 2026.

The funding represents a significant increase in investment compared to the previous year, when £182,500 was awarded to GP practices across Derbyshire.

The new funding model replaces several previous schemes with a more transparent, fair and consistent approach to supporting research across community settings, including GP practices, dental services, care homes and hospices. While designed nationally, funding decisions are informed by regional expertise to ensure investment meets local population needs.

Research is a vital part of improving healthcare and tackling health inequalities. Despite its potential, primary care has historically been underutilised in research, accounting for only around 10% of trial activity nationally. Expanding research in general practice allows more patients to take part in studies closer to home, improving access and ensuring research better reflects local communities.

The funding model supports organisations at different stages of research engagement: Engaged, Established and Leading, helping practices to build research capability while contributing to studies that improve patient care and outcomes.

Across the East Midlands, interest in the new funding model has been exceptionally strong. The region received a record number of applications, with 70 more applications than the next highest region, and has allocated funding to 332 individual sites including GP practices, dental practices, pharmacies, hospices, care homes, charities and NHS trusts.

For patients, participation in research offers opportunities to access new treatments, take a more active role in their care, and contribute to improving healthcare for others. Evidence shows that research-active organisations often deliver better patient outcomes, while also benefiting from improved staff recruitment, retention and job satisfaction.

Simon Hartland, Practice Manager Research Champion, Derbyshire General Practice Provider Board, said:

"This funding will make a real difference in supporting practices across Derbyshire to get involved in research and build the confidence and capability to sustain that activity over time.

Primary care is uniquely placed to support research at scale, yet it has historically been underutilised. This funding is an important step in addressing that and building the infrastructure needed to support sustainable research activity.

If the NHS is to deliver on its ambition to become a global research and innovation powerhouse, we must continue to invest in primary care and ensure research is embedded as a core part of routine practice, not seen as an optional extra."

Dr Beth Marney, Clinical Lead for Research, Derbyshire General Practice Provider Board said:

"This investment marks a major step forward in strengthening research delivery within primary care, recognising the vital role we play. As trusted and accessible clinicians rooted in our communities, we’re ideally placed to bring research closer to our patients and ensure it genuinely reflects the people we care for."

Linsey Farnsworth, Member of Parliament for Amber Valley, said:

" Primary care has historically been under‑used in research, so I’m delighted to see this increase in government‑backed investment in primary care research across Derbyshire. 

I’m particularly pleased that over £227,000 of this funding is going directly into GP practices like Kelvingrove Medical Centre and five other practices across Amber Valley. Taking part in research can provide patients with access to new treatments, more active involvement in their own care and the chance to help improve services for others. This funding uplift will enable more patients to take part in cutting‑edge studies close to home, so that research reflects local priorities and needs, and translates into the highest standards of care here in Amber Valley."

The funding forms part of a wider national ambition to embed research across the NHS and ensure that all patients have the opportunity to take part in research as part of their care.