£89,000 funding boost will allow Dudley clinic to create medical research centre, says MP

Sonia Kumar, MP for Dudley, said the extra government funding would allow the town's Eve Hill medical practice to establish a dedicated research centre, meaning that more patients from the area would be able to take part in clinical trials.

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She said the grant would allow the practice to convert an existing space into the new research centre, while also buying new blood pressure monitors, an electrocardiogram machine, examination couches, and specialist medical refrigeration to support clinical trials and advanced research activity.

Miss Kumar said increasing the capacity for clinical research in Dudley, the funding will allow more local patients to take part in trials and benefit from cutting-edge treatments, helping to reduce regional inequalities in access to medical research.

The Government said the investment forms part of wider efforts to strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in life sciences while improving patient care across the NHS.

Miss Kumar added: “This is fantastic news for Dudley and for patients at Eve Hill medical practice.

"Investing in research capacity within our NHS means local people can benefit from the latest medical advances while helping shape the treatments of the future."

Miss Kumar said she knew through her former job as an NHS physiotherapist how important research and innovation were to improving patient care. 

"This funding will help ensure that patients in Dudley have greater opportunities to participate in clinical trials and access the very best healthcare," she said.

"I look forward to seeing the positive impact this investment will bring for our community.”

Health minister Dr Zubir Ahmed confirmed the award in a letter to Miss Kumar, stating the investment would strengthen the NHS’s ability to deliver innovative treatments.