Patients in Southampton will soon have more access to advanced treatments and clinical trials.

This comes as the government announced £100 million of public-private investment to establish 20 research hubs across the UK.

The announcement was made as part of the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicine Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG) Investment Programme, a collaboration between the government and the pharmaceutical industry aiming to enhance the UK's life sciences sector.

The Commercial Research Delivery Centres (CRDCs) will act as regional hubs for state-of-the-art clinical trials, with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust receiving £4.7 million to set up its own centre.

These centres will be part-funded and managed by the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

They will support trials across various medical fields, including cancer, obesity, and infectious diseases like flu and respiratory syncytial virus.

Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron said: "This significant private investment in health research is a powerful vote of confidence in the UK’s leading research and life sciences sector.

"The new hubs will help shift research into smaller communities, allowing more people to access cutting-edge treatments faster.

"Prevention is better than cure - these trials will help unlock the next generation of treatments, boost economic growth and build an NHS fit for the future."

The centres will also aid quicker initiation of commercial studies, allowing patients early access to treatments being trialled.

The 10-Year Health Plan will see these trials shift into community settings, enabling better participation in research from underserved areas.

This will enhance access to new treatments in the trial stage.

Dr Patrick Moore, a Poole-based GP, and director of the new NIHR CRDC in Southampton, said: "Many participants in our trials are motivated by a strong desire to give back to the NHS and contribute to groundbreaking medical advancements that could improve the health and care of others in the future.

"With this expansion, even more individuals will have the opportunity to take part in vital research, driving meaningful improvements both regionally and beyond."

This funding is part of a larger £400 million public-private investment scheme to bolster the global competitiveness of the UK life science sector.