Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced that five to ten academic health science centres will be established. It will see teaching hospitals working alongside university research departments to "benefit each other in the years to come".
The UK is a world leader in health research
Alan Johnson
Health Secretary
The Prime Minster's comments came as he toured the new £2.2m heart laboratory at the Royal Brompton Hospital with health secretary Alan Johnson.
Mr Johnson also revealed that patients will be made aware of any clinical trials which look at the conditions they are afflicted with.
It was claimed the development would give patients earlier access to cutting-edge drugs and treatments, as well as furthering the chance for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to carry out innovation research.
The Health Secretary said he would like to see every NHS patient have the right to choose to take part in clinical research.
"The UK is a world leader in health research. We owe a great debt to the many thousands of people who have contributed over the years to the future health and well-being of us all," Mr Johnson commented.
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Officially opened on Tuesday (June 24th), the magnetic navigation catheter laboratory at the Royal Brompton Hospital will be used to treat patients with complex congenital heart defects and arrhythmias.
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