NHS celebrates 60 years of research

The NHS' Best Research for Best Health strategy outlines the organisation's commitment to increase industry investment into research and it to ensure takes the international lead in health research.

Research was one of the founding principles of the NHS. It has been a core function ever since

Alan Johnson

Secretary of State for Health

However, over the past 60 years, the NHS has been at the forefront of innovative treatments and developments.

Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Health, commented: "The UK is a world leader in health research.”

"Research was one of the founding principles of the NHS. It has been a core function ever since.

In 1950, after working with the NHS, Professor Sir Richard Doll and Professor Sir Austin Bradford Hill were among the first researchers to discover a statistical link between tobacco and lung cancer, and also linked smoking to a range of other conditions.

In following years, the NHS was home to many ground-breaking developments, such as the first total hip replacement operation in 1962, the world's first IVF baby in 1978 and research into bioengineered heart valves last year.

To further increase research, a series of National Institute for Health Research collaborations between the NHS and universities to improve care into conditions such as heart disease and strokes, while 12 new biomedical research units were unveiled across the UK earlier this year.

Most recently, the Health Secretary announced patients will be made aware of any clinical trials into their condition, in order to create more research opportunities for pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms.