Centre for Trials Research featured in Health and Care Research Wales Year in Review
5 October 2026
Work from the Centre for Trials Research (CTR) at Cardiff University, one of the UK's largest registered academic clinical trials units and core-funded by Welsh Government through Health and Care Research Wales, features in its cancer highlights, and connects with the review's themes of women's health, social care and inclusion.
Leading cancer research in Wales
In June 2025, CTR Clinical Director Professor Richard Adams was appointed National Clinical Research Lead for cancer. He is helping to strengthen cancer research delivery across Wales, particularly commercial research.
The review highlights a £2.52 million investment in QuicDNA Max, a CTR-supported programme that will extend liquid biopsy testing to more cancer types and all Welsh health boards. Liquid biopsy detects circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in a blood sample, without the need for a tissue biopsy. The programme builds on QuicDNA, which recruited 743 people with suspected lung cancer across Wales. Its evidence supported the commissioning of ctDNA testing in England and Wales in 2025.
Three further CTR trials feature among Wales's major cancer studies. PATHOS recruited 1,349 people with human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive throat cancer to test whether less intensive treatment after surgery can reduce long-term swallowing problems without affecting the chance of cure. OPTIMISE-FLT3 tests two new drug combinations for people newly diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia linked to changes in the FLT3 gene. PICCOS tests a new way of delivering chemotherapy for cancers that have spread to the abdominal lining.
Women's health and social care
The review marks the launch of Women's Health Research Wales. Two CTR researchers, Dr Sue Channon and Dr Rebecca Cannings-John, are methodologists with the new centre, bringing trials and study design expertise to its work. Sue also co-leads CANDOUR, a study that aims to improve decisions about how long women use hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
The review also highlights the Centre for Adult Social Care Research (CARE), with which CTR co-leads CARE Lab. The project links social care and health data to build evidence that can help improve services and outcomes.
It is fantastic to see the breadth and quality of research in Health and Care Research Wales's Year in Review, including pivotal roles from members of our own team. Our infrastructure award from Health and Care Research Wales enables the Centre for Trials Research to lead and actively partner with clinical research centres and individuals across Wales. In 2025/26, we won 40 grants worth £45 million and published nearly 150 academic papers. We are proud to work across health and social care with academic partners, investigators and the public to improve outcomes for the people of Wales, and beyond.
Research that includes everyone
The review highlights Wales's new Inclusivity Action Plan for research. At CTR, the Public Involvement and Engagement Hub, a team of members of the public and researchers, helps shape how studies are designed and how their results are shared. Public contributors also review every new study proposal through CTR's Study Adoption Group, and the Inclusivity in Trials and Studies Group supports staff and research partners to involve groups who are often under-served by research. Recommendations from CTR's OPTIMISE project have also informed the Health Research Authority's guidance on seeking and evidencing informed consent.
Read the Health and Care Research Wales Year in Review 2025–26: https://healthandcareresearchwales.org/year-review-2025-2026