23 September 2026
A new Clinical Trials Unit has been launched by The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) and the University of Wolverhampton.
The partnership will strengthen clinical research across the region and increase opportunities for people to take part in research.
The Black Country Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) was officially launched at the University of Wolverhampton’s City Campus last week.
It has been established as a joint venture between RWT and the University of Wolverhampton, creating dedicated infrastructure and expertise to support the design and delivery of high-quality clinical trials in the city and beyond.
The unit will also help address health inequalities by improving access to clinical trials for underserved communities. It will provide researchers with the facilities, expertise and support needed to develop and deliver clinical trials, helping to increase research capacity across the region.
The project has been led by Professor Prashant Pillai from the University of Wolverhampton and Professor Tonny Veenith from RWT and the University of Wolverhampton.
A key priority for the CTU will be addressing health inequalities by supporting research that reflects the diverse population of the Black Country and wider West Midlands.
Pauline Boyle, Group Director of Research and Development at RWT and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “This Clinical Trials Unit represents an important step forward for research across the Black Country.
“By bringing together the expertise of the NHS and the University, we can create more opportunities for our patients and communities to take part in high-quality clinical research, while making sure that the research we deliver reflects the needs of the diverse population we serve.
“Research is fundamental to improving patient care, and this partnership will help us build capacity, develop new opportunities for our clinical teams and ensure that patients across the region have access to research that could make a real difference to their health and wellbeing.”
Professor Tonny Veenith, Consultant in Critical Care Medicine at RWT and Professor at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “By co-directing the Black Country Clinical Trials Unit through the University and the Trust, we are embedding clinical research directly into England’s second most deprived Integrated Care System. Our collaborative unifies four acute Trusts across a catchment of 1.5 million people, ensuring our region transforms from a recruiting outpost into a hub of scientific leadership.
“Historically, communities carrying the heaviest burden of ill health have been excluded from clinical trials, which represents both an equity failure and a science failure. Establishing this unit changes that arithmetic so that patients in Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, and Sandwell can access tomorrow’s treatments today in hospitals they already trust.
“As we progress toward UKCRC registration by 2030, we will ensure that national healthcare guidance is built upon the real needs of our diverse population.”
Professor Prashant Pillai, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “We are really excited to launch our new clinical Trial Unit in collaboration with The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.
“The University Strategy 2035 sets our ambition to develop high-quality, impactful research and knowledge exchange (RKE) that transforms lives, and which makes a world-leading contribution in the areas of green innovation and sustainability, health and wellbeing and inclusive communities.
“This CTU will provide new opportunities for our academic and research community in the University to collaborate on a wide variety of clinical trials and accelerate medical research and innovation. While many of our clinical professors already carry out cutting edge research, the CTU will bridge gaps between academic research and practical patient care.”
The CTU will also work closely with the University of Wolverhampton’s Black Country Medical School, which is due to welcome its first group of medical students in 2026.
The Medical School is being developed to train the next generation of Doctors while responding to the healthcare needs of the region, with research forming a key part of its activity.