Wessex Research Hubs

31/03/2026

We're out and about talking all things health research today in the Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth. Come and chat to us!

24/03/2026

Shopping in Portsmouth this Easter break? 🐣🛍️ Our research team will be at the Cascades on Tuesday, 31 March.

Drop by our stand for a chat to find out:

✅ how research helps improve treatments for everyone
✅ what research is happening in Portsmouth right now
✅ how you can volunteer for studies that match your interests

Bringing the family? We’ll have some fun activities to help children and young people learn what health and care research is all about! 💡🧬

Research isn't just for scientists in labs - it’s for all of us. Come have a chat and see how you can make a difference!

23/02/2026

Please help us spread the word!

This clinical trial will be investigating a human vaccine for avian flu infections. We expect to open in three locations - Southampton, Bournemouth and Weymouth. To register your interest in taking part, please email your nearest hub, stating you are interested in hearing more about the bird flu trial. You will then be contacted by email/phone when the trial is activated and open to recruitment, which is likely to be in March. The email addresses are listed below.

Southampton (Shirley Health Centre) crfstudyteam@uhs.nhs.uk

Bournemouth (Royal Bournemouth): uhd.bournemouthresearchhub@nhs.net

Weymouth (Linden Unit): WeymouthResearchHub@dchft.nhs.uk

17/02/2026

When Ian arrived at Weymouth Research Hub, he expected the usual health checks and paperwork involved in taking part in a clinical trial. Instead, the visit revealed a life‑threatening medical emergency he didn’t even know he was having - and ultimately saved his life.

Read more here -

When Ian Whitehead arrived at Weymouth Research Hub, he expected the usual health checks and paperwork involved in taking part in a clinical trial. Instead, the visit revealed a life‑threatening medical emergency he didn’t even know he was having - and ultimately saved his life.Mr Whitehead, 70,...

10/11/2025

We are now booking for our new clinical trial in Southampton, and you may be eligible to take part. This study is designed to investigate whether a new investigational drug could help prevent the flu. First appointments are taking place now and will run until early December.

Key Information:
• No overnight stay required
• Compensation provided, plus travel expenses reimbursed
• Free complimentary health check
• The trial lasts 197 days and includes 6 visits to our Southampton hub
• You will receive payment within 5 working days of each visit

To take part, you will need:

• A valid, in-date ID (passport or driver’s license only — photocopies not accepted)
• To be registered with a GP in the UK
• No pregnancy in the last 6 months and not currently breastfeeding
(contraception requirements also apply)
• No flu vaccine in the past 14 days
• There are some medical condition requirements for this trial, this will be discussed on the call with one of our friendly team

Participation is entirely voluntary. At this stage, you are only expressing interest — final eligibility will be determined by specific study criteria.

If you're interested in participating, please email CRFstudyteam@uhs.nhs.uk and a member of our team will be in touch with more information.

If you have any questions, feel free to call us on 023 8120 3943.

READ MORE by clicking the link below
https://www.wessexresearchhubs.nhs.uk/post/flu-study-now-open

26/09/2025

Introducing our new public members from across diverse communities in the Wessex area. We want to ensure the public is well represented in what we do at Wessex Research Hubs, and improve inclusion in cutting edge clinical trials.

We look forward to listening to your views and learning from your lived experience as we seek to broaden participation and break down barriers.

Thank you for stepping up!

05/09/2025

Are you signed up to this? Via NIHR Research Delivery Network

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1120164696835805

15/07/2025

Great to see coverage of our official launch in the Daily Echo - thanks to everyone involved.

It aims to increase diversity among trial participants and improve delivery times.

07/07/2025

Our Southampton Research Hub has moved to Shirley.

You can read all about the new site here, and also the evolution of Wessex Research Hubs to become an official NIHR Commercial Delivery Centre:

Southampton Research Hub has moved to Shirley Health Centre, in the heart of Shirley.The hub is based on the ground floor in a newly renovated space. Opening the new centre was also a chance to mark the evolution of Wessex Research Hubs into an official NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care R...

16/06/2025

Find out more about a new trial that could improve the early detection of pancreatic cancer, running in our Portsmouth, Bournemouth and Weymouth hubs.

Wessex Research Hubs is taking part in a new trial to establish how well a new blood test can spot the signals of pancreatic cancer at an early stageThe Avantect test, developed by biotechnology company ClearNote Health, will use blood samples from people with a recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes ....

16/06/2025

We are proud to be taking part in this trial in our Portsmouth, Weymouth and Bournemouth hubs.

Sean's wife Allison died just weeks after being diagnosed with .

Now, a new is seeing if a simple blood test could help detect the at an earlier stage, when more treatments are available.

The SAFE-D study will use blood samples from people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, a known risk factor for pancreatic cancer.

Read more - https://bit.ly/44bgkoS

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, University of Southampton Medicine, Cancer Research UK Health Research Southampton Wessex Research Hubs University of Southampton

20/05/2025

👏

Today is Clinical Trials Day – a moment to say a huge thank you to the incredible research participants across the country and the dedicated research teams who make it all possible.

Every trial, every breakthrough, every step forward in health and care – it's all thanks to you.

Across the country, there’ll be events taking place to mark the day – and we’ll be sharing round-ups and highlights at various points, so stay tuned!

Want to be part of something that changes lives?
Sign up to Be Part Of Research: bepartofresearch.uk