More Than 2,000 Islanders Take Part In Health Research

More than 2,000 people on the Isle of Wight took part in health and care research over the past year, according to new figures from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

The data shows Islanders participated in studies both at St Mary's Hospital and in community settings such as GP surgeries, supporting efforts to deliver more healthcare closer to home.

Residents are now being encouraged to join more than 2,300 Islanders who have already signed up to the NIHR's Be Part of Research service, which notifies volunteers about studies they may be eligible to join.

Across England, almost 879,000 volunteers took part in more than 4,500 research studies during the 12 months from April 2025, bringing the total number of participants since 2020 to more than 7.4 million.

Research involving Isle of Wight volunteers has included studies looking at:

• Screening newborn babies for around 200 rare genetic conditions.

• Improving support for people living with cancer through online wellbeing surveys.

• Detecting oesophageal cancer earlier using a simple sponge-on-a-string test for people with long-term heartburn.

• Investigating whether telling asthma patients about the environmental impact of different inhalers influences their choice.

Alex Merryweather, Head of Research Operations at Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, thanked everyone who volunteered.

He said:

"It is fantastic to see so many people across the Isle of Wight choosing to take part in health and care research.

"Every participant plays an important role in helping us develop new treatments, improve services and build the evidence that shapes future patient care."

Professor Saul Faust, Health and Care Director at the NIHR South Central Regional Research Delivery Network, said Island volunteers were helping tackle some of the country's biggest health challenges.

Health research takes place in hospitals, GP surgeries, community settings and even people's homes. Volunteers don't always need to have the condition being studied, as healthy participants are often needed for comparison.

Anyone aged 18 or over can register with the Be Part of Research service to search for studies and receive information about future opportunities to take part.