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Introducing the Sustainability Thematic Group

The Network is an independent organisation supporting Registered CTUs delivering non-commercial and investigator-led trials across the UK and internationally. Spanning the whole of the UK, it plays an active role in both national and global clinical research initiatives.

In spring 2026, the Network established a series of Thematic Groups to support its 2025–2030 strategy, including the new Sustainability Group.

Sustainability is central to maintaining high-quality, impactful research. The group will support CTUs in two key areas: improving the environmental sustainability of trial delivery and operations, and strengthening long-term business viability and resilience.

How the Group Will Work

Bringing together a diverse range of expertise from across the Network, the group will develop practical resources to help CTUs embed sustainability into their day-to-day work and strategic planning. It will operate through two linked strands; Greener CTUs and Business Sustainability. Membership will span both sub-groups to ensure that outputs take a joined-up view, recognising the close links between environmental responsibility and organisational resilience.

The Greener CTUs strand will focus on providing support to CTUs to consider their environmental impact, promoting emerging research, sharing best practice, and supporting CTUs to use the practical tools available to enable Greener Trials.

The Business Sustainability strand will explore sustainable operating models, promote the value of CTUs, and support more effective engagement with partners, including industry.

Find out more about the group here.

Getting Involved

The group is already meeting to identify priorities and shape its work programme, with a strong emphasis on engaging the wider CTU community to ensure outputs are relevant and useful.

As part of this engagement, and to coincide with World Environment Day, the Sustainability Group is inviting each CTU to nominate a ‘Greener CTU’ representative. This individual will act as a key point of contact for environmental sustainability matters, helping to share information, support collaboration, and connect local activity with Network-wide initiatives.

Looking Ahead

The success of the group will depend on active engagement across the Network, with collaboration and shared learning key to driving meaningful progress in this increasingly important area. By working together and sharing experiences and expertise, the Network hopes to promote practical, meaningful progress in an area that is becoming increasingly central to the future of clinical research.

To find out more about the Network’s Strategy for 2025 – 2030, please click here.

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