22nd April 2026
The Southern Health and Social Care Trust is strengthening its commitment to high‑quality clinical research with a series of major developments designed to expand opportunities for patients to take part in innovative clinical trials.
Professor Patricia Campbell, recently appointed Trust Director for Research and Development, said the Trust already has a strong reputation for delivering world‑class research across several specialties, including cardiovascular disease, renal medicine, respiratory care, stroke and diabetes.
“While our research teams have been delivering excellent clinical trials for many years, much of this work has been known only to those directly involved,” Professor Campbell said.
“We want to ensure that patients across the Southern Trust area are aware of the opportunities available to them and can benefit from access to early‑phase clinical trials.”
As part of this expansion, construction is now under way on a new Clinical Research Delivery Unit located at the entrance to the Craigavon Area Hospital site. The facility, expected to open around September, will support commercial clinical trials and increase access to global, randomised studies for local patients.
The Trust is also broadening its research footprint beyond Craigavon. A specially developed renal research site is already established at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, with further plans to grow research opportunities for patients living across the Newry and Mourne region.
Professor Campbell added: “We are committed to making research more visible, more accessible, and more relevant for the people we serve. We look forward to sharing more updates as these developments progress.”
Dr Stephen Austin, Medical Director, added that this development aligns with the Trust’s Vision and Strategy 2030.
“Most importantly, it ensures patients have access to the latest clinical trials and treatments right here in the Southern Trust.”