Pinderfields Hospital medical trials centre set for £2m expansion
Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust said the new facility at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield would enable more people to take part in medical studies.
Last updated 29th Sep 2026
Plans have been submitted to expand a hospital’s clinical research centre as part of a scheme worth almost £2m.
Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust said the new facility at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield would enable more people to take part in medical studies.
Proposals lodged with Wakefield Council include extending the hospital’s existing Clinical Research and Innovation Building to create 132 sq m of additional floorspace.
Funding for the development was secured in May this year, with £1.5m provided by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and other partners, including the MY Hospitals Charity and Wakefield Oncology Leukemia Fund, contributing £496,500.
The investment forms part of a wider £47.8m national programme designed to strengthen the NHS’s ability to deliver high-quality research and accelerate access to innovative treatments.
Backed by the government and the pharmaceutical industry, the initiative also aims to boost the UK’s life sciences sector while ensuring more patients can take part in research closer to home.
The trust previously said the upgrade would allow for greater capacity for a wider range of studies, including complex and commercial trials.
Announcing the investment earlier this year, a spokesperson said: “It will particularly support communities who have historically had limited access to research opportunities, helping to reduce health inequalities and improve outcomes.
“The expanded space will allow the trust to grow its portfolio in key priority areas such as respiratory disease, cardiovascular conditions and long-term illness.
“It will also support faster study set-up and improve the overall experience for patients taking part in research.
“This major investment marks a significant step forward in embedding research into everyday care at Mid Yorkshire, ensuring patients can benefit from the latest advances in healthcare without needing to travel further afield.”
The new facility is expected to open to patients in spring 2028 if the application is approved.