UK patients could be among the first in the world to benefit from breakthrough medical devices, as clinical investigations peak in 2025.

New figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) show a 17 per cent rise in approved clinical investigations compared with last year, as companies increasingly choose Great Britain to test cutting-edge health technologies. At the same time, the MHRA is rolling out new measures to back innovation and remove barriers for smaller companies, including a fee waiver pilot, early market access for promising devices, and enhanced support for high-impact technologies.

For patients, this means quicker access to potentially life-changing technologies. For the NHS, it offers improved tools to diagnose disease, manage long-term illness, and deliver more precise treatment.

The growth reflects a global race to tackle some of the most challenging health conditions. Dementia, Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy are driving huge investments in neurotechnology, with studies in this area doubling since 2024 to make up around a quarter of all UK applications. Recent approvals include a feasibility study exploring whether deep brain stimulation can help treat addiction disorders, and first-in-human paediatric research — led by Great Ormond Street Hospital (University College London) and the University of Oxford — on a rechargeable brain stimulation device designed to reduce seizure frequency in children with severe, treatment-resistant epilepsy.

AI-powered medical devices are also surging in number, including tools that scan medical images to spot disease earlier, guide treatment decisions and personalise care. New studies include digital tools that adjust treatment in real time, such as an app to help people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease manage their condition, while giving clinicians adequate information to personalise treatment. Studies in advanced eye-care technologies have also increased, as companies test new ways to protect vision and restore sight. Together, these advances point to faster diagnosis, more precise treatment and earlier access to breakthroughs for patients.

Companies are looking for speed, certainty and expertise. The MHRA has met 100 per cent of its statutory deadlines for clinical investigation applications since September 2023, with average approval time in 2025 at 51 days — nine days earlier than the 60-day target. Researchers receive hands-on scientific support, including specialist advice meetings, to design safer, more robust studies.

(Source: MHRA)

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Published on February 23, 2026