A state-of-the-art mobile research unit (MRU) is set to break down barriers to health and care research participation in Cornwall, bringing clinical trials directly to underserved and remote communities.
The bespoke vehicle is part of a pioneering pilot project exploring how mobile units can improve clinical trial accessibility and efficiency. By reaching people where they are, this initiative is tackling barriers to accessing research. It ensures that those in rural and coastal areas have the same opportunities to contribute to and benefit from research as those in urban centres. It is also taking research to communities typically underserved by health and care services.
The mobile research unit with St Michael’s Mount in the background.
This project is a collaboration between the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the UK Vaccine Innovation Pathway (VIP), pharmaceutical company Moderna, and EMS Healthcare. It is part of the NOVA 301 trial, a phase 3 clinical trial investigating the safety and effectiveness of a vaccine for norovirus—the winter vomiting bug. The trial has recruited ~3,000 participants nationally, with 30 of those from Cornwall.
The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) is one of 39 sites across the UK involved in the trial, which launched in October 2024. The mobile unit, staffed by the RCHT Research Team, is now visiting participants in Cornwall for follow-up trial visits, ensuring they can remain engaged in the trial without the need for long and difficult journeys to the hospital. This includes elderly individuals in rural and coastal locations who may experience challenges with traveling to the hospital for trial visits.
Bianca Mills, Head of Research and Development at RCHT, said:
“The Mobile Research Unit is a transformative step in overcoming geographical barriers to clinical research in Cornwall. By bringing research directly to communities—especially those in remote and rural areas—we are ensuring that everyone, regardless of location, has the opportunity to participate in advanced healthcare studies. This initiative is a vital step towards reducing health inequalities, improving patient outcomes, and positioning Cornwall as a leader in accessible, community-driven research.”
The MRU will also travel to areas such as Penzance and Hayle, where research participation has historically been low. By making it easier for these communities to take part, the project is actively addressing disparities in healthcare access and representation in clinical trials.
Equipped with a high-quality clinical space, the mobile unit features an ultra-low temperature freezer to store biological samples and a tabletop centrifuge, allowing all trial-related follow-up activities to be carried out on board for this trial.
Professor Andrew Ustianowski, interim Executive Director at the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN), said:
“The NIHR has already seen how mobile research units can take research into communities across the country, expanding access and boosting inclusion. They enhance NHS capacity to deliver research and provide flexibility for the public to take part in research away from traditional healthcare settings.
“The team at RCHT has a strong track record of delivering commercial research and ensuring that local populations have opportunities to participate. We look forward to seeing how this pilot, which includes mobile units in Cornwall and Blackpool, improves the participant experience and expands access to research.”
The NOVA 301 trial is part of a unique collaboration between Moderna and the UK Government together with NIHR. The partnership aims to bring innovative vaccines to market faster, leveraging the UK’s world-class clinical research infrastructure.
The trial’s setup and delivery are supported by the UK VIP. The UK VIP is a Clinical Trial Delivery Accelerator (CTDA) set up to work with the UK health research system to speed up the set-up and delivery of vaccine trials and establish the UK as a globally competitive destination for vaccine development. The MRU initiative aligns with the broader VIP objective of creating a more adaptive and scalable research infrastructure across the UK.
A spokesperson from Moderna, said:
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to advancing clinical research, fostering innovation, and improving participant outcomes. These Mobile Research Units are not just vehicles—they are catalysts for change, making research more accessible, inclusive, and impactful.”
EMS Healthcare, which provides the mobile unit, is also contributing to the project’s success, ensuring that state-of-the-art facilities are available to support participants in remote locations.
Andy Morris, Partnership Manager, EMS Healthcare said:
“We are incredibly proud to be part of this ground-breaking initiative that is transforming access to clinical research. By bringing state-of-the-art Mobile Research Units directly to underserved communities in Cornwall, we’re ensuring that people in remote areas have the same opportunities to participate as those in city centres. This pilot demonstrates the power of collaboration across the UK research ecosystem to reduce barriers and improve access. EMS Healthcare’s vision, ‘a future where good health is within everyone’s reach,’ aligns perfectly with this initiative, which we hope will enhance inclusivity, support retention, and help reinforce the UK’s leadership in global clinical research.”
The MRU pilot aligns with the Government’s priorities to Build an NHS Fit for the Future – making it easier to conduct life-saving research in the NHS with quicker, more transparent and less variable processes resulting in a more competitive, more efficient and more accessible clinical research environment.
By taking research directly to the people who need it most, the Mobile Research Unit is paving the way for a more inclusive, equitable, and accessible future for health and care research in Cornwall and beyond.