Work has commenced on a new state-of-the-art research facility at Devon Partnership NHS Trust's Wonford House site in Exeter, marking a significant milestone in the Trust's ambition to expand access to clinical research and improve health outcomes for communities across Devon.
The new facility is part-funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and is being delivered by Vanguard Healthcare Solutions using modern modular construction methods, enabling a faster and more efficient build programme while maintaining the highest standards of quality and sustainability.
Representatives from Devon Partnership NHS Trust and Vanguard Healthcare Solutions recently gathered for an informal ceremony to mark the start of on-site groundworks. Construction of the building modules is taking place simultaneously at Vanguard's manufacturing facility, significantly reducing the overall project duration compared with traditional construction methods.
Devon Partnership NHS Trust provides a wide range of NHS services for people with mental health conditions, learning disabilities and dementia. The Trust, which is rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission, employs approximately 3,500 people and has contact with around 30,000 people every month.
The new facility forms part of the Trust's wider strategy to increase research participation and address inequalities in access to clinical trials. Research undertaken through the NHS England Research Engagement Network Development project identified lower participation in research among people with mental health conditions compared with those with physical health conditions, as well as lower participation among men, younger people, and people living in more deprived and rural communities.
Located on the Wonford House site in Exeter, the dedicated research centre will support the delivery of both commercial and non-commercial clinical research studies across a broad range of specialties, including mental health, dementia, children and adolescent mental health services, and physical health conditions experienced by people living with mental illness.
The facility will include:
- A dedicated laboratory and clinical trials pharmacy designed to support the secure storage and preparation of investigational medicinal products and biological samples.
- A physical health assessment and infusion room equipped to support a broad range of clinical research studies.
- Specially designed therapy rooms, including a group therapy space, suitable for mental health, dementia and psychedelic research programmes.
- Flexible spaces that support virtual follow-up appointments, helping participants engage with research from their own homes.
- Modern reception, waiting, office and staff welfare facilities.
The development will create the specialist environment required to support complex clinical trials while improving accessibility for participants across Devon. By combining a central research hub with the ability to deliver aspects of research activity in patients' homes, the Trust aims to improve recruitment, retention and participation from underserved communities.
At the ceremony, Andy Willis, Chair of Devon Partnership NHS Trust, said:
This is a great opportunity for a new build. We've been building things at Wonford and within the Trust for the last few years and this is another step forward.
"It's a great opportunity to do something with the University of Exeter as well, in terms of the intellectual development of the organisation, and we look forward to working with Vanguard, who are going to do a great job for us, I'm sure."
Tobit Emmens, Associate Director of Research and Development at Devon Partnership NHS Trust, explained the benefits anticipated:
"We have wanted a specific place to do research for about 20 years. This gives us an opportunity to make research more available to all sorts of people – dementia research, mental health research and more. We're going to be building our mood disorder research clinic here, working with the University of Exeter and creating opportunities to trial novel treatments."
We hope to play a small part in one day finding cures for conditions such as dementia and developing better treatments for anxiety and depression
Graham Rich, Chair of Vanguard Healthcare Solutions, said:
"It's a great pleasure to be here. We're delighted to have been trusted to bring our modular construction expertise to Wonford House. Everyone who works for Vanguard has a strong sense of purpose in what we do, and we're proud to be supporting a research facility that will broaden access to clinical research for people with different mental health conditions and backgrounds.
This project gives me great personal pleasure because I grew up in Devon and many of my relatives still live and work here. They, like so many others, stand to benefit from the research that will take place in this facility."
Thanks to the Trust for inviting us to be part of a project that will have a lasting impact for generations to come
Modular construction was selected for the project because of its ability to deliver high-quality healthcare facilities more quickly and with less disruption than traditional building methods. By manufacturing modules in a controlled factory environment while site preparation works take place concurrently, construction programmes can be significantly shortened. The approach also delivers greater quality control, reduced waste, improved sustainability performance and minimised disruption to neighbouring healthcare services.
Once complete, the new research facility will strengthen Devon NHS Partnership Trust's capacity and capability to deliver cutting-edge clinical research, helping more people across Devon access innovative treatments and contribute to the development of future healthcare advances.
