https://bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk/
International Clinical Trials Day 2025: Be Part of Research
International Clinical Trials Day commemorates the day that James Lind started his trial on the deadly disease scurvy. In 1747 Lind was serving as a surgeon on HMS Salisbury. His trial consisted of 12 men with scurvy, grouped into pairs and given a variety of dietary supplements from cider to oranges and lemons. After six days, there was a noticeable improvement in the group eating the fruit, providing evidence of the link between citrus fruits and scurvy. Clinical trials have developed a great deal since Lind’s discovery and are of vital importance in medical research.
Be Part of Research is NIHR’s flagship initiative to encourage public participation in health and care research.
In 2025-26, we’re on a mission to significantly grow the number of research volunteers and research studies on Be Part of Research. We need your help to reach some very important milestones.
The video below shows how research trials make a difference to people’s lives:
