The Academy of Medical Sciences has been asked by the government to conduct a rapid independent review of the regulation and governance of medical research.
Sir John Bell, president of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said: 'Healthcare in the UK is being jeopardised by a stifling regulatory and governance framework for medical research.
'Ultimately, this is harming patients by denying them access to new medicines.
'The UK has historically supported vibrant, research-intensive medical science industries and world-renowned academic medical science centres, but a cumbersome regulatory environment is driving this work abroad.
'Medical research must be subject to robust regulation that both protects patients and facilitates globally competitive research.
'It is imperative that we gain a full understanding of where the problems lie in order to identify effective solutions.
'Our robust review will aim to identify the research and governance framework that will allow the UK to realise the health and economic benefits of medical research without the need for major financial investment or compromising patient safety,' he added.
