Civia Health, a dedicated network of outpatient research sites specialising in long-term health conditions, and Boots, the UK’s leading health, wellness, and beauty retailer, have announced a new partnership that will bring clinical research projects to high streets across the UK.  

The partnership represents the first time dedicated clinical research units have been set up in high street pharmacies. It will bring Civia’s clinical research to several Boots stores, enabling people to participate in locations that are easy to reach and that they know and trust.   

Clinical research is essential to advancing the prevention and treatment of a wide range of long-term health conditions, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, but participation can often require people to visit unfamiliar settings.  

Through the partnership, Civia Health and Boots are opening clinical research sites this week in dedicated clinical units at the retailer’s stores in Nottingham (27 January), Brighton (28 January), Peterborough (29 January) and Birmingham (30 January). These are all flagship stores that are mainstays of their local high streets and easily accessible on public transport and by car.  

Civia will deploy its clinical teams, technology, and operational standards to these sites to screen and enroll participants, bringing real research capability to the high street and providing convenient and accessible locations for participants to attend their study appointments. As part of the partnership, Boots will also provide details of research opportunities with its customers to support recruitment. 

Mark Campbell, CEO of Civia Health, said: “For too long, clinical research sites have been in out-of-town and hard-to-find locations that can feel unfamiliar, and we want to change that. Boots has been part of community healthcare for generations, and this partnership lets us bring research to where people already live and seek care.” 

“This partnership also broadens who gets to participate. Instead of relying on the small number of people who actively seek out studies, we're bringing research to a broader, more diverse group—people who might benefit but would never have found us otherwise.” 

Marc Donovan, Director of Healthcare Development at Boots, said: “Boots has a long history of supporting clinical research—from working with academics to study how Boots Advantage Card data can predict early indicators of ovarian cancer, to supporting recruitment to the UK’s largest ever health research programme, Our Future Health, hosting its clinics in our stores.”  

“Our partnership with Civia Health is an important milestone in this journey, and we are excited to open the first clinical research sites in four of our flagship stores across the country. Clinical research plays a vital role in the development of new treatments and therapies, and we are proud to support increased clinical research participation to drive better health outcomes for all.” 

The first clinical study planned to be conducted by Civia Health through Boots stores will be a Phase 3 study focused on a new obesity and type 2 diabetes medicine. At Boots stores, customers will have the opportunity to join Thrive, Civia Health’s longitudinal health registry, and access free health screenings. These screenings – including measurements such as height, weight, blood pressure, and blood tests – are intended to help individuals better understand and improve their health and identify research studies for which they may be eligible. To learn more or register for Thrive, visit: www.civiahealth.com