The Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office (CSO), in partnership with the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) is exploring the feasibility and design of an innovative and globally significant prospective clinical trial in Scotland. This key component of the UK Obesity Healthcare Goals programme Obesity Healthcare Goals – GOV.UK, that will be based in Scotland given its heritage in delivering high quality, real-world studies with globally guideline changing implications.
Background and Research Focus
Tackling obesity is one of the most pressing challenges facing health systems worldwide. In the UK approximately 1 in 3 people are living with obesity – a major driver of long-term health conditions and a staggering societal cost of approximately £98 billion each year. Getting to grips with obesity is an important part of the UK Government’s national missions to modernise healthcare and stimulate economic growth.
In recent years, glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s), have emerged as a significant advancement in obesity treatment, with the potential to reduce body weight by up to 25% in some individuals. Beyond weight management, these medicines show promising evidence for reducing cardiovascular risk in certain populations. While robust clinical trial data have demonstrated their effectiveness across diabetes, weight loss, and cardiometabolic health, their uptake in global health systems remains limited due to several reasons, including a supposed lack of clinical evidence and questions over cost-effectiveness in the real world. This presents a timely opportunity to rigorously evaluate their real-world impact and inform future healthcare strategies.
The research focus of the wider COPS Programme is to explore the cardiometabolic impact of incretin-based weight loss medicines in the real world, permitting early-patient access to these new medicines, benefit from the associated investment value, and position the UK as a global testbed for innovation in treating obesity and associated disease.
Study Design and Programme Objectives
The wider COPS Programme aims to deliver a robust, impactful and innovative clinical trial into the impact of weight loss medications on obesity associated conditions.
As an initial phase for this ambitious programme, we are inviting submissions for a Research Design Study -this is a foundational step in shaping a bold, innovative approach to tackling obesity through cutting-edge research, data infrastructure, and cross-sector collaboration. Applicants are expected to develop a compelling and competitive research design proposal that seeks to:
- Determine the feasibility and scope of an innovative, globally significant and industry-supported trial. This should include a clearly defined list of study variables, outline of investigation populations and articulation of potential industry investment along with a strategic plan for data sourcing, and statistical approaches for analysing real-world trial data.
- Define how the UK health data infrastructure will be brought together to enable delivery of the main study within the NHS. This could be achieved by securing storage and computing for processing patient data and the development of digital tools.
- Set out how this will attract co-investment in the future trial programme. This will be achieved by establishing study partnerships with pharmaceutical companies through a series of engagement with industry partners.
- Demonstrate the utility of digital technologies, such as AI, to support patient access, engagement and/or data collection.
The outcomes of this Research Design Study will inform the potential commissioning of the full trial. A successful applicant should demonstrate the feasibility of studying incretin-based weight loss medicines in real world settings, to test patterns of weight change, the incidence of weight-related complications, changes in cardiometabolic parameters and outcomes, and tolerability within a real-world population. The full trial should also explore broader questions around NHS resource utilisation and the socio-economic impact of intentional weight loss.
Looking ahead, our ambition is to provide a multi-million-pound funding package to support the successful applicant in delivering the full trial (Main Study). This will be subject to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology Spending Review allocation decisions, Business Case approvals and achievement of key milestones and outputs of the Research Design Study. This will include an assessment of the full trial proposal developed by the successful applicant at the end of the award.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications may be from a single Scottish institution or a consortium of Scottish institutions, provided a single lead institution taking overall responsibility for the consortium is identified. The principal applicant must be a permanent salaried member of staff at a Higher Education Institute, NHS Board, or eligible Research Institution in Scotland.
Patient and Public Involvement
Applicants are expected to involve patients/public/service/policy makers in the design and conduct of their study as appropriate. They should consider inclusion and diversity in design, applying relevant guidance in order that the research can be as inclusive and representative as possible of the population(s) that could benefit from the outcomes (such as UK Standards for Public Involvement (google.com); INCLUDE – Guidance (google.com); Improving trial diversity – Trial Forge).
Funding Details
Up to £650,000 (at 80% Full Economic Cost) is available for a 12-month period. However, Research Design projects that can deliver the necessary preparations for the Main Study over a shorter duration, and/or at lower cost, are welcome.
Equipment costs should be kept to a minimum, and the research infrastructure needed should be in place and provided by the applicants’ host institution(s); requests for funding for new research infrastructure should not be included.
Assessment Criteria
Applications will be reviewed by an independent expert and lay panel convened by CSO. The committee will evaluate applications based on:
- Scientific and methodological robustness
- Deliverability within time frame
- Potential to inform the design of the main study
- Value for money (including potential for industry co-funding)
- Patient, public and organisational engagement
How to Apply
To apply for this funding opportunity, applicants must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) using the linked form (CSO/OLS – COPS Expression of Interest Form) by 5pm on 8th August 2025. Please send the completed form to Alan.McNair@gov.scot by the deadline.
After submitting the EOI, a link to the full application form will be provided. The deadline for the full application submission is 5pm 12th September 2025.