A line graph that shows the total number of studies by research sponsor type for studies reviewed by a REC in the UK between 2018 and 2023.
On one axis is the number of studies, and the other is the year.
There are three lines of data. The first is a yellow line for non-commercially sponsored research showing a gradual decline between 2018 and 2023. The line starts at 3,860 in 2018, dropping gradually each year to 3,635 in 2019, 3,192 in 2020, 2,932 in 2021, 2,781 in 2022 and 2,758. Between 2022 and 2023 the gradually declining line begins to flatten.
The second line is blue and represents commercially sponsored research. The numbers remain similar year on year between 2018 and 2023, starting at 1,125 in 2018, peaking at 1,175 in 2021 with the lowest point being 999 in 2020. The line ends at 1,092 in 2023.
Similarly a third line in pink shows studies where the sponsor was not set at the point of application. This line shows a very small trend downwards, starting at 291 in 2018 and ending at 208 in 2023.