A new medical research contract has begun in East Anglia, which will be coordinated from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network: Eastern began officially operating on April 1, which will invest around £20m into research this year.

The N&N was named as one of just 15 institutions in a national research network last year, beating a rival bid from hospitals in Cambridge.

The initiative brings together local hospitals, doctors' surgeries and other healthcare providers from across the region, to collaborate in conducting high quality clinical research studies that could lead to better treatments for NHS patients.

The network means patients will have more chances to take part in clinical research.

Funding will be used to invest in clinical research nurses to match patients with appropriate research opportunities, carry out the clinical duties required for the studies and cover research-related costs such as x-rays and scans.

Fiona Durban, chief operating officer, said: 'This is an amazing time to be working in research. We have extremely talented and dedicated teams here in the East of England and we look forward immensely to working with researchers in the region and supporting them to provide as many opportunities as possible for patients to be involved in research studies.'

For further information about the clinical research network, visit www.crn.nihr.ac.uk