Norfolk has been praised by a national body for the number of clinical research studies carried out in the last year.

A new league table published by the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network shows the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is the top large acute trust in England and in the top twenty hospitals in the country for the number of clinical research studies it conducted. The NHS trust carried out 182 studies in 2012/13, compared with 158 in 2011/12.

One of its largest is the Norfolk Diabetes Prevention Study, which is jointly run by NNUH and the University East of Anglia. The £2m study funded by the National Institute for Health Research aims to test 10,000 people in Norfolk at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Patients who are eligible and who are identified as showing signs of getting diabetes will be randomly selected to join one of three groups being monitored by researchers investigating whether exercise, healthy living, and motivation programmes may reduce the risk of developing diabetes.

Melanie Pascale, pictured, programme manager for the diabetes study, said: 'I'd encourage anyone who thinks they might be suitable for the study to get in touch. You will be supported every step of the way by a trained and dedicated multidisciplinary NHS research team who can provide you with the information you need to take the first important step in making lifestyle changes. They will help you to stay motivated and continue to support you throughout, so that - most importantly - you can maintain your new healthy lifestyle.'

Jonathan Sheffield, chief executive of the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network, congratulated the trusts in Norfolk for increasing the number of studies and for patients supporting improvements in care.

For more information about the diabetes study, call 01603 597300 or visit www.norfolkdiabetespreventionstudy.nhs.uk