The UK vaccine innovation pathway

Cancer vaccines offer transformative potential in oncology, especially with advances in mRNA technologies. To accelerate advances in cancer vaccine research and capitalise on its COVID-19 vaccine leadership, the UK Government has launched the UK Vaccine Innovation Pathway (VIP) through a partnership between the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), NHS England, and pharmaceutical partners. Its innovative approaches to trial delivery have enabled a 500% increase in patient recruitment with 33 trials open or recently closed across 85 sites and 11 cancer types. Working alongside the Cancer Vaccine Launchpad (CVLP), which pre-screens patients across 55 NHS sites, VIP offers streamlined trial setup, decentralised delivery, and equity-focused design. The UK’s approach aligns scientific innovation with rapid clinical deployment, creating a scalable, patient-centred model for delivering individualised therapies. This article outlines the strategic framework, outcomes, and lessons from the VIP and CVLP to inform future national strategies in cancer vaccine deployment.