UCLH works in close collaboration with University College London (UCL), one of the world’s leading biomedical research universities, to translate cutting-edge research into improved health outcomes for diverse patient populations. 

As a nationally recognised referral centre, UCLH delivers the largest cellular therapy clinical service in the UK, remaining at the forefront of innovative and life-changing treatments for patients with haematological, oncological and autoimmune conditions across both standard-of-care as well as commercial and academic clinical trial settings. The programme is supported by dedicated research staff, integrated laboratory and manufacturing facilities, and strong links to national research networks.

UCLH treated the first adult patient in the UK with chimeric antigen receptor- T (CAR-T) cells therapy, marking a milestone in the national delivery of advanced cellular treatments. More recently, in October 2025, UCLH became the first centre in the UK to treat a patient with multiple sclerosis using CAR-T. The trust now hosts a comprehensive CAR-T programme, bringing together leading researchers, scientists and clinicians including neurology, immunology and haematology specialists to deliver safe, effective and pioneering care. 

UCLH is well placed to offer a streamlined service for delivering CAR-T through its apheresis unit, dedicated ambulatory care service and specialist inpatient wards. Our team is experienced in regulatory submissions, safety reporting and delivering complex cell and gene therapy study protocols in both adult, Teenage Young Adults (TYA), and paediatric populations.

Patient population

The cell therapy unit at University College London Hospital (UCLH) delivers an expanding portfolio of standard-of-care treatments alongside a wide range of commercial and academic clinical trials for patients with haematological malignancies, solid tumours, and autoimmune conditions. Since 2016, UCLH has treated a total of 203 trial participants with CAR-T therapy.

R&I department/clinical research infrastructure

The joint research office supports the collaborative research partnership between UCLH, University College London (UCL) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) biomedical research centre (BRC). Together, they drive the development and delivery of a high-quality and diverse clinical research portfolio. The R&D activities span multiple specialised teams including research governance, quality assurance and risk management, finance and contracting, data management, clinical trials operations, research nurses and clinicians, pharmacy, laboratory and pathology services, and patient and public involvement.   

Clinical trial facilities

UCLH provides extensive infrastructure to support advanced therapy trials, including;

• Two apheresis units (adult and paediatric).
• Ambulatory care facilities.
• Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) services.
• Dedicated inpatient ward.
• Hotel accommodation within a five-minute walk of hospital sites.
• UCLH’s dedicated NIHR Clinical Research Facility (CRF) spans multiple sites and is purpose-built for early-phase and first-in-human trials, supporting complex Advanced Therapy Investigational Medicinal Products (ATIMP) delivery.

Collaborative partnerships/key working partnerships

UCLH works in close partnership with University College London (UCL), a globally recognised leader in biomedical research. This collaboration enables the translation of cutting-edge research into innovative therapies that improve health outcomes for diverse patient populations.

ATMP clinical trial specialisms

Haematological malignancies, solid tumour malignancies, and autoimmune conditions.

Specialist technology on site

UCLH hosts a range of advanced and specialist technologies to support complex therapy delivery and clinical research, including:

• Proton beam therapy centre.
• Advanced diagnostic laboratories.
• Advanced imaging and interventional imaging technologies.
• A dedicated neurological and neurosurgical hospital.
• Specialist laboratories.

Team networks/cross departmental support

The service benefits from extensive cross-disciplinary collaboration with teams in immunology, microbiology and infectious disease, neurology, and radiation oncology.

Licence and accreditation

• JACIE (Joint Accreditation Committee of ISCT & EBMT) certified centre.
• Human Tissue Authority (HTA) licensed for procurement, processing, storage, distribution and export.
• NHS England (NHSE) approved centre for provision of licensed CAR-T products.

We have experience with both commercial and non-commercial ATMP trials.

Find out more

The UCL CAR T programme

About Cellular Therapy

Research at UCLH