Cambridge Healthcare Research

Cambridge Healthcare Research (CHR) is a strategic consultancy specialising in healthcare and life sciences. Since its founding in 2013, CHR has built a reputation for delivering analytically rigorous, science-grounded insights that empower biopharmaceutical and biotech leaders to make confident, high-impact decisions. Their work spans product strategy, commercialisation, and competitive intelligence, driven by deep domain expertise and a commitment to excellence.

 

The Challenge

From its beginnings on the outskirts of Cambridge, Cambridge Healthcare Research (CHR) sought to bridge the gap between scientific rigour and commercial strategy, providing healthcare executives with science-grounded competitive strategies.

 

We established the firm to deliver insights that are both analytically rigorous and immediately actionable, and to elevate client service standards across our field.

– Matteo Perucchini, CEO, Cambridge Healthcare Research

 

Within 3 years, CHR had secured its first hires and successfully entered the highly competitive US market, securing a leading US pharmaceutical as a landmark client.

 

Our journey has been one of steady, self-funded growth. We have built a strong reputation in a specialist niche, with our success rooted in two enduring strengths: the exceptional calibre of our people and the consistent quality of our work.

– Matteo Perucchini, CEO, Cambridge Healthcare Research

 

It’s these enduring strengths that have enabled CHR to address challenges with confidence and precision. Scaling amidst a wave of technological advancement, CHR was determined to address the evolving needs of its growing global client base.

 

The Solution

This led to CHR’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) – a strategic hub tasked with delivering research and impactful new service offerings for both its domestic and international clientele. It soon became not a question of when the CoE would take shape, but where?

 

We explored both off- and near-shoring, but once we resolved to remain in the UK; the West Midlands, a region whose people-first ethos mirrors our own, emerged as the strongest long-term strategic fit. It provides us with a resilient platform for high-quality, high-retention growth, perfectly aligned with our strategy and values.

– Stephen Galt, Chief Commercial Officer, Cambridge Healthcare Research

 

The West Midlands Growth Company hosted CHR during their initial welcome to the West Midlands. Facilitating not just the viewings of Birmingham’s vibrant office spaces, but introductions to the region’s leading academic institutions, the gateway to one of Europe’s youngest and most diverse populations was opened.

 

The region’s high-quality life science programs and graduate retention make Birmingham a compelling base for developing a strong employee brand and delivering high-impact research, and ultimately value to our clients.

– Mital Suchak, Chief People Officer, Cambridge Healthcare Research

 

The region’s graduate talent pool is one that CHR is already engaging with, having welcomed an initial cohort of 18 regional graduates in May 2025. As part of its ongoing investment in the CoE, a further 15 research analysts will join the CoE between November 2025 and January 2026. This marks a significant step in CHR’s commitment to nurturing first-class life science talent from the region’s leading universities. WMGC’s support was key here, with early introductions to the University of Birmingham and other regional academic partners, which laid the foundations for CHR’s access to the region’s leading talent. A reinforcement of the WMGC’s pivotal role in connecting academia and industry in the West Midlands.

 

The Impact

The UK’s revered life science golden triangle has long held sway over firms seeking sustainable growth in healthcare and MedTech fields. However, more organisations than ever are looking beyond the borders of the triangle in the search for life sciences graduate talent and high-quality, cost-effective spaces.

CHR’s official landing in the West Midlands, attended by the leader of Birmingham City Council with support from the WMGC, reinforces its position as a benchmark for research excellence in the West Midlands. The firm has quickly taken advantage of Birmingham’s unmatched national connectivity to expand its capabilities and welcome new, exciting collaborations.

 

The CoE has enabled us to build a high-performing team close to London, leveraging Birmingham’s infrastructure and networks to accelerate delivery and unlock efficiencies driven by deep expertise.

– Andrew Milward, Chief Financial Officer, Cambridge Healthcare Research

Today, CHR houses an international team of over 140 employees across key global markets, comprising of multilingual experts who speak more than 35 languages.

It’s the belief in the power of diversity that CHR shares with the West Midlands. A region that’s become the UK’s top destination for clinical trials, thanks to a diverse population of 4.7 million people speaking more than 180 languages. Enabling life science innovators to harness unrivalled clinical and genomic data.

 

The Future

Looking ahead, CHR remains committed to innovation and sustainable expansion by continuing to invest in talent and new service offerings. The WMGC continues to provide regular business support, ensuring CHR remains well connected to the region’s opportunities and networks. With current plans to create up to 40 research analyst roles in the region, CHR has little doubt that its arrival coincides with the West Midlands’ rise as a dynamic investment alternative to the traditional life science golden triangle.

 

We’re proud to have supported Cambridge Healthcare Research during its entry into the West Midlands and will continue to support the business as it grows further. It’s fulfilling to see new entrants to the region tapping into our local pool of graduates and delivering such key research projects. We’re excited by the landing of a company that promises to deliver defining healthcare research through collaboration with our region’s life sciences ecosystem.

– Oliver Burrows, Senior Business Development Executive, WMGC