Millions of young people could miss out on future medical breakthroughs because too few take part in clinical trials, new data has revealed.
An analysis by The Guardian found that people aged 18 to 24 make up 8% of England’s population but just 4.4% of participants in medical research — meaning Gen Z is significantly underrepresented in clinical and health studies.
Experts warn this gap could leave young adults with treatments that are unsafe, ineffective, or poorly suited to their needs. Nearly half of under-25s live with a long-term physical or mental health condition, yet most medical research is still designed around older populations.
“Treatments may be designed and tested primarily on older adults, which means they may not always be safe or effective for younger people,” said Kirsty Blenkins, deputy chief executive of the Association for Young People’s Health. “This can lead to poorer outcomes, delayed diagnoses, and reduced trust in healthcare.”
Between 2021 and 2024, only 32,879 young adults took part in 5,042 studies supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) — roughly seven per study. By comparison, adults aged 85 and older are proportionally twice as likely to participate.
Barriers to participation include a lack of awareness, limited recruitment targeted at young people, and concerns about privacy. Experts are calling for research to be made more inclusive and accessible, with youth involvement embedded from the start.
“Young people often don’t realise that research isn’t just about experimental cancer drugs,” said Dr Esther Mukuka, NIHR’s director for research inclusion. “It’s also about improving care for everyday conditions like asthma, diabetes, or depression.”
The NIHR is running a campaign to boost public participation through its volunteer registry, which matches people with studies based on their health and interests. Anyone — with or without a health condition — can join.
“Taking part can be as simple as completing a survey or giving a saliva sample,” Mukuka added. “It’s an investment in the kind of healthcare you want for yourself and future generations.”
Experts say greater diversity in trials — including more women, young people, and ethnic minorities — is essential to ensure treatments are fair and effective for everyone.
As Dr Wendy Macdowall of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine noted:
“To reduce inequities, we need to understand how different groups experience interventions — otherwise, we risk deepening existing health disparities.”
