New clinical research unit opens at NNUH

A new £240,000 clinical research unit based at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) has just opened and will lead to a greater range of clinical trials being undertaken in Norwich.

The Clinical Research and Trials Unit (CRTU) brings together research programmes and clinical trials from the university hospital, the University of East Anglia (UEA), as well as NHS primary care and other partners. The new facility accommodates the Bertram Diabetes Research Unit, which also has a research unit at the Norwich Community Hospital site.

Kath Jones, NNUH research and development manager said: “The new unit provides us with the flexibility to carry out a wider variety of clinical research including pharmaceutical trials as we will have the opportunity to monitor patients closely in an acute hospital setting.”

“Potentially we will have a lot more capacity to undertake clinical trials and this will take some of the pressure off our outpatient clinics. Eventually a second research area will be built on the UEA campus to provide more space for collaboration between our clinicians and research scientists based at the university.”

Professor Sam Leinster, Dean of the School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice at UEA said: “Clinical research is essential if we are to improve patient care. It is an important part of the research strategy of the School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice. The new unit will increase the range and number of studies that can be carried out in Norfolk.”

The Clinical Research Trials Unit has been built on the third floor of the university hospital's East block, with a laboratory, consulting room and a ward area.