£1m funding boost for our Clinical Research Facility
NNUH has been announced as one of 28 research institutions to receive funding from the Department of Health to expand the delivery of early phase clinical research in NHS hospitals across England.
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has awarded us £1m, spread over the next five years, to drive forward innovation in experimental medicine and translational research. This will support research in our purpose-built Clinical Research Facility in the Quadram Institute and in the main building including the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
CRFs support the delivery of early translational and experimental medicine research and provide dedicated purpose-built facilities and expertise for the delivery of high-intensity studies funded by the NIHR, the life sciences industry and other organisations. This current funding round will support 28 facilities across England, including new CRFs in Norfolk and Bristol, delivering towards the government’s mission to level up domestic public investment in research and development.
Our state-of-the-art CRF is already home to a host of research initiatives to aid the development of new treatments and improve patient care and brings together researchers and scientists from our hospital, University of East Anglia (UEA), the Quadram Institute and across the Norwich Research Park. Furthermore, we intend to continue to support work in specialist facilities and increase opportunities for the people of Norfolk to participate in research.
Prof Kris Bowles, Associate Medical Director for Research and Dr Jenny Longmore, Director of Research Operations, said: “We are thrilled to receive this funding from NIHR for the first time and we join a number of other successful and high-profile hospitals in winning this support.”
Professor Erika Denton, Medical Director, added: “The funding is a further boost to our Trust and supports our research strategy and vision of becoming a nationally and internationally recognised organisation, which inspires future leaders of clinical research.”
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Executive of the NIHR and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care, said: “NIHR’s CRFs scheme has been a key force in translational research across England, helping to position the nation as internationally competitive in early stage clinical research.”
Minister for Innovation, Lord Kamall, said: “Clinical research has been vital in our fight against COVID-19 and in saving thousands of lives – whether through the rapid creation of vaccines or the identification of life-saving treatments like dexamethasone.”
“Funding more CRFs across the country means we can continue to build on this innovation to transform our health service and ensure the NHS is able to deliver world-class care.”