Clinical Research Facilities for Experimental Medicine
The NIHR funds Clinical Research Facilities (CRFs) for Experimental Medicine to help speed up the translation of scientific advances for the benefit of patients.
CRFs are purpose-built, cutting-edge facilities, with specialist clinical, research and support staff, in locations where universities and NHS Trusts work together on dedicated programmes of patient-orientated experimental medicine research.
Since its establishment in 2006 the NIHR has worked in partnership with other major funders under the umbrella of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC) to facilitate the translation of scientific advances into benefits for patients through the establishment of dedicated purpose-built CRFs. Capital funding for buildings and equipment has been provided by the UKCRC partners, including the NIHR. The NIHR funded the necessary recurrent NHS infrastructure costs of these CRFs such as clinical research nurses, technicians, and facility running costs, via a number of schemes.
New NIHR funding for CRFs
In October 2011 the NIHR launched a new open competition for funding applications to ‘renew and refresh’ NIHR funding for CRFs for Experimental Medicine.
An expert national Assessment Panel reviewed applications from NHS organisations in England against clear assessment criteria. The Panel comprised national experts in experimental medicine and in running facilities to support its conduct.
Nineteen applications were successful. These were announced on 1 March 2012. DH press release.
The successful CRFs will receive a total of £102 million between 1 September 2012 until 31 March 2017. The NIHR funding for CRFs provides a key contribution to NHS collaboration with industry in experimental medicine, an area of increasing importance given the evolving drug development model and focus on open innovation. This was recently highlighted in the Government’s Strategy for UK Life Sciences.
NHS Trusts receiving NIHR funding for Clinical Research Facilities for Experimental Medicine
|
NHS Organisation |
Funding awarded |
|
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust |
£2,000,000 |
|
Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust |
£3,000,000 |
|
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust* |
£10,849,043 |
|
Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
£5,500,000 |
|
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust |
£4,500,000 |
|
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust |
£5,643,244 |
|
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust |
£10,885,958 |
|
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust |
£500,000 |
|
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust |
£5,315,730 |
|
The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust* |
£4,000,000 |
|
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust |
£3,738,298 |
|
Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation trust |
£5,738,298 |
|
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust* |
£2,812,128 |
|
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
£3,111,844 |
|
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation trust* |
£4,738,298 |
|
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
£5,500,000 |
|
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust* |
£12,812,956 |
|
University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust |
£2,500,000 |
|
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust |
£9,244,166 |
£102, 389,962
*includes some existing support to these Clinical Research Facilities, which is subsumed in this future funding.
NIHR briefing document