Medical technology and in-vitro diagnostics research
Supporting product development, identification of unmet clinical need and access to clinical experts
NIHR Biomedical Research Centres are leaders in scientific translation across a wide range of disease and clinical areas. The Centres are based within the most outstanding NHS and University partnerships in the country. They provide a direct route to work with this country’s leading investigators and clinicians with the expertise to translate fundamental biomedical research into new and improved approaches to healthcare.
NIHR Biomedical Research Units focus on translational research in individual priority clinical areas. They provide access to internationally recognised research leaders working in areas of high disease burden and unmet medical need. These include cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal and respiratory diseases, and in deafness and hearing problems.
Biomedical Research Centres and Units have links with other research specialties across their host institutions and can provide access to expertise in areas such as engineering, to support prototype development and refinement.
Healthcare Technology Cooperatives bring together patients and carers, healthcare staff, academics and inventors to work in partnership with health technology companies to develop practical and innovative products to address areas of unmet patient and clinical need. There are currently two pilot Cooperatives:
· Enteric - the Bowel Function HTC – focusing on identifying and developing new devices and procedures to improve the healthcare outcomes for those affected by disorders of bowel function.
· Devices for Dignity HTC – focusing on the design, development and evaluation of medical devices to improve healthcare quality and well-being for patients with long term medical conditions. Current research themes include assistive technology, urinary incontinence and renal dialysis.
If you would like help finding the experts and facilities to support your research please contact the NOCRI team
Supporting clinical investigations
NIHR Clinical Research Networks are able to support set-up and delivery of high quality medical technology research studies across a range of disease and clinical areas. For companies with studies that have a defined protocol and full funding, Networks can provide a comprehensive service, including expert support for study and protocol feasibility assessment; access to systems to speed clinical trial set up including: costing, contracting and R&D approvals; and staff and resources to ensure efficient patient recruitment and study delivery.
| If you are ready to run a medical technology clinical study and have a draft protocol an interactive route map has been developed to guide you through the study set up processes. It sets out a suggested order for companies to engage with the NIHR Clinical Research Networks and relevant bodies to obtain the approvals and permissions needed to conduct a medtech clinical study. |
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Clinical Research Facilities and Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres provide dedicated research facilities for early-stage volunteer and patient studies. Run by experienced researchers, research nurses and support staff they can provide assistance throughout the research process, from study design through to data collection and study management.
If you would like more general advice on medical device or diagnostic research please contact the NOCRI team