Experimental medicine

Biomedical Research Centres

NIHR’s Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) are collaborations between world-leading universities and NHS organisations that bring together academics and clinicians to translate lab-based scientific breakthroughs into potential new treatments, diagnostics and medical technologies.

The centres receive substantial levels of sustained funding  to create an environment where experimental medicine can thrive. They attract the best scientists and produce world-leading research, contributing to the local and national economy.

BRC funding supports researchers of the highest calibre to develop innovative research ideas that can attract investment from other funders, furthering the nation’s economic growth.

The centres undertake research in research themes across a range of disease and therapeutic areas, such as genomics, stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine, with several supporting the work of the NIHR BioResource.

Our BRCs are:

• NIHR Barts Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR Exeter Biomedical Research Centre 
• NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR Leeds Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR The Royal Marsden Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre
• NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre 

Watch how the NIHR Biomedical Research Centres are transforming patients' lives.

Clinical Research Facilities

NIHR’s 28 Clinical Research Facilities (CRFs) are purpose built facilities in NHS hospitals where researchers can deliver early-phase and complex studies.

The NIHR has invested £161 million in these facilities over five years to create dedicated spaces for high risk experimental medicine studies, such as first-in-patient trials and intensive later phase studies.

The facilities have cutting-edge clinical facilities, technologies and expertise and are designed to support high intensity studies and overnight stays.

Researchers funded by the NIHR, the life sciences industry or other organisations can access assistance from skilled CRF clinical trial support staff, from study design to data collection and study management.

NIHR CRFs are supported by the UKCRF Network, which provides best practice guidance and tools to ensure each CRF delivers clinical trials to the highest standard. The UKCRF Network is funded by the NIHR and the Chief Scientist Office of Scotland.

Our CRFs are:

• NIHR Alder Hey Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Barts Clinical Research Facility 
• NIHR Birmingham Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Bristol Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Cambridge Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Exeter Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Guy’s and St Thomas’ Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Imperial Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Lancashire Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Leicester Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Liverpool Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Manchester Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Moorfields Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Newcastle Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Norfolk Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Nottingham Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Oxford Clinical Research Facility 
• NIHR Oxford Health Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Royal Free Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR The Royal Marsden Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Royal Surrey Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR King's Clinical Research Facility
• NIHR St George's Clinical Research Facility 
• NIHR UCLH Clinical Research Facility

Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres

The NIHR contributes £21.6 million to Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres (ECMCs)  part of a £47.5 million investment over 5 years. 

Established in 2007, the ECMC network is a partnership between a number of organisations including:

• NIHR
• Cancer Research UK
• the Little Princess Trust
• the Chief Scientist's Office in Scotland
• Health and Care Research Wales
• Northern Ireland's HSC Public Health Agency

The ECMCs act as an efficient and effective UK-wide network for delivering pioneering, early-phase cancer trials, bringing together world-leading laboratory and clinical researchers to test new treatments for adults and children with cancer.

The network of centres speeds up the process of cancer drug development and the search for biomarkers to diagnose cancer, predict the aggressiveness of the disease, or show whether a drug will be effective.

The centres increase the capacity, safety and speed of early-phase cancer research in England, improving the success rates in developing new treatments for patients and ensuring that the UK remains at the forefront of international efforts to develop and test new treatments for cancer.

The ECMC Network comprises 17 adult centres and 12 paediatric centres distributed through Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and Wales. The centres are associated with universities with capabilities in cancer research, and are linked to local NHS hospitals.

We now have a strong, functional network for early-phase clinical trial activity in the UK. We have worked hard to make the UK an attractive site for early phase clinical trials in childhood cancer, and the success of this is borne out by the excellent relationships that have been established with a number of drug companies
Dr Guy Makin, Paediatric Network Lead

Translational Research Collaborations

NIHR's Translational Research Collaborations (TRCs) and Partnerships are ready-formed networks of the UK's leading universities, NHS trusts and research centres. 

These collaborations aim to carry out early phase translational research and tackle experimental medicine challenges in certain therapeutic areas. They are set up to support and work with the life sciences industry, charities, researchers and other funders and partners. 

To find out more about these TRCs and how your company or organisation can collaborate with us, please contact us.

Our TRCs are: 

• NIHR-BHF Cardiovascular Partnership
• NIHR Dementia Translational Research Collaboration
• NIHR Diet and Activity Research (DART) Collaboration
• NIHR Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration 
• UK Musculoskeletal Translational Research Collaboration
• NIHR Oncology Translational Research Collaboration
• NIHR Respiratory Translational Research Collaboration 
• NIHR Cancer and Nutrition Collaboration