Respiratory Translational Research Collaboration

The NIHR Respiratory Translational Research (Respiratory TRC) brings together internationally recognised investigators in the UK's leading centres of excellence to carry out experimental and early phase research with industry, charities and other funders.

R-TRC Support for COVID-19 Studies

The R-TRC welcomes requests and proposals for early phase studies for adoption by the R-TRC. The R-TRC will support the design and development of adopted/selected studies for subsequent submission to the national prioritisation portal.

Please contact the NOCRI team at signposting@nihr.ac.uk for further information and advice about the process for R-TRC study adoption and connections to relevant expertise.

For more information on an early phase COVID_19 study which received R-TRC support, read this case study. This study has now released positive preliminary results.  

Work with the NIHR Respiratory Translational Research Collaboration

This NIHR Respiratory Translational Research Collaboration  carries out outstanding translational research in respiratory disease. Together with industry partners, the  Respiratory TRC focuses on experimental clinical research to identify mechanisms of pathophysiology of disease, or to demonstrate proof of concept or evidence of the validity of new discoveries or treatments.

Who is this for? 

The NIHR Respiratory TRC undertake commercial and non-commercial studies with partners such as industry, research charities and other funders. The  Respiratory TRC engages with all sectors of the life sciences industry, including Clinical Research Organisations (CROs).

To be suitable for Respiratory TRC support, a project is expected to:

• involve one or more industry partners
• focus on a disease area recognised as a  Respiratory TRC area of expertise
• bring significant academic value and the opportunity for scientific leadership from the Respiratory TRC
• be at an early stage to enable input and feedback on study design and adopt a collaborative approach to study design
• utilise experimental medicine approaches such as novel exploratory endpoints, biomarkers and stratification strategies
• have a trial management team or delegated CRO or academic clinical trial unit in place to ensure effective study delivery.

The  Respiratory TRC experts will help you to shape your protocol, providing advice on study design. If you already have a fully-developed protocol and are only looking for recruitment sites the NIHR Study Support Service will be able to help you. 

The  Respiratory TRC can offer scientific advice when there is a clear intent to deliver the study through the  Respiratory TRC, they are not designed to act as stand-alone advisory boards.

Benefits of working with the TRC

The Respiratory TRC provide easy access to a network of academic centres and experts embedded in UK universities and NHS hospitals who are available to work collaboratively on experimental early phase clinical studies.

The Respiratory TRC centres operate to common business processes. This makes it quicker and easier for industry and other partners to work with the expert investigators within the NHS and Universities.

The Respiratory TRC provide operational support, including a standard pre-approved non-disclosure agreement, contractual templates and a close working relationship with the NIHR Study Support Service  for identification of sites.

Areas of expertise

The Respiratory TRC specialties include:

• asthma
• chronic obstructive pulmonary fibrosis (COPD)
• interstitial lung diseases, in particular idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and sarcoidosis
• acute lung injury including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
• cystic fibrosis and other rare respiratory diseases.

The Respiratory TRC regularly reviews areas of unmet need to determine emerging topics of focus for the group.

Respiratory Translational Research Collaboration Academic Centres

Centres and Lead Academics:

• Professor Chris Brightling
  NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre
• Professor Jane Davies
  NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre
• Professor Ratko Djukanovic
  NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre
• Professor Tim Harrison
  NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre
• Professor Ling-Pei Ho (Chair)
  NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre
•  Dr Alex Horsley (Deputy Chair)
  NIHR Manchester BRC
•  Dr David Jackson
  NIHR Guy's and St Thomas' BRC
• Professor Stefan Marciniak
  NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre
•  Professor Lorcan McGarvey
  Northern Ireland Clinical Research Facility
• Professor Joanna Porter
  NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre

Contact Us

To find out more about the NIHR Respiratory TRC and how your company or organisation can collaborate  with our expertise. E-mail:  nocri@nihr.ac.uk