Multimillion investment announced for world-class research for patients
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has awarded nearly £166m to our four NIHR Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs). These BRCs, part of our Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC), bring together world-leading expertise to focus on the most pressing health challenges for our population.
- NIHR Barts Biomedical Research Centre – awarded £20.9 million
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre – awarded £35m
- NIHR Moorfields Biomedical Research Centre – awarded £20m
- NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre – awarded £90m
The centres, part of NIHR’s research infrastructure, aim to attract the best scientists and create an environment where experimental medicine can thrive. This funding will be spread over five years from December 2022 to November 2027, and will directly benefit patients through the development of ground-breaking new treatments and new techniques to diagnose disease.
Dr Chris Laing, CEO of UCLPartners said: “It is fantastic to see the intrinsic value of biomedical research and the hard work of our partners recognised. This is testament to the strength of partnerships between healthcare professionals and academics in the country’s leading NHS trusts and universities. I am excited to see this investment push the limits of innovation and make real differences for patients and their families.”
Our AHSC is distinct from other AHSCs – which are often a partnership of a single hospital and university – because we bring together a cluster of world-class specialist institutions to deliver world-class clinical, research and educational outcomes.
Prof David Lomas, UCLPartners AHSC Director and UCL Vice Provost (Health), said “Our AHSC brings together the expertise of four NIHR Biomedical Research Centres hosted across our partnership, to focus on the most pressing health challenges for our population. This funding boost will help to drive our aim to translate innovative research into benefits for patients.”
Funding is part of the NIHR’s wider £790 million investment in 20 BRCs across England, which all aim to translate scientific discoveries into new diagnostic tests, treatments and medical technologies to improve patients’ lives.