Southampton awarded £25m in major boost for biomedical research
Pioneering biomedical research is set to almost double in Southampton following a major funding boost.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has announced over £25 million for the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) over the next five years.
The NIHR BRC is a longstanding partnership between the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHSFT), working together to translate scientific discoveries into new treatments, diagnostics and medical technologies for patients.
Southampton has spearheaded NIHR-funded nutrition and respiratory research since 2008, and Director of the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit (SCTU), Professor Gareth Griffiths, is a co-investigator on the BRC’s respiratory theme.
This latest significant investment will also enable new themes for Data Health and Society; Microbiology, Immunology and Infection; and Perioperative and Critical Care.
The funding is an increase of around 80 percent from the £14 million received in 2017-2022.
Mike Grocott, Director Designate of the NIHR Southampton BRC and Professor of Anaesthesia & Critical Care at the University of Southampton, who led the bid, said: “Southampton has a proven ability to translate discovery research into benefit for patients and the public, the health and care system, and the broader economy. I am delighted that the NIHR has recognised this and will dramatically increase our research capacity and capability in the coming years. We look forward to working with patients and other stakeholders in our local and regional communities to deliver on this great opportunity.”
Professor Gareth Griffiths, Director of the SCTU, said: “It is fantastic news that the NIHR Southampton BRC has received this funding, which includes core SCTU staff to develop clinical trials in respiratory disease and critical care.”
“SCTU has a history of conducting trials in thoracic oncology, early diagnosis of lung cancer, covid-19, asthma and COPD, and being part of the new BRC will allow us to closely link with the scientists and clinicians to increase the number of trials we have in these areas, bringing more new treatments to our patients.”
Read the full article on the University of Southampton news pages.