Research funding boost to enhance treatments and care
A joint venture between the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton has been awarded more than £10 million to expand it’s ground-breaking studies that improve patient care.
The NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility (CRF) is an extensive, dedicated space for early-stage clinical research based at Southampton General Hospital and delivered in a long-standing partnership with the University of Southampton.
The new funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) will grow the facility’s capacity over the next five years.
NIHR Southampton CRF clinical trials range from studies testing new treatments, vaccines and medical devices in patients for the very first time (first-in-human trials) through to early safety and efficacy trials (Phase II and complex phase III trials).
Studies cover a large range of conditions in adults and children, including many types of cancer, asthma, COPD, infection and inflammation, and musculoskeletal and neurological conditions.
The CRF has completed over 800 clinical trials in the last 10 years.
The facility played a crucial role in our COVID-19 response, by setting up a dedicated vaccine trials centre within a locked-down university sports hall in just four days. Its team opened a Phase I study of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine within a week, and by August 2020 had recruited nearly 700 people to early phase trials of the vaccine.
Southampton respiratory research has also played a key part in the development of an acute treatment for COVID-19, following over 10 years of trials in the CRF.
Saul Faust, Professor of Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases in the Faculty of Medicine and Director of NIHR Southampton CRF, said: “The research delivered by our CRF since it was first funded in 1998 has provided faster access for patients to novel treatments. These new advances are driving better health outcomes for all and boosting our national economy.
“I am delighted that our outstanding track-record and long-term strategy have been recognised through ongoing NIHR funding in Southampton. With support from our patients and healthy volunteers, our studies will continue to shape the next generation of healthcare.”