News and events
NIHR funding award 2012
The NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility has received a significant financial boost from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
More than £9million has been awarded to this partnership between University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Southampton, which will be used to support early-stage studies of new treatments for people with diseases such as cancer, asthma, arthritis, liver disease, and heart disease. The award will also support work to understand new ways to prevent diet-related disease and the development of new vaccines.
Thousands of people from Southampton and surrounding areas take part in clinical research every year. In 2010/11 more than 13,000 patients were recruited to clinical trials – where research is taken out of the laboratory and into the clinic – making Southampton one of the top three centres in England for NHS patients participating in NIHR-supported clinical research.
Dr Saul Faust, Director of the NIHR WTCRF said “This is a fantastic opportunity which will allow us to support translational research collaborations between the Trust and the University incorporated within the Southampton Centre for Biomedical Research, including work with the NIHR Nutrition Biomedical Research Centre, the NIHR Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit and the NIHR-Cancer Research UK Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre as well as many other clinical trials open to patients and research volunteers in Southampton."
Southampton was one of 19 centres in England to be successful in securing funding for its infrastructure, research nurses and technicians for the next five years.
Professor Iain Cameron, Dean of the University’s Faculty of Medicine, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this academic year comments: “Collaboration between universities and the NHS is essential to drive the discovery of new treatments for the benefit of patients. Longstanding relationships between the University, Trust, research funders including medical charities, and the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry have led to world-class facilities being developed in Southampton. This latest funding from the NHIR will further cement our collaborations and allow us to remain on the cutting edge of clinical research.”
Further information, including a full list of awards, can be found on the Dept of Health website: http://mediacentre.dh.gov.uk/2012/03/01/over-100m-to-support-groundbreaking-clinical-research/
Translational research and enterprise in Southampton: impacts on healthcare, society and the wealth of the nation - 15 and 16 November 2011
The University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust are hosting a two-day conference highlighting the positive impact of translational research on patient healthcare. The event will also examine the challenges and successes involved in introducing innovation and enterprise into clinical care. Further information and registration forms are available from http://www.som.soton.ac.uk/research/sites/scri/conferences/
Official opening of the Southampton Centre for Biomedical Research
A new 5-storey building that incorporates and enlarges the existing clinical facilities of the WTCRF was officially opened on 24 March 2011 by Andrew Lansley CBE MP, Secretary of State for Health. The Southampton Centre for Biomedical Research, part-funded by NIHR, currently comprises the NIHR WTCRF, the two Southampton NIHR Biomedical Research Units, the Trust's shadow BRUs and R&D department, and associated clinical research groups. A full press release can be found on the Faculty of Medicine website.
Annual Review 2009
A copy of our latest Annual Review is now available as a pdf. It highlights many of the exciting research projects being conducted in Southampton as well as the range of educational and collaborative activities that the WTCRF is involved with.
500th study!
The WTCRF is celebrating after receiving its 500th study application since opening in 2001. Andrew Lotery, Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Southampton and honorary consultant at Southampton Eye Unit, is conducting a randomised controlled trial of an experimental drug called Microplasmin in patients with focal vitreomacular adhesion. The study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of the drug when injected directly into the eye and its potential as an alternative to eye surgery.
"The Southampton Eye Unit has worked with WTCRF research nurses in 24 studies over the last six years", said Professor Lotery. "This has led to significant research breakthroughs and many patients have had their sight saved by being enrolled in our WTCRF studies. My research programme would not be possible without the WTCRF."
Dr Saul Faust, Director of the WTCRF, said, "It is fantastic that the WTCRF is able to support ground breaking research such as Andrew's that has such a positive impact on patient care. The strength of our staff team is key to our success and I would like to thank them all for their dedication and hard work."