NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and Clinical Research Facility officially opened in Leicestershire

Two programmes of pioneering research into medical advancements in the Leicestershire region have been officially launched in partnership with our University, thanks to grants from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

An £11.6 million investment enables the newly formed NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) – a partnership between Leicester’s Hospitals, the University of Leicester and Loughborough University - to push the boundaries of knowledge in illnesses linked to respiratory conditions, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease and the consequence of inactivity and benefits of increasing physical activity or reducing sedentary time.

In addition, £1.4 million has been awarded to create a Clinical Research Facility (CRF), which brings pioneering clinical trials into fields such as emergency medicine at Leicester’s Hospitals, in partnership with the University of Leicester.

Leicester is now one of only 20 Biomedical Research Centres and one of 23 Clinical Research Facilities across England.

NIHR funding for the Leicester Biomedical Research Centre is spread over a five-year programme. The funding for the Leicester Clinical Research Facility is for an initial two-year period.

• Press release
• Pictured right: Back row (l-r): Prof Philip Baker (Head of the College of Life Sciences, University of Leicester), Prof Nigel Brunskill (CRF Director), Prof Leong Ng (Precision Medicine theme lead, Leicester BRC); Prof Paul Boyle (Vice-Chancellor, University of Leicester); Prof Alan Jackson (Southampton BRC); Front row (l-r): Prof Chris Brightling (Respiratory Theme Lead, Leicester BRC), Prof Sir Nilesh Samani (cardiovascular Theme lead, Leicester BRC), Prof Melanie Davies CBE (BRC Director), Prof Mark Hamer (Lifestyle theme lead, Leicester BRC); Dr Kristen Clements (Senior Translational Scientist, Loughborough University)