The University’s longstanding partnership with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust has received a major funding boost.
The NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) works together to translate scientific discoveries into new treatments, diagnostics and medical technologies for patients.
The NIHR has announced £25 million for the Centre over the next five years – an increase of around 80% 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.”
The Centre has been at the forefront of nutrition and respiratory research since 2008, with major breakthroughs in deliberate allergen exposure and lifelong prevention of fractures, improving treatments and guidance for patients in the south and across the UK.
Most recently, the BRC played a key role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Southampton researchers across different disciplines enhanced prevention, diagnostics and treatments at incredible pace and scale, including fast tracking COVID-19 drugs into large scale trials. Many of these researchers have received recognition in Her Majesty’s Queen’s Honours for their tireless response.
This latest significant investment will enable new themes for Data Health and Society; Microbiology, Immunology and Infection; and Perioperative and Critical Care.
The new BRC is also committed to increasing patient and public involvement and will continue developing a person-centered, collaborative and inclusive research culture.
Professor Mark Smith, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton, said: “We are extremely proud of our partnership with University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and this significant increase in funding is a testament to the ground-breaking work taking place across our communities.
“Our interdisciplinary teams will continue to work together to improve diagnostics and treatments for patients in the UK and around the world.”
Professor Diana Eccles, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, added: “Southampton is internationally known for its pioneering work into how nutrition and lifestyle in early, mid and later life have important effects on health and developing novel treatments for respiratory diseases such as COPD.
“This award will further strengthen the partnership between the hospital and the University and will play a vital role in helping us develop and expand our research capacity in nutrition, respiratory disease and infection but also in health data and in critical and perioperative care – two new areas that will bring further benefits for patients.”
The BRC is also closely tied with the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility, an extensive, dedicated space for early-stage clinical research in the heart of University Hospital Southampton.
