Title: NIHR Nottingham BRC
Funder: Department of Health and Social Care

Abstract: The Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Nottingham is built around a strong partnership between the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH), the second largest teaching hospital trust in England, and the University of Nottingham, ranked in the top 1% of universities worldwide. Our aim is to undertake internationally leading research, applying knowledge from the basic sciences to develop new health treatments. We are formed from seven research themes, selected for the scientific and clinical strengths we have in each. Six are focused on health conditions where there is a considerable burden to patients and carers, as highlighted by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). These themes are in: Hearing Gastrointestinal (gut) and liver diseases Dementia Respiratory (lung) disease Musculoskeletal (muscle and joint-related) disease Mental Health Hearing and Gastrointestinal (gut) and liver disease themes build on existing successful Biomedical Research Units (BRUs). Hearing also links with Nottingham s Medical Research Council (MRC) Institute of Hearing Research, which will transfer into the University in summer 2016. The other themes are based around extensive collaborations and funding streams. Our seventh theme focuses on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This shall work across the other themes to bring extra strength and depth to all. Our University is the birthplace of MRI, for which Sir Peter Mansfield won the Nobel Prize. We continue to lead the world in MRI research, bringing together scientists and clinicians to develop new medical imaging techniques at the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre. This has recently been awarded &pound;7M to install state-of-the-art imaging equipment. The strength of the partnership is shown by the extensive research outputs and track record of grant funding. We have &pound;332M of active grant awards in the themes included in the BRC. The work we propose has been informed by patients, carers and members of the public to ensure that their priorities and needs are central to what we do. This shall continue to be a key aspect of our work as we build on our existing expertise in patient and public involvement. Our aims in the short term are to appoint our staff, set up our management boards and commence our research. We will appoint a strategic advisory board and boards for patient and public involvement and knowledge exchange. Our BRC will be outward facing and innovative and so we shall establish core funding streams to support multi-disciplinary projects and collaborations within Nottingham, with other BRCs and other world-renowned research groups. We shall also refresh our training resources. In the medium term, we will review our progress according to targets and ensure we have external collaborations across all research themes. In the long term, we shall critically assess how well we have delivered our planned research, and explore opportunities to progress this further whilst preparing for renewal of our funding from the NIHR. The BRC will be led by Professor Ian Hall, an experienced clinical academic. He will be supported by a strong management team and internationally respected clinical academics in each of our research themes.

Lay abstract: The Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Nottingham is built around a strong partnership between the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH), the second largest teaching hospital trust in England, and the University of Nottingham, ranked in the top 1% of universities worldwide. Our aim is to undertake internationally leading research, applying knowledge from the basic sciences to develop new health treatments. We are formed from seven research themes, selected for the scientific and clinical strengths we have in each. Six are focused on health conditions where there is a considerable burden to patients and carers, as highlighted by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). These themes are in: Hearing Gastrointestinal (gut) and liver diseases Dementia Respiratory (lung) disease Musculoskeletal (muscle and joint-related) disease Mental Health Hearing and Gastrointestinal (gut) and liver disease themes build on existing successful Biomedical Research Units (BRUs). Hearing also links with Nottingham s Medical Research Council (MRC) Institute of Hearing Research, which will transfer into the University in summer 2016. The other themes are based around extensive collaborations and funding streams. Our seventh theme focuses on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This shall work across the other themes to bring extra strength and depth to all. Our University is the birthplace of MRI, for which Sir Peter Mansfield won the Nobel Prize. We continue to lead the world in MRI research, bringing together scientists and clinicians to develop new medical imaging techniques at the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre. This has recently been awarded &pound;7M to install state-of-the-art imaging equipment. The strength of the partnership is shown by the extensive research outputs and track record of grant funding. We have &pound;332M of active grant awards in the themes included in the BRC. The work we propose has been informed by patients, carers and members of the public to ensure that their priorities and needs are central to what we do. This shall continue to be a key aspect of our work as we build on our existing expertise in patient and public involvement. Our aims in the short term are to appoint our staff, set up our management boards and commence our research. We will appoint a strategic advisory board and boards for patient and public involvement and knowledge exchange. Our BRC will be outward facing and innovative and so we shall establish core funding streams to support multi-disciplinary projects and collaborations within Nottingham, with other BRCs and other world-renowned research groups. We shall also refresh our training resources. In the medium term, we will review our progress according to targets and ensure we have external collaborations across all research themes. In the long term, we shall critically assess how well we have delivered our planned research, and explore opportunities to progress this further whilst preparing for renewal of our funding from the NIHR. The BRC will be led by Professor Ian Hall, an experienced clinical academic. He will be supported by a strong management team and internationally respected clinical academics in each of our research themes.

Research activity codes: 2.6 RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE (AETIOLOGY);4.5 RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE (DETECTION)
Health categories: EAR