The NIHR/Wellcome Trust Imperial Clinical Research Facility (ICRF) has been awarded more than £10 million in funding for clinical excellence.

The leading clinical research facility at Hammersmith Hospital, part of Imperial College Healthcare Trust, provides dedicated bed space for up to 25 patients participating in research studies that require visits of up to 10 days. It is staffed by a team of 40 dedicated healthcare professionals specialising in clinical research. They facilitate ground breaking trials that otherwise would not be possible due to demand for hospital beds and the expertise required.

The new award from the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), the largest grant awarded to any London trust, will fund the Clinical Research Facility from April 2017 to March 2022. This will allow the Trust to continue to support experimental medicine clinical research studies in patients and healthy volunteers across a wide range of conditions.

Dr Karen Mosley, General Manager of the NIHR/Wellcome Trust Imperial CRF said:

“We are delighted to receive this funding from the Department of Health and National Institute of Health Research (NIHR). It will enable us to continue our exciting work with academics, charities, research councils and industry on ground breaking medical research that will one-day lead to better patient care."

“CRFs have a privileged position in that we work closely with academics in an NHS setting providing them with trained staff and a fully equipped space to conduct their clinical research trials, allowing studies to progress from bench to bedside."

“Over the last few years we have led on a number of ground breaking research trials including vaccine studies for Ebola, malaria and HIV; fertility studies including the development of a new, safer, ovulation stimulant for IVF patients, which has resulted in a number of successful births, and many others.”

Professor Martin Wilkins, Director of the NIHR/ Wellcome Trust Imperial Clinical Research Facility said:

“This is excellent news for our CRF, and I believe a testament to the dedication and expertise of our staff who set up and deliver experimental medicine and cutting edge clinical research trials. The review panel noted that the pull through of basic science from Imperial College was viewed as a particular strength - so a thank you is due to our scientists for sharing their science with us."

"This award will help ensure our Trust remains at the forefront of cutting edge research and innovation in the coming years.”

Other pioneering research trials led by the NIHR/Wellcome Trust Imperial Clinical Research Facility include:

• A potential treatment for Freidreich’s ataxia, a degenerative disease, using vitamin B3;
• A promising gene therapy treatment for haemophilia A;
• The development of a new supplement (inulin-propionate ester) that switches off junk-food cravings; and
• A new study into treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (Liraglutide).

The NIHR/Wellcome Trust Imperial Clinical Research Facility was recognised by the NIHR awarding body for its exemplary record and expertise in setting up and running clinical research studies, evidence of high levels of patient satisfaction, and the quality, breadth and volume of the experimental medicine research it undertakes.

This article has been adapted from the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust press release 'Research facility receives major funding boost', and republished here with permission.