Birmingham Health Partners (BHP) has been awarded a grant of £12.8 million from the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) for the renewal of their Clinical Research Facility (CRF).

The £12.8 million renewal of the CRF is the largest awarded by the NIHR this year, and will enable patients across Birmingham to continue to take part in experimental and complex clinical research studies.  The CRF supports clinical researchers from universities and NHS Trusts to work together on patient-orientated experimental medicine studies. 

Established in 2001, the CRF is governed by BHP, a strategic alliance between University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB), the University of Birmingham, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Birmingham Women’s Hospital.

BHP focuses on the identification, adoption and spread of innovation and best practice, through the alignment of healthcare delivery, research and training.  It aims to improve healthcare; contribute to the local economy through job creation and inward investment into the biomedical sector, and increase public engagement and education about biomedicine and clinical research.

Dame Julie Moore, Chief Executive of UHB, said: “This award is a clear mark of confidence in the excellent work of Birmingham Health Partners to provide unrivalled facilities, experimental medicine and cutting edge translational research in Birmingham. It will allow BHP to further fulfil its ambitions of harnessing the combined research and innovative strengths of the UK’s top clinicians and research teams to deliver better treatments and care to patients.”

Professor Chris Buckley, Director of the CRF (University of Birmingham), added: “The renewal of this funding by NIHR is testament to the excellent work being done at the CRF, and means that we will be able to deliver an exciting programme of research over the next five years.

Dr John Williams, Managing Director of BHP, said: “I’m delighted by this major award from NIHR which I think reflects the superb quality of the environment that we have bought together under the Birmingham Health Partnership.  It is testimony to the people involved in the delivery of the CRF and carries a positive message for the local community and wider city of Birmingham who will benefit from the research undertaken in this fantastic facility.”