Since our inception in 2007 , the National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London, has made significant progress in translational research across a number of important disease areas.
In 2011 we successfully bid for five years of funding from the NIHR totalling nearly £59.8 million thus securing our NIHR Biomedical Research Centre from 2012 to 2017.
This makes us one of the 11 biomedical research centres funded by the NIHR. The award allows us to continue to invest in areas of research that will lead to improvements from 'bench to bedside' as rapidly as possible."
With embedded world class core facilities, a range of hosted research organisations and partnerships with industry, this represents the foundation for London’s premier biomedical cluster. We are arranged around five clusters.
Our key focus is on 'translational research' which aims to take advances in basic science out of the laboratory and into the clinical setting in order to benefit patients at the earliest opportunity.
This will not only have a major impact on the way we manage and treat diseases at Guy's and St Thomas' and at partner Trusts, but also more widely across the NHS and beyond.
We aim to:
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expand our translational research pipeline across a wide range of diseases and conditions
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develop state-of-the-art facilities for patient based experimental studies
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invest in the latest technologies
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develop future leaders in translational medicine by creating an environment that provides excellence in training
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engage actively with our diverse local population, partners and stakeholders
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disseminate the outcomes of our research to drive new treatments and improvements in patient care
Our achievements
Our NIHR Biomedical Research Centre is already supporting a variety of projects including cell therapies and biomarkers:
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Investment in facilities and technologies so our researchers are at the forefront of translational research. For instance The Immune Monitoring Flow Cytometry Core facility has recently added the first UK CyTOF mass cytometer that allows our investigators to stay at the forefront of highly multiplexed biomarker discovery
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The introduction of a number of innovative training programmes and fellowships. Many of our clinical training fellows have gone on to win highly competitive external awards e.g. MRC - Dr Alexander Hicks, Clinical Training Fellow awarded £135,000.00 in 2012, Wellcome Trust - Dr Paul Pfeffer, Clinical Training Fellow awarded £162,161.00 in 2012 and BHF(British Heart Foundation) - Dr Aung Myat, Clinical Training Fellow awarded £230,767.00 in 2012
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The development of consultancy and support services. These services span data management, bioinformatics, statistical advice, planning research proposals and user involvement
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Investment in eight major interdisciplinary research programmes. These programmes will deliver real advances to patients in the next few years
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Partnerships with other universities, hospitals and commercial companies. These collaborations strengthen our research efforts. They include the Karolinska Institute, BD Sciences, Barts and QMUL
The opening of the home of our NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. Based on the 16th floor of Guy's Tower, this base is a one-stop-shop for researchers providing a research hub with expertise in research management and design encouraging collaborative interactions and discussions
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In 2011-2012 alone, the publication of over 250 studies in peer-reviewed journals. These publications are across a wide range of diseases and disciplines