A year of changing patients’ lives through world-leading research in Nottingham | Latest news

Internationally renowned scientists, researchers, clinicians and other partners met recently to celebrate another year of world-leading clinical research conducted in Nottingham.

Research carried out at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)  Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) has improved the lives of patients across the country and beyond for those living with a wide range of medical issues including mental health conditions, respiratory diseases and bowel disease.

Highlights of this research were shared with attendees at the NIHR BRC’s annual conference held at the Albert Hall conference centre in Nottingham. The conference heard how research conducted by our experts at the NIHR Nottingham BRC – a partnership between Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham - has contributed nationally, for example by:

-          improving the speed and efficiency of ADHD assessment in children and young people - winning an NIHR Impact Award.

-          Developing a national strategy to transform respiratory research

-          steering the development of a comprehensive national roadmap for clinicians in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

Other successes included the publication of 720 research papers spanning the NIHR BRC’s seven research themes, supporting 553 projects, and attracting approximately £38 million in external grant funding to boost research studies and clinical trials.

Professor Ian Hall, Director of the NIHR Nottingham BRC, said: “Over the last year, our researchers have continued to make strides forward in developing breakthrough treatments and cutting-edge diagnostics focused on some of most common - yet debilitating - health conditions as well as shaping national guidelines to treat disease.

“At our latest conference, we put a particular emphasis on research for underserved populations - with many of our presentations reflecting this theme - as well as looking at the involvement of young people and children in clinical research.

“Our work has a positive impact locally, nationally and internationally, and we also go to lengths to ensure our research is reflective of the diverse local communities in and around Nottingham to encourage everyone to get involved in our studies.”

Among the other key highlights for NIHR Nottingham BRC from 2024-25 were:

• The NIHR BRC’s support for the national ultra- high field imaging centre at the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre at the University of Nottingham. Construction commenced in 2025 for the facility which will hold the UK’s most powerful MRI scanner. When complete this will help transform scientists’ understanding of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s, and neurodevelopmental disorders including autism and schizophrenia
• The NIHR BRC supported a total of 38 NIHR Academy members, spanning the NIHR BRC’s Hearing, Mental Health & Technology, Gastrointestinal & Liver disorders, Magnetic Resonance and Precision Imaging, Musculoskeletal, Surgery, Inflammation and Recovery and Respiratory themes
• Schools Out for Science, a partnership with Djanogly City Academy in Nottingham, continued to be a success and year 12 and 13 students attended this year’s NIHR BRC conference. In 2024, students booked 84 workshop slots to learn about NIHR BRC-related research and medicine. Over 50% of participating students are from a non-white ethnic minority background and the NIHR BRC has received excellent feedback for the scheme.

The conference closed with the announcement of the winners of our annual NIHR BRC research poster competition, with awards presented to winners from various research themes and the members of the BRC’s Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement team.