The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) was awarded £25.4m by NIHR earlier this year. This will be invested in a research programme, which starts on 1 December 2022 and runs for five years, with the aim of transforming the lives of patients through world-leading research in ageing and multiple long-term conditions. By 2040, one in seven of us will be aged 75 or over. An ageing UK population with increasingly complex needs is putting ever more pressure on the NHS and social care system, meaning that research in this area is crucial.
Professor Avan Aihie Sayer, director of the NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre, said:
“We’re thrilled to be embarking on the next exciting phase of research at the NIHR Newcastle BRC. Our research in the fields of ageing and multiple long-term health conditions is ground-breaking and there is a major opportunity to better use what is already known about the fundamental ageing process in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of common ageing syndromes such as sarcopenia and multimorbidity (also known as multiple long-term conditions). “Through the work carried out at our Biomedical Research Centre, we aim to transform lives in the North East and beyond. Our cutting-edge environment in Newcastle is the ideal backdrop for experts and partners to come together and make a difference to the issues facing more and more of the population, every day.”
“We’re thrilled to be embarking on the next exciting phase of research at the NIHR Newcastle BRC. Our research in the fields of ageing and multiple long-term health conditions is ground-breaking and there is a major opportunity to better use what is already known about the fundamental ageing process in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of common ageing syndromes such as sarcopenia and multimorbidity (also known as multiple long-term conditions).
“Through the work carried out at our Biomedical Research Centre, we aim to transform lives in the North East and beyond. Our cutting-edge environment in Newcastle is the ideal backdrop for experts and partners to come together and make a difference to the issues facing more and more of the population, every day.”
Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) are partnerships between healthcare professionals and academics in the country’s leading NHS trusts and universities. NIHR Newcastle BRC’s partnership brings together some of the world’s leading researchers, academics and clinicians from Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, and, its newest partner, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW).
Dame Jackie Daniel, chief executive of Newcastle Hospitals, said:
"We are delighted that our Biomedical Research Centre has again been successful in securing significant funding to continue to deliver world-class translational research into ageing and multiple long-term conditions in the North East. "Research creates a better future for our patients, staff, and communities and creates important scientific breakthroughs and the discovery of new treatments. But beyond that, research helps to improve patient care and patient experience for everyone, and also helps us to attract and retain our outstanding workforce.”
"We are delighted that our Biomedical Research Centre has again been successful in securing significant funding to continue to deliver world-class translational research into ageing and multiple long-term conditions in the North East.
"Research creates a better future for our patients, staff, and communities and creates important scientific breakthroughs and the discovery of new treatments. But beyond that, research helps to improve patient care and patient experience for everyone, and also helps us to attract and retain our outstanding workforce.”
Professor David Burn, Pro-Vice Chancellor for the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University and Director of Newcastle Health Innovation Partners said:
"It is fantastic that the NIHR have continued their long-standing investment in our Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre. It is further recognition of our outstanding research and ability to take that research from discoveries in the laboratory through into new treatments in the NHS that benefit, not only our local population, but people nationally and internationally too. “The North East has a rapidly growing older population with high levels of poverty. This has major impact not only on people’s everyday lives, but also on the NHS and the local economy. The new BRC award is an important part of our ongoing work as Newcastle Health Innovation Partners to improve the health and wellbeing of our population, as well as boosting the economy of our region.”
"It is fantastic that the NIHR have continued their long-standing investment in our Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre. It is further recognition of our outstanding research and ability to take that research from discoveries in the laboratory through into new treatments in the NHS that benefit, not only our local population, but people nationally and internationally too.
“The North East has a rapidly growing older population with high levels of poverty. This has major impact not only on people’s everyday lives, but also on the NHS and the local economy. The new BRC award is an important part of our ongoing work as Newcastle Health Innovation Partners to improve the health and wellbeing of our population, as well as boosting the economy of our region.”
James Duncan, Chief Executive of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Mental Health Trust adds:
"We are delighted to have joined the NIHR Newcastle BRC as a formal partner for the first time. As an NHS Trust we recognise that research and innovation are critical to addressing the challenges that both our patients and the wider NHS face. Our world leading research in Lewy Body Dementia and mood disorders already has a real impact on patient care, through the innovative clinical practice it brings locally and through the influence it has on national and international clinical guidelines. "We are thrilled that this award will continue to grow and develop this work and also strengthen the ability of the NIHR Newcastle BRC to study the effect of poor mental health on single and multiple long-term conditions."
"We are delighted to have joined the NIHR Newcastle BRC as a formal partner for the first time. As an NHS Trust we recognise that research and innovation are critical to addressing the challenges that both our patients and the wider NHS face. Our world leading research in Lewy Body Dementia and mood disorders already has a real impact on patient care, through the innovative clinical practice it brings locally and through the influence it has on national and international clinical guidelines.
"We are thrilled that this award will continue to grow and develop this work and also strengthen the ability of the NIHR Newcastle BRC to study the effect of poor mental health on single and multiple long-term conditions."
Newcastle’s is the only BRC outside the 'golden triangle' (London, Oxford, Cambridge) to have received four consecutive NIHR awards – that’s 15 years’ experience of world-leading translational research here in the North East.
The NIHR invests significantly in people, centres of excellence, collaborations, services and facilities to support health and care research in England. Collectively these form the NIHR infrastructure.
NIHR infrastructure funding supports the country’s leading experts to develop and deliver research funded by the NIHR, other public funders, charities, and the life sciences industry. In doing so, its investment plays a crucial role in underpinning research in England and supporting economic growth.
The 20 existing BRCs, part of NIHR’s research infrastructure, receive large levels of sustained funding to attract the best scientists and create an environment where experimental medicine can thrive.