NOCRI simplifies
access to the UK’s
world-leading clinical
research infrastructure.
NOCRI simplifies
access to the UK’s
world-leading
clinical research
infrastructure
NOCRI is helping bring to life
the Government’s ‘UK Health
and Life Sciences’ vision
Foreword
Collaborative research accelerates the development of new treatments, devices and
diagnostics to tackle complex healthcare needs. Creative engagement between the NHS,
universities and industry forms a powerful alliance to drive translational medicine. This
alliance is vital. It ensures that advances in basic science progress swiftly into benefits for
patients and the economy.
NOCRI makes this collaboration easy, accelerating the development of solutions to meet real
patient needs. Companies’ research programmes are already benefitting from this way of
working – contact the NOCRI team now to understand how they can help you.
Professor Dame Sally C Davies
Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Adviser, Department of Health
In the foreword to the publication ‘Investing in UK Health and Life Sciences’,
the Prime Minister said:
“The old ‘big pharma’ model is becoming more difficult to
maintain. In its place is a new focus on translational medicine
– more early stage clinical trials with patients, more external
innovation, more collaboration”
He went on to say:
“This is an ambitious strategy to join up life sciences in the UK:
to open up universities and business to more collaboration; to
invest in the best British ideas at an early stage; to tear down
the regulatory barriers you face; to open up the NHS to new
innovations and new clinical trials”
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Introduction to NOCRI
What we do
Benefits for industry
The NIHR Office for Clinical Research
In early-phase clinical research, NOCRI-
Infrastructure (NOCRI) makes it easy
sourced expertise helps companies
to access the UK’s clinical research
understand the potential of their
infrastructure. This includes world-leading
developmental drugs, devices and
science, world-class facilities and the
diagnostics. This enables earlier go/no-go
country’s best investigators with access to
decisions. We expedite the research process
well characterised groups of patients within
and ensure delivery on target.
the 60 million people who use the National
Health Service in the UK.
knowledge, enabling the generation of
NOCRI is a unique resource for the global
new ideas and leaps in research. We have a
life sciences industry – improving the quality,
clear, managed approach to collaborations.
efficiency and success of translational
This meets the needs of industry, helping
research. We enable this by providing:
companies to achieve their translational
• fast and easy access to the UK’s clinical
research infrastructure
• rapid connection to expert investigators
and cutting edge technologies
• a managed process for collaborative
research.
We are focused on successful outcomes –
from making rapid introductions through to
supporting collaborations to ensure delivery.
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NOCRI facilitates an exchange of
research objectives.
Collaborations between industry and the
NIHR infrastructure benefit UK research,
by ensuring that we stay at the forefront
of knowledge and expertise.
The recent £800 million
Government investment to
support NIHR Biomedical
Research Centres and Units is
the largest ever commitment
to early-phase health research
Our place within the NHS
NOCRI is part of the National Institute for
The recent £800 million Government
Health Research (NIHR). Together, NIHR
investment to support NIHR Biomedical
people, facilities and systems represent the
Research Centres and Units is the largest
most integrated clinical research system
ever commitment to early-phase health
in the world – propelling research from
research. This was followed up by an
bench to bedside for patient benefit. NOCRI
additional £102 million for NIHR Clinical
contributes to this vision by helping public,
Research Facilities.
charity and industry research funders
collaborate with the NIHR infrastructure.
NOCRI also ensures that NIHR-supported
infrastructure works effectively to help drive
the flow of innovative research forward.
The NIHR provides the National Health
Service (NHS) with the support and
infrastructure it needs to carry out firstclass research. This has established the
NHS as an internationally recognised
centre of research excellence. The UK
Government, and partners in industry and
the charity sector, funds this research.
NOCRI’s reach encompasses the £0.5 billion
annual Government investment in relevant
infrastructure to support clinical research at
all points in the development pipeline.
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Research
The UK is responsible for
more than 14 percent of the
world’s most highly-cited
research papers
Introduction
The UK contributes one percent of the world’s population, attracts three per cent of
global funding for research, and is responsible for more than 14 percent of the world’s
most highly-cited research papers1. For translational research in particular, the UK offers
world-class science in world-leading facilities complemented by access to ethnically-diverse,
well-characterised cohorts of patients.
This is a unique resource that can help industry improve the quality, efficiency and success
of clinical translational research programmes. NOCRI can help tailor the breadth of the NIHR
research infrastructure to suit the needs of industry.
Overall, the NIHR is responsible for more than £0.5 billion p.a. investment in relevant
infrastructure to support clinical research at all points in the development pipeline.
1 Evidence Ltd (2009). International comparative performance of the UK research base. Department for
Business, Innovation and Skills: London, UK; OECD (2009). Main Science and Technology Indicators (MSTI):
2009 Edition. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development: Paris, France; Science and
Engineering Indicators 2010. National Science Foundation: Arlington, VA, USA.
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Research infrastructure
The NIHR funds a range of
facilities focused on translating
findings from the laboratory
into the clinic, and ultimately
into new treatments across
the spectrum of disease and
therapeutic areas. NOCRI
provides a rapid route of access
to these facilities and works
with companies to direct them
to the most appropriate centres
to meet their research needs.
NIHR Biomedical Research Centres and Units
The NIHR supports 19 Clinical Research
(BRCs and BRUs) translate fundamental
Facilities (CRFs) that are purpose-built,
biomedical research into clinical research.
cutting-edge facilities with specialist clinical
Competitively chosen, NIHR BRCs and BRUs
research and support staff. They offer
host formidable expertise and cutting edge
industry help with the research process –
equipment that is available to industry for
from study design to data collection
collaborative research.
and management.
NIHR Biomedical Research Centres
The NIHR supports 14 Experimental
are large investments in early phase
Cancer Medicine Centres (ECMCs) across
infrastructure, embedded within NHS Trust-
the country in close partnership with the
University partnerships. These include 5
leading cancer charity, Cancer Research
BRCs that host research themes in multiple
UK. Working closely with industry partners,
therapeutic areas, as well as specialised
ECMCs play a leading role in speeding up
BRCs at London’s Royal Marsden (cancer),
the process of cancer drug development
Moorfields (ophthalmology), Maudsley
and the search for cancer biomarkers
(mental health) and Great Ormond Street
through the design and execution of early
(paediatrics) hospitals, plus Southampton
phase trials.
(nutrition) and Newcastle (ageing).
NIHR Healthcare Technology
NIHR Biomedical Research Units
Co-operative (HTC) funding enables NHS
are 20 more focused investments by
organisations to act as centres of expertise
therapeutic area, including musculoskeletal,
that focus in clinical areas or themes of
gastrointestinal, respiratory, dementia,
high morbidity and unmet need for NHS
nutrition diet and lifestyle, deafness and
patients. Working collaboratively with
hearing, plus cardiovascular diseases.
industry, they develop new medical devices,
healthcare technologies or technologydependent interventions, which improve
treatment and quality of life for patients.
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The NIHR Clinical Research Network
helps the life-sciences industry deliver
leading-edge research across the NHS.
The Network provides a range of tools
and services that are designed to improve
the performance of research and help the
delivery of studies, especially later phase
multi-site studies, on time and to target.
Services include site identification, study
feasibility and performance management.
Study start-up route maps, costing
Online Resource Finder
The UK Experimental Medicine Resource
Finder is a unique resource, providing
information about UK early phase
translational research infrastructure,
including further details of individual NIHR
BRCs, BRUs, CRFs and ECMCs. It provides
an optimum entry point for companies
seeking information about the NIHR
infrastructure.
templates, model contracts and milestone
It contains up-to-date information
schedules are available to support industry
about over 80 major facilities with
studies with the NHS.
details of expertise, resources, techniques
For more information, visit
www.crncc.nihr.ac.uk
and technologies. Site users can search
for facilities by location, health or
disease research topic or skills and
equipment available.
For more information, visit
www.ukcrcexpmed.org.uk
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Industry partnering
Introduction
NOCRI uses its knowledge of the UK’s
The TRPs are supported by streamlined and
clinical research landscape, as well as its
efficient business processes, using standard
unique position in the NIHR, to connect
contracts and unified operating procedures.
industry to relevant research expertise and
capacity in the NHS. There are various
models for partnering. These vary from
established groupings of centres of
excellence in defined therapeutic areas to
bespoke collaborations that are responsive
to the needs of individual companies.
A leading example of the former are the
NIHR Translational Research Partnerships
(TRPs). Underpinned by relevant NIHR
infrastructure, the Partnerships bring
TRPs are strongly positioned to ensure
scientific ideas are applied to patient need
earlier than would otherwise have been
possible, by concentrating expertise and
fast-tracking ideas. There are currently two
in operation:
• NIHR TRP in Inflammatory Respiratory
Disease – including, asthma allergy,
COPD, respiratory infection
• NIHR TRP in Joint and Related
together the UK’s leading academics and
Inflammatory Diseases –
the life sciences industry, in order to drive
including rheumatoid arthritis,
translational research in defined therapeutic
osteoarthritis, synovitis.
areas. Typically, this happens through phase
I and II proof of concept clinical drug trials,
and other well designed studies for medical
technology and diagnostics applications.
Their scope also includes earlier stages
of translation from the laboratory to the
clinic, including discovery, optimisation
of biomarkers and preclinical models
of disease. Study design is informed by
Translational Research
Partnerships are strongly
positioned to ensure scientific
ideas are applied to patient
need earlier than would
otherwise have been possible,
by concentrating expertise and
fast-tracking ideas.
Research centres that make up the TRPs
have been selected to work together
based on their proven ability to deliver in
experimental medicine and translational
research. As members of a Partnership, each
centre has committed to work with industry
through NOCRI – their consistent, single
point of contact.
formidable expertise and capabilities:
• cutting edge expertise in exploratory
development protocols, biomarkers,
pathophysiology, disease mechanisms
and in modelling
• enabling technologies and infrastructure,
including advanced imaging, biobanks
and dedicated research facilities
• cohorts of well-characterised patients
available for clinical development studies.
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Translational Research Partnerships
TRPs bring a unique breadth of expertise to industry’s translational research questions,
packaged in a streamlined operational model
Inflammatory respiratory disease
Expertise
Principal Investigator
Facility
• Acute lung injury
Professor Peter Barnes Imperial Academic Health Science Centre (NIHR
Respiratory BRU)
• Airway inflammation
• Allergy
Professor Christopher Brightling University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust /
University of Leicester (NIHR Respiratory BRU)
Professor Ratko Djukanovic Professor Stuart Elborn Dr Tim Harrison Dr Ling-Pei Ho University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust /
Professor Wisia Wedzicha • Chronic cough
BRU)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust / Queen’s
(COPD)
University Belfast
• Cystic fibrosis
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust / The
• Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
University of Nottingham
• Interstitial lung disease
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust / The
• Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)
King’s Health Partners Academic Health Science
• Pleural diseases (malignancy and
infections)
Centre (NIHR BRC)
• Primary ciliary dyskinesia
University College London Partners Academic
• Pneumonia
Health Science Centre (NIHR BRC)
Professor Ashley Woodcock • Bronchiectasis
University of Southampton (NIHR Respiratory
University of Oxford (NIHR BRC)
Professor Tariq Sethi • Asthma
Manchester Academic Health Science Centre
(NIHR Respiratory Clinical Research Facility)
• Respiratory infection- fungal
and non-fungal pathogens
• Respiratory failure
• Sarcoidosis
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• Tuberculosis.
Joint and related inflammatory diseases
Expertise
Principal Investigator
Facility
• Ankylosing spondylitis
Professor Ian N Bruce Manchester Academic Health Science Centre
(NIHR Musculoskeletal BRU)
• Behcet’s syndrome
• Bone and cardiovascular comorbidity
Professor Christopher Buckley University Hospitals Birmingham, Sandwell and
West Birmingham Hospitals, Dudley Group of
Hospitals NHS Trusts / University of Birmingham
Professor Andrew Cope Professor Hill Gaston • Crohn’s disease
King’s Health Partners Academic Health Science
• Inflammatory bowel disease
Centre (NIHR BRC)
• Inflammatory skin disease
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation
• Juvenile Idiopathic arthritis
Imperial Academic Health Science Centre
(NIHR BRC)
Professor John Isaacs • Chronic pain syndromes
(NIHR BRU)
Trust / University of Cambridge (NIHR BRC)
Professor Dorian Haskard in inflammatory arthritis
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation
Trust / Newcastle University (NIHR BRC)
• Juvenile myositis
• Myositis
• Osteoarthritis
• Psoriasis
• Psoriatic arthritis
Professor David Isenberg University College London Partners Academic
Health Science Centre (NIHR BRC)
Professor Costantino Pitzalis Barts and The London NHS Trust / Queen Mary,
University of London (NIHR BRU)
Professor Peter C Taylor Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust /
University of Oxford (NIHR BRC)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Scleroderma
• Sjögren’s syndrome
• Synovitis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
• Ulcerative colitis
• Vasculitis.
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NOCRI provides access to NIHR’s world-leading infrastructure for
translational research. The four NIHR Biomedical Research Units
in Dementia, together with six NIHR Biomedical Research Centres
with dementia themes, provide a network of infrastructure for
translational research in neurodegeneration.
Dementia Translational Research Collaboration
Centre
Director / Theme Lead
Together the NIHR Dementia
NIHR Cambridge Dementia BRU
Professor Peter St George-Hyslop, Director
Translational Research Collaboration
NIHR Cambridge BRC
Dr John Bradley, Director
offers world-leading expertise in:
Professor Roger Barker, Dementia and
Neurodegeneration Research Theme Lead
NIHR Imperial BRC
Professor Jonathan Weber, Director
Professor David Brooks, Neuroscience Research
• Late-onset dementias, including
Alzheimer’s Disease, Vascular
Disease and Lewy body dementia
Theme Lead
• Young-onset dementias
Professor Eric Aboagye, Imaging Theme Lead
• Frontotemporal dementia with
NIHR Maudsley Dementia BRU
Professor Simon Lovestone, Director
NIHR Maudsley BRC
Professor Simon Lovestone, Director
NIHR Newcastle Dementia BRU
Professor David Burn, Director
NIHR Newcastle BRC
Professor Patrick Chinnery, Director
NIHR Oxford BRC
motor neuron disease
• Parkinson’s Disease, including
progression to dementia
Professor Ian McKeith, Ageing Brain Research
• Neuroinflammation
Theme Lead
• Huntington’s Disease.
Professor Keith Channon, Director
Professor Peter Rothwell and Dr Sarah
Pendlebury, Dementia and Cardiovascular
Disease Research Theme Leads
Professor Peter Brown, Functional Neuroscience
and Neuroimaging Theme Lead
Professor Kia Nobre, Cognitive Health
Programme
NIHR Queen Square Dementia BRU
Professor Martin Rossor, Director
NIHR UCL BRC
Professor Bryan Williams, Acting Director
Professor John Collinge, Neurodegeneration
Research Theme Lead
Professor Tar ek Yousry, Neuroimaging Research
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Strengths and expertise
The NIHR Dementia Translational
Research Collaboration offers
internationally recognised strengths in:
• Patient stratification through
biomarkers
• Discovery, development and delivery
of innovative disease modifying
therapies
• Identification of new diseasecausing genes
• Extrapolation of discoveries in
Theme Lead,
young onset dementia to older
Professor John Duncan, Neurodiagnostics
patient groups.
Research Theme Lead
NOCRI brings together clinical expertise from around the UK in a managed way, creating
unique research partnerships. We can improve the quality, efficiency and success of
translational research programmes by connecting you to the UK’s world-leading scientists,
working in world-class facilities with access to well-characterised patient cohorts.
If you would like to know more about how NOCRI can help you to establish academic-NHSindustry collaborations, please contact us at nocri@nihr.ac.uk.
Mark Samuels
Managing Director, NOCRI
For further information visit:
www.nihr.ac.uk/nocri
NIHR Office for Clinical Research Infrastructure (NOCRI)
A305, Richmond House
79 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2NS