Investment in better brain health

NIHR Oxford cognitive health Clinical Research Facility has been awarded £3.7m to continue its life-changing work translating innovative research into better treatments for cognitive health.

Investment in better brain health

Funding has been secured over five years by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to fund the CRF, based at the Warneford Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital and the University of Oxford in Oxford.

The CRF enables Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University to work in partnership to translate developments in neuroscience research into new treatments for patients.

The £3.7m funding was awarded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust and comes as Oxford cements its position as a centre of neuroscience excellence. Just two months ago £12.8m of funding was announced for the new NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), one of only two BRCs across the country dedicated to mental health and dementia, following a joint bid by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Oxford.

Research at the CRF aims to enable the NHS to offer innovative treatments to people experiencing anxiety disorders, mood disorders, movement disorders and stroke and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. It also works to translate research into the health of the brain as we age and sleep patterns into real treatments which bring real benefits to people.

Most recently the development of the Oxford and P1vital-Emotional Test Battery, a technique to assess the suitability of new anti-depressants and potentially for individual patients, means doctors and patients could know if drugs are working within days rather than two weeks as in the past.

Stuart Bell CBE, Oxford Health’s Chief Executive, said: “We’re delighted to announce the continued funding of the NIHR Oxford cognitive health Clinical Research Facility on our Warneford Hospital site.

“The award recognises the ongoing work by the CRF and the close partnership of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford University Hospitals Trust and Oxford University to bring innovative and better treatments to patients and the NHS.

“We’re extremely proud of the range and diversity of research taking place in Oxford to benefit the lives of our communities and progress medical understanding and knowledge nationally.”

Dr Bruno Holthof, Oxford University Hospitals Chief Executive, said: “The new NIHR CRF funding will bring together state-of-the art neuroscience research and imaging capabilities across our two trusts’ hospital sites.”

Professor John Geddes, who is Head of the Department of Psychiatry and Director of Oxford Health’s Research and Development department, said: “This is a great result for translational neuroscience in Oxford.  Along with the awards for Oxford’s BRCs, the clinical research facility is fundamental to our ambitious plans for Oxford neuroscience.

“We look forward to working with the relevant BRC themes, the NIHR Clinical Research Network and our Oxford Academic Health Science Network AHSC partners to extend CRF capability and capacity in neuroscience and other clinical areas.”

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Published: 22 November 2016