NIHR Southampton CRF

The NIHR Southampton CRF provides world class infrastructure for all high risk and experimental medicine trials for the University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust (UHS) – University of Southampton partnership.

We provide access to early phase, cellular, gene and advanced therapy trials for over 3 million adults and children in Southern England. By being in the heart of an acute trust we ensure safety and embed research in normal NHS care.

In 2020/2021 UHS was the 2nd highest recruiting NHS Trust for all NIHR commercial and non-commercial research (3rd highest overall since 2008). The Southampton CRF opened in 2001 as one of five “Millennial” CRFs.

The facility was extended in 2010 by opening of a £10m NIHR translational research building and in 2020 we opened the £2.8m NIHR Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory overseen by the CRF team.

Since opening, the CRF has facilitated 1865 studies (23% paediatric, 479 active, March 2021) in 31 specialities, hosting 161,803 participant visits and 6,579 visits at the CRF Vaccine Hub.

The CRF supported over 8800 visits to 11 COVID Vaccine studies during 2020/21 and the ACCORD/AGILE national early phase platforms. The Southampton response was in large part made possible by having a NIHR CRF. We delivered key treatments, vaccines and diagnostic tests to improve outcomes for people in the UK and globally.

From the start of the pandemic, Southampton provided national and regional leadership with the NIHR Clinical Research Network, UK CRFs and Trust R&D Directors for the joint operational delivery of pandemic Urgent Public Health Research.

Our objectives include: Ensure the best experience for participants in the safest, highest quality environment allowing translation of new therapies and diagnostics from laboratory to clinical care.

Provide access to world class infrastructure for high risk and complex trials including early phase, and advanced therapies for the Wessex region. Training a highly skilled, research workforce expert in experimental medicine and early phase trials.

Deliver NIHR and Government strategies to include patient voices in our research and creating an inclusive, diverse and equitable culture reflected in our workforce and participants.

Enable charity and funding partners, and local and national NIHR Biomedical Research Centres, Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres and Translational Research Collaborations, to deliver research across specialities including: cancer, infection/vaccines, respiratory disease, neurodegeneration/dementia, critical care/cardiovascular disease, aging and mental health.

Accelerate the pace at which translational research is set-up and delivered, enhancing our relationships with commercial and non-commercial funders and sponsors.

Continue national leadership through the CRF Network, and regionally, giving all Wessex researchers access to early phase skills and expertise.

Our world-leading innovative work with Wessex CRN partners to achieve single contract, multi-location recruitment to COVID-19 vaccine trials underpins our commitment to support regional partners (Bournemouth/Poole and Portsmouth Trusts) to recruit to early phase/advanced therapy trials to enhance clinical care.

Deliver exceptional value for money using our capacity building expertise and unified operational model for local NIHR infrastructure.

Contribute to UK life sciences sector growth through use of core funding to leverage additional investment through grant and commercial income.