The New BRC

The second round of BRC funding was awarded during 2011 and the new BRC will be functioning for the 5 year period April 2012 – March 2017. The new strategy for the BRC is around the establishment of Clusters which are described below.

A Cluster Based Model of Translational Research Delivery

A Cluster is a structure designed to bring together a critical mass of world class science, translational research expertise, infrastructure and organisational coherence to enable significant added value and efficiency as well as being inclusive of commercial and patient based input.

 

 

Our strategy consolidates 8 world-class Research Themes into 5 related but discrete Clusters of activity that are truly interdisciplinary and which are underpinned by our key infrastructure.

The Research Themes and the Leads are:

1. Cancer 
   Professor Peter Parker
   
2. Cardiovascular Disease
   Professor Ajay Shah
   
3. Cutaneous Medicine
   Professor Frank Nestle
   
4. Environment, Respiratory Health and Allergy
   Professor Frank Kelly
   
5. Imaging and Bioengineering
   Professor Reza Razavi
   
6. Immunity & Infection
   Professor Adrian Hayday
   
7. Transplantation
   Professor Steven Sacks
   
8. Translational Genetics
   Professor Christopher Mathew

The Clusters and the Cluster Leads are:

1. Experimental Medicine & Therapeutics
   Professor Mark Peakman, Professor Giovanna Lombardi & Professor Tim Mant
2. Biomarkers, Co-diagnostics & Imaging
   Professor Frank Nestle
3. Population Sciences
   Professor Charles Wolfe
4. School of Translational & Experimental Medicine (STEM)
   Professor Andy Cope
5. Operational Infrastructure (non-research Cluster)
   To be confirmed

The areas that the Clusters focus on:

1. Experimental Medicine & Therapeutics Cluster

The goal of Cluster 1 is to integrate and support programmes in cellular, protein/peptide and small molecule therapeutics that will cut across research themes and integrate shared interests in drug modalities. The programmes will thrive on the availability of the BRC’s infrastructure in particular the Immune Monitoring Core, Clinical Research Facility, Protein-Engineering Facility and GMP Cell Therapy Suite.

2. Biomarkers, Co-diagnostics & Imaging Cluster

Cluster 2 will be an integrated that will provide a step change in innovative development of novel biomarkers and co-diagnostics. This will be achieved by bringing together interdisciplinary skills in biomarker discovery, biobanking, co-diagnostics, imaging and proof of principle clinical trials. The Cluster will take advantage of interdisciplinary expertise in disease relevant pathways and biobanking to establish correlative biomarkers with clinical interventions. Key infrastructure related to this Cluster is the Genomics Core, Imaging Core and also the Immune Monitoring Core.

3. Populations Sciences Cluster

The aim is to 'pull through' early discoveries to the local ethnically and socially diverse communities to reduce inequalities and transform the nature of healthcare by moving to disease prevention population screening and stratified medicine in primary care. This cluster covers public/patient involvement in research and will develop and test a digital infrastructure for stratified medicine.

4. School of Translational and Experimental Medicine (STEM)

STEM has been formed to coordinate training in close collaboration with the BRC’s partner organisations. The major goals of the School will be to:

• support translational research and training at the interface of basic and clinical bio-medical science
  
• coordinate activities dedicated to the teaching and training of Clinical Trainees, Basic Science Trainees and Allied Health Professionals
  
• manage the current and expanding portfolio of BRC training programmes
  
• manage the NIHR Integrated Academic Training programmes
• expand the programme of MRes and PhD studentships for Allied Health Professionals
  
• provide a robust framework of mentorship and support programmes
  
• establish a programme of visiting Professorships inviting world-leaders in Experimental Medicine focussed around the research themes to share experiences with young investigators
• The Biomedical Forum will continue under the auspices of STEM and will carry on bringing developments in translational research to a broad audience.