NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre

The NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) is a partnership between University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, the University of Bristol, and other NHS and academic organisations.

We aim to improve outcomes for people with and at risk of mental, respiratory, and orthopaedic ill-health, and patients undergoing surgery. We develop ways to improve health through better diet, increased physical activity and reduced bodyweight. Patients and public contributors helped us develop our research proposals and will be involved in all our activities.

This includes strategic decisions, how we run our research, and interpreting and reporting our results.

Working with our nationally leading collaborative network (People in Health West of England) we will develop new ways to engage with patients and the public, using best practice and increasing diversity amongst participants.

Our research responds to patients' needs and addresses inequalities in access to healthcare and being included in research.

The Bristol area covers urban, rural, and coastal populations from a range of heritages and backgrounds, with areas of significant deprivation. We have established a new partnership with the Bradford Institute for Health Research. Half of Bradford's residents live in areas that are among the 20% most deprived in England.

It has England's largest proportion of people of Pakistani ethnic origin. Our research will be conducted in Bristol and Bradford.

It will focus on and include those who need it most, for example piloting ways to increase physical activity among South Asian girls, identifying groups at risk of poor results following orthopaedic surgery, and improving mental health in under-served groups. Our Research Themes work together in three areas.

Molecular epidemiology uses large, detailed datasets about people's genes, to understand the causes of disease. We use this information to develop and test new treatments.

This area also uses data on many different molecules measured in samples such as blood and saliva, to better predict and diagnose disease. Surgical science aims to make new surgical procedures safer and more effective than those they replace. We will do this by creating better ways for surgeons to introduce new and updated procedures.

Our previous research led to dramatic improvements in hip and knee surgery: we will work on improvements in new areas such as robotic surgery and devices placed in the body. Data science analyses detailed computerised health records that are part of routine NHS care. To respect individuals' right to privacy, we use 'Trusted Research Environments' with strict confidentiality controls.

We play a major role in using data on tens of millions of people to understand the impact of COVID-19 on health and wellbeing and help improve healthcare in the future. We will invest in the next generation of researchers through a comprehensive training and capacity building programme.

We will create opportunities for health professionals, administrative staff and researchers at all levels, from pre-PhD through PhD studentships and post-PhD fellowships to senior staff training. We will address under-representation and continue to increase diversity at all levels, including our leadership team.