Nottingham is alone in being awarded three Biomedical Research Units by the Department of Health, representing a large scale investment in infrastructure and promoting strong partnership between the NHS, academia and industry. This success has identified the partnership between Nottingham University Hospitals and the University of Nottingham as a potential site for further investment in translational medicine by the Department of Health and other major funders of medical research.

This is the only BRU funded to explore translational research in hearing. NBRUH is the result of unique partnership between the Medical Research Council Institute of Hearing Research, the University of Nottingham and NUH. The BRU employs twenty staff based in Ropewalk House in the centre of Nottingham, which has been specially refurbished in order to accommodate the particular needs of hearing research. This ensures access to Audiology services and fosters a joint working culture.
Work in NBRUH focuses on four key research areas:

• Hearing and learning in early childhood
• Auditory rehabilitation in hearing loss
• Tinnitus
• Auditory Learning

Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre Biomedical Research Unit (NDCC)

NDDC is funded to explore translational research in GI and liver infections as well as post infectious conditions. The BRU is a partnership between the University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, and employs a total of twenty two staff. NDDC will be relocating to a mewly build unit at QMC site, which will be at the centre of all in-patient GI, liver, and surgical activity and next to academic units. Work in NDDC focuses on four key areas:

• DNA microarray for MRSA screening
• Helicobacter pylori3
• Development of Advanced Endoscopic Imaging (Chromoendoscopy, Narrow Band Imaging)
• HCV

The NDDC BRU’s latest brochure details the aims of the NIHR BRU, its facilities, how it facilitates patient involvement in research, how clinicians are empowered, overviews of team leaders, a description of themes and a summary of their training approach.

NRBRU is funded to explore translational research in respiratory conditions, and is a partnership between the University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. NRBRU employs a total of fifteen staff, and is located at a newly refurbished unit at City site. Work in NRBRU focuses on four key areas:

• Asthma
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Tobacco control
• COPD

The three BRUs are supported by a number of initiatives led by NUH.
These include:

• a comprehensive Biobanking and Bioinformatics facility to facilitate and expand translational research across Nottingham
• The development of an Integrated Clinical Research Centre funded by NIHR to house a “one stop” facility for clinical research
• The development of an Integrated Translational Research Training Program
• The development of a Digital Ecosystem for Research and Innovation
• A comprehensive engagement and communications strategy to raise awareness about the work of the BRUs
• Fostering of the links with other BRUs and BRCs across England
• The appointment of an Industry Manager and a Research Contracts’ Manager to support the BRU portfolio of studies