Frequently asked questions

National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centres (BRCs) are collaborations between NHS organisations and universities. They bring together academics and clinicians to translate scientific discoveries into potential new treatments, diagnostics and technologies. There are currently 20 national BRCs receiving NIHR funding. 

The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre: Birmingham translates new scientific discoveries into treatments and diagnostics to improve people’s health. We focus on inflammation, a common feature of many diseases, and work to improve its diagnosis, prevention and treatment. 

We are part of the NIHR and hosted by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the University of Birmingham, alongside additional university and NHS Trusts. These regional partners bring additional expertise, increase our research capacity and add regional capability. They include: 

• Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 

• Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust 

• Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust 

• Aston University 

• Keele University 

• University of Oxford 

The Birmingham BRC fosters inter-theme and inter-partner working to leverage income and drive novel translational studies that have been designed and delivered with and for the patients most at need. Our current award provides infrastructure funding until March 2028. 

We facilitate early translational and experimental medicine research focusing on inflammation-related illnesses, processes and methodologies. We aim to translate discoveries from basic/discovery science into clinical research, and through to benefits for patients and the public, the health and care system and for broader economic gain. Our work spans from laboratory-based studies through to the equivalent of Phase II clinical trials. 

Purely animal-based research is not eligible for NIHR BRC funding. 

The purpose of NIHR BRC funding is to meet research infrastructure costs incurred in carrying out a programme of early translational and experimental medicine research within our research themes. This includes the funding of staff, core research facilities, consumables and other direct costs, with the aim of utilising this to leverage additional external income. NIHR BRCs therefore primarily underpin a portfolio of work supported by other research funders (e.g. Research Councils, charities, industry or other NIHR funding streams).  

The NIHR BRC: Birmingham award provides funding for our core theme and 11 research themes, which in turn directly fund people (either fully or partially) who are engaged in research undertaken within our BRC’s work programme across our eight partner organisations. This includes:  

• leading academic and clinical researchers specialising in our research theme areas 

• research trainees and early career researchers (including PhD students, postdocs, research fellows), with a focus on training and development, to empower them to gain expertise in biomedical research and ultimately gain independent funding 

• research nurses, lab technicians and other supporting research professionals 

• core team members 

We don’t fund specific research projects, with the exception of dedicated pump priming calls. 

As a BRC member, you can: 

• access valuable support provided by the BRC Core Team across: 

• • grant/new business proposals (including advice around key areas, letters of support, co-ordination with clinical trials units etc.) 

• • IP and commercialisation 

• • patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE)  

• • research inclusion  

• • training and professional development (note: eligible research trainees will also receive additional support and opportunities as NIHR Academy Members) 

• • communications 

• access cross-theme expertise you may find beneficial for your work; for example, around patient-reported outcome measures, use of biomarkers and data, and more 

• access exclusive events, training and networking sessions, and sandpits 

• access dedicated funding – read about our latest BRC Collaboration Fund awardees 

• access development opportunities to boost your academic CV 

Our member list is regularly updated with input from our Research Theme Leads. Wider BRC members, including those affiliated but not funded by the BRC, should receive our monthly internal newsletter, the BRC Bulletin, every last Thursday of the month.  If you don’t receive our Bulletin but work closely with one or more of our research themes, please email us at birminghambrc@uhb.nhs.uk and we’ll verify your membership status, or check for issues with our newsletter platform for existing members. 

If you work in the area of one of our 11 research themes and do not already consider yourself affiliated with the BRC, please contact the relevant theme leads to see if there is scope for collaboration. If you work in an area outside of our current remit but would like to suggest an area for future collaboration, or aren’t sure whether your current area of work fits our remit, please contact the core BRC team.