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Information for Research Staff
Director: Professor NJ Samani FMedSci
The Department of Health via the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) have awarded, to a number of Hospital/University partnerships, Biomedical Research Units (BRUs) to undertake translational research in specific disease areas. This is in recognition of the strength of each partnership in conducting high quality research in the disease area. The Leicester Cardiovascular BRU was awarded to the partnership of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) and the University of Leicester in April 2009 with an initial funding for three years.
Facilities
The Leicester Cardiovascular BRU has a state-of-the art clinical research facility for detailed cardiovascular assessment at Glenfield Hospital. It is also developing a clinical informatics centre (BRICCS) and a bioresource to facilitate research including genomics research. UHL have also been awarded a 3.0 Tesla MRI machine by the NIHR to facilitate cardiovascular research.
- The UHL Biomedical Research Informatics Centre for Cardiovascular Science (BRICCS)
- The Leicester Cardiovascular Bioresource (LCB)
Research
The Leicester Cardiovascular BRU undertakes high quality clinical research, specifically translational research taking laboratory findings into the clinical setting and including Phase I and Phase II studies. The principle themes of the BRU include genetics, hypertension and vascular damage and cardiovascular interventions although the BRU will encompass other relevant cardiovascular research which meets its mission.
Research in the BRU will is undertaken by the BRU Faculty which includes principal investigators (PIs) from within UHL, the University of Leicester's Department of Cardiovascular Sciences and other Departments in the University - as well as researchers from other local institutions and industry. Faculty members are asked to propose projects for development, which are then considered and adopted by the BRU. As well as infrastructure support, the BRU will also fund studentships and fellowships for specific projects.
The Leicester Cardiovascular BRU will provide a state of the art research infrastructure to enhance existing translational research and attract the best staff within the field to work at Glenfield Hospital.
There are opportunities within the BRU infrastructure to secure grant awards and studentships for translational studies over the next three years.
