£1.6m funding for local health research and technology

Local MP, Caroline Dinenage, has welcomed £1.6m funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research for local NHS Trust’s.

Patients at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust are set to benefit from £895,154 awarded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to pay for cutting-edge research equipment and technology. Further funding £816,347 has also been awarded to its research partners at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, South Central Ambulance Service, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, Portsmouth Hospital University NHS Trust, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust.

The new equipment is backed by £96 million of NIHR funding being invested in 93 NHS organisations across England. This funding will drive research and innovation to enable scientific discoveries and new technologies to improve the prevention, management and treatment of serious and long-term conditions. It will pay for a range of innovative equipment, including imaging devices, mobile research vehicles, ultrasound equipment, and specialist fridges and freezers that are essential for storing samples used in research.

As well as supporting the NIHR’s cutting-edge research, the awarded £96 million will enhance the ability of NHS organisations to secure further future investment from research funders. This will reaffirm the UK’s position as one of the most attractive places in the world for innovative companies to invest in research.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “From Devon to Liverpool, we’re giving NHS organisations over £96 million to bolster vital health and care research.

“Scientists and medical experts will be able to purchase cutting-edge equipment, like mobile CT scanners, imaging devices and ultrasound equipment to help their ground breaking work in the prevention, treatment and management of disease.

“The NHS and its staff have now served us for nearly 75 years and as we celebrate that achievement we want to make sure the health service is leading the way. This investment will also help the NHS continue to cut waiting lists – one of the government’s top five priorities.”

Caroline Dinenage said: “This investment is welcome news for local constituents. From diagnostics to genomics research this funding will facilitate life changing research across multiple areas including ageing, immunology, cancer, obesity, critical care, drug discovery, diabetes, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular function, neurodegeneration, and virology.”

Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Executive of the NIHR said: “The best health and care research requires a number of important elements to come together: world-class researchers, cutting-edge facilities and the generous participation of the public.

“As we celebrate 75 years of our amazing NHS, today’s announcement reminds us that all three elements are firmly in place in this country, and that the UK as a whole remains one of the best places in the world to undertake clinical trials.

“We are so grateful for the continuing support of the many people who take part in research to help shape our future health and care. Thank you to everyone who has done so this year, and I hope even more people will be part of research in the future.”