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A resource rich Campus

green banner bottom - Resources

Cambridge researchers enjoy access to a comprehensive range of scientific support services and technology platforms often housed in dedicated core facilities and managed by highly qualified staff.

In some cases, researchers are involved in the development of bespoke technologies. For example, with colleagues from GE Healthcare, scientists at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute led by Professor Kevin Brindle developed nuclear spin hyperpolarisation – an imaging technique to overcome the limitation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in studying metabolism. The first clinical hyperpolariser in Europe was installed at Cambridge University Hospitals where it is currently being used in phase 1 trials to detect tumour treatment response.

Scientists on the Campus also have access to a wide range of ethically obtained, well-characterised tissue and other samples including the Cambridge BioResource – a panel of around 16,000 volunteers, both with and without health conditions, who are willing to participate in research studies investigating the links between genes, the environment, health and disease.

Please select from the following four categories for contact information:

NIHR Clinical Research
Network Eastern

Helps to increase the opportunities for patients to take part in clinical research, ensures that studies are carried out efficiently and supports the Government’s Strategy for UK Life Sciences by improving the environment for commercial contract clinical research in the NHS in the Eastern area of the UK.

NIHR Clinical Research Network

Established in 2001 as part of the National Cancer Research Network (NCRN) with the aim of enhancing patient care by improving the  speed, coordination and integration of clinical research.

Cambridge Translational Genomics Laboratory (CATGO)

The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) BioResource – Rare Diseases provides clinical researchers access to whole genome sequencing (WGS) to clinical standard (>30x read depth on average).

MRC Biostatistics Unit (Cambridge)

Concerned with the development and application of statistical methods in medicine and biology. This includes research into the epidemiology and aetiology of disease, the development of models of the natural history of disease, the design and analysis of trials of preventive measures or of therapeutic or prophylactic agents evaluation of medical technology and the development of mathematical-statistical techniques. Much of the work of the unit is performed in collaboration with other council units and other scientific workers.

Addenbrooke’s Centre for
Clinical Investigation (ACCI)

Six-storey building housing the Addenbrooke’s Clinical Research Centre (ACRC) and the GSK Clinical Unit Cambridge.

Welcome Trust Clinical Research Facility (CRF)

Joint venture between Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge University and the Wellcome Trust. 24/7 facility fully staffed for continuous operation for projects requiring overnight stays.

Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research & Care (CLAHRC)

Collaboration platform for academics, clinicians and managers who undertake high quality applied health research focused on the needs of patients and service users, to support the translation of research evidence into practice in the NHS and social care.

Clinical Translational Research Unit (CTRU)

Located within the Regional Molecular Genetics laboratory, CTRU is supported by the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, and has a core role to develop, validate and translate genomic research into routine clinical diagnostic services.

Addenbrooke Clinical Research Centre

Comprising the NIHR/Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility (CRF), the NIHR Clinical Investigation Ward (CIW) and the NIHR Clinical Research Facility Satellite Unit (CRFS), the centre provides world class facilities and dedicated staff to support robust, ethically approved experimental medicine clinical research studies.

Cambridge Brain Bank

Established to enable brain tissue to be used after death, for research into neurodegenerative disorders such as Dementia (Alzheimer’s, Frontotemportal etc.), Motor Neurone disease, Huntington’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease etc.

Biorepository

Facility for smart storage, retrieval and rearraying of samples prior to high throughput measurement.

Cambridge BioResource

Register of locally based volunteers from the general population and patients willing to participate in clinical research across a wide range of studies. Volunteers provide clinical information and samples that allow them to be recalled by genotype and phenotype for experimental medicine studies and early phase trials in a highly facilitated system.

GMP Resource for Stem Cells
and Regenerative Medicine

Provides a high throughput resource for the derivation, characterisation and maintenance of numerous types of human cells, including embryonic stem cells.

East of England NHS Genomic
Medicine Centre

The 100,000 Genomes Project is a national study aimed at gathering important data from people’s genes to improve patient care. Cambridge University Hospitals has joined forces with university hospitals in Leicester, Nottingham and Norwich to run the project as the ‘East of England Genomics Medicine Centre’.

NIHR Cambridge BRC hiPSCs
core facility

Engaged in the derivation, maintenance, differentiation, cryopreservation and genetic manipulation of iPSCs.

NIHR Cell Phenotyping Hub

Provides a wide variety of cytomics services e.g. sorting, analysis and imaging for material from cell lines or unscreened human blood and tissue samples for phenotypic and functional analysis in clinical and non-clinical environments.

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust Radiology Department

Provides a diagnostic, interventional and therapeutic service for the local population and a tertiary service for the region as well as support to some national work such as Gaucher’s disease; images over 200,000 patients each year.

eHospital

£200m investment over 10 years installed at Cambridge University Hospitals in 2014. First and only system of its kind in the UK. Based on software by EPIC and hardware by HP; provides high-quality, patient-level information.

East Anglian Medical Genetics Service

Comprises the genetics laboratories (molecular genetics and cytogenetics) and clinical genetics which together diagnose genetic disorders,  counsel individuals and families, research the causes of birth defects and genetic diseases and educate health care professionals about genetics.

Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre

Research facility attached directly to the Addenbrooke’s Hospital Neuro Critical Care Unit and dedicated to imaging function in the injured human brain using Positron Emission Tomography and Magnetic Resonance.

University Department of Radiology

Internationally competitive department undertaking innovative research in medical imaging and closely integrated with Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Radiology Department.

East of England (EoE) Strategic
Clinical Network (SCN)

Hosted by NHS England and non-statutory bodies, the Network adopts a ‘whole system’ approach to healthcare design, working with commissioners and providers of healthcare aiming to reduce variation and improve quality of care.

National Cancer Registration
Service East

Primary role is to collect, process, store and analyse all malignant tumours and some pre-cancerous and non-malignant (benign Brain and CNS tumours only) cancers, newly diagnosed in the East of England; currently hold approximately 1 million records on its database, with some records going back to 1971.

Cancer Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory

Established for the development of new technologies in relation to ctDNA analysis using next generation sequencing and for sequencing modified bases in DNA.

Clinical Hub of the Stratifield
Medicine Programme

Selected as one of only six clinical hubs of the Stratified Medicine Programme, the Hub is a Cancer Research UK initiative, working together with AstraZeneca, Pfizer and the Government to establish a national service making standardised, high quality, cost-effective genetic testing of tumours available for people with cancer within the NHS.

Core Biochemical Assay Laboratory

Provides a core facility for biochemical metabolites, immunoassay, microarray and Luminex technologies, which are co-located with the clinical service.

Molecular Malignancy Laboratory

Brings together expertise in molecular testing for both haematological malignancies and solid tumours; provides a service for the diagnosis, classification and monitoring of neoplastic conditions and for prediction of response of patients to therapy.

Biochemical Genetics Unit

Provides laboratory services for the investigation and monitoring of inborn errors of metabolism.

Cancer Cell Library

Large collections of tissue samples from breast, prostate, oesophageal, and ovarian tumours for research.