The Government’s Chief Medical Officer officially opened the Bradford Institute for Health Research’s new £2.25 million extension today.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, who is the first woman to hold the post, also heard about the world-class work being undertaken by researchers as the extension opening coincided with the Institute’s first inaugural conference.

Professor John Wright, the Institute’s Director, said: “Dame Sally's visit is testimony to how fast and how far medical research in Bradford has travelled in the past few years. 

“In her role as the Director General of Research and Development and Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department of Health and NHS, she has been delighted at the research successes of Bradford.“

The new extension, which is based within the grounds of the Bradford Royal Infirmary (BRI), will house 70 research staff from NHS Trusts in Bradford and academic staff from the universities of Bradford, Leeds and York.

Dame Sally made one of the key note presentations on research in the NHS during the Institute’s inaugural conference which took place at the BRI’s Sovereign Lecture Theatre.

Professor Dame Sally C. Davies, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department of Health said:

“Through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) we have transformed health research in this country. A key part of that has been to encourage partnerships between researchers based in leading academic institutions and the NHS. I hope this new research facility will play an important role in the region. Research is vital in providing the new knowledge needed to improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities. It is even more important when resources are under pressure because it identifies ways of preventing, diagnosing and treating

disease.”

The event showcased the work of the centre’s health pioneers.  Professor Wright joined Professor Neil Small (University of Bradford) to give a presentation on the Born in Bradford project while Professor Trevor Sheldon, Deputy Vice Chancellor of York University, delivered one of the event’s keynote speeches.

Other conference highlights included Professor Anne Forster (University of Leeds) on stroke research and how research trials are improving the care of patients, Professor John Young (University of Leeds) on community hospitals, Dr Rebecca Lawton (University of Leeds) on patient involvement in research, Dr Ghazala Mir (University of Leeds) on addressing depression in Muslim communities and Professor Des Tobin (University of Bradford) on Bradford as a centre of research excellence in skin sciences.

The Institute is a partnership between the primary and secondary care NHS Trusts in Bradford and Airedale and the universities of Bradford, Leeds and York.

Since its inception five years ago, research income from national and international funding bodies has grown to £5 million a year. It is the second biggest recruiter of patients to research studies in the region.

Professor Wright added: “We are developing a world-class centre for medical research for the benefit of local people.

"The Institute is good for local people as they will benefit from our research and good for staff in that it attracts talented, bright researchers to come to Bradford."

Alongside a number of high-profile public health research programmes such as Born in Bradford, stroke and elderly care, and maternal and child health, the Institute also focuses on research, which directly contributes to improved patient care in a range of areas including diabetes, genetics, cancer and wound care.