The school’s translational research and teaching covers a diverse range of medical and surgical disciplines. Our research reputation is such that last year the school attracted over £10.3m of research income. Research is organised around research groups, centres and three recently awarded Biomedical Research Units (BRUs), and ranges from laboratory work to clinical and epidemiological studies.
In addition, as part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, staff are involved in the training of future doctors and have close collaborations with NHS colleagues. The school’s main research aims are in the efficient translation of scientific advances into innovations in patient care and in testing these new innovations. This is facilitated by collaborations between scientists and clinicians and by strong research links with many research groups in other schools within the University, both within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and in other faculties. Our work ranges from basic discovery science through translational work to clinical trials and observational research.
Patient-based translational research – developing new tests, preventive strategies and treatments and using human tissue to better understand diseases – is a particular strength of the school. We have interests in many disciplines, but the recent establishment of three National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Units has helped advance this area of our research. These are in respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal and liver disease, and hearing research, the latter in collaboration with the MRC Institute for Hearing Research which is also based at Nottingham. Other notable strengths in translational research include the development and clinical application of new imaging technology, in particular MRI, in close collaboration with the Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic Resonance Centre – named after the Nottingham Nobel Prize winner.
The school has considerable strengths in larger clinical studies and clinical trials throughout our areas of interest. Recent areas of funding success have included dermatology, old-age medicine, and paediatrics. The establishment of a Clinical Trials Unit and investment from the National Institute of Health Research through its Comprehensive Research Networks is leading to considerable growth in this area.
Current research projects
A number of important research programmes are currently underway including:
- The ENOS trial in stroke medicine funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) to evaluate transdermal glyceryl trinitrate in stroke patients
- Development of an MRSA vaccine in the Division of Orthopaedics and Accident Surgery
- A trial based on the prevention of cellulitis in the Centre of Evidence-based Dermatology
The School of Clinical Sciences also promotes a multi-disciplinary approach evidenced by the recent discipline hopping MRC award with the School of Pharmacy to examine nanoparticle-based monitoring of tumour survival within the Division of Pre-Clinical Oncology.
The school also hosts NURTURE (Nottingham University Research and Treatment Unit) for couples and individuals seeking infertility treatment.
The school has strong links with industry and has an associated spin-out company, Oncimmune, working on methodology to improve early diagnosis of breast cancer.
Due to the wide research interests of the school, we offer postgraduate research opportunities to students who have graduated in a variety of undergraduate subjects, such as microbiology, statistics, science and geography, as well as medical degrees.
Recent school postgraduate developments
The school has a postgraduate research committee to initiate and drive strategic developments within the school with the aim of improving postgraduate provision and maintaining numbers of high quality students. Recent developments include:
- The development of the N-trans training programme. The N-Trans Research Training Programme is intended to equip early-career researchers with skill-sets and knowledge that will allow them to take advantage of the enormous potential of a translational research approach to life sciences research.
- Submission of a FP7 EU proposal to establish a Marie Curie Initial Training Network to provide ‘translational’ training for early stage and experienced researchers
- "Roberts" funding secured to provide specific training for clinical students studying for a higher degree
- A fully funded ‘fast track’ PhD initiative to enable medical students to take time out to complete a PhD following completion of the BMedSci degree
- Research into the area of traditional Chinese medicine resulting in the appointment of Chinese PhD students with scholarships from the International Office to drive this initiative
- Strategies to improve links with industry to maximise the potential of the School of Clinical Sciences research improving patient care